Big Ten transfer portal rankings: 2024’s top-rated rookie for each club
Elite transfer talent was aplenty for teams in the newly expanded Big Ten Conference during the winter gateway session. As of right now, seven league members are ranked among the top 20 teams on the transfer platform. Having secured five of the top ten individual portal prospects for the 2024 cycle, Ohio State and Oregon rank among the greatest winners nationally from the most recent window.
The Ducks, who signed a number of players in January, including five-star wideout Evan Stewart, shot up the team rankings on the transfer portal. The Buckeyes’ transfer portal attempts were delayed, but their perseverance paid off as they added six quality players to help them win the Big Ten and potentially win a national championship in 2024.
At least one transfer was made by seventeen of the eighteen Big Ten teams for the next season.
Northwestern is the lone team that hasn’t made a move in this cycle. Clearly, some teams were able to get more transfers than others. There are differences in talent as well.
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Here is a look at the top-rated incoming transfer from the 2024 cycle for each Big Ten school:
N/A is the 247Sports Transfer Portal rank.
Former educational institution: N/A
The lone Big Ten school without an incoming transfer for 2024 is Northwestern. In actuality, Clemson and the Wildcats are the only two other major conference clubs in that category. A few players for the Wildcats were lost to the portal in December. Josh Priebe, the starting left guard, will play for Michigan next season but is still in the Big Ten. Rod Heard II, the starting safety, is also headed to Notre Dame.
Ranking on the 247Sports Transfer Portal: 4-star, 90 rating, 146th overall, and 13th TE
Prior institution: Murray State
Cole Rusk was a star tight end for Murray State during the 2023 FCS season. Returned to his home state, the 6-foot-6, 252-pound sophomore still has two years left on his eligibility. Rusk led all Racers in receiving yards with 36 receptions for 485 yards and six touchdowns. At Eastern Michigan, he started his college career. When Steve Rusk joined the Fighting Illini and went on to become a two-time NCAA qualifier, he was a two-time All-American wrestler at Augustana College in Illinois.
Ranking on the 247Sports Transfer Portal: 4-star, 90 rating, 131st overall, and 27th wide receiver
Prior institution: Monmouth
Although Rutgers’ running assault was among the best in the Big Ten the previous season, the offense needed to be balanced, so an upgrade at receiver was necessary. Dymere Miller, a former pass-catcher at Monmouth, was acquired by the Scarlet Knights through the transfer portal. With the Hawks, the 6-foot, 180-pound wide receiver broke multiple single-season marks in receptions (90), receiving yards (1,293), and games with 100 yards or more (6). Miller played at Monmouth for four seasons, finishing in the upper half of the program’s receiving statistics record books.
Ranking on the 247Sports Transfer Portal: 4-star, 90 rating, 107th overall, and 19th quarterback
Former educational institution: Ohio
In previous seasons, Kurtis Rourke was regarded as one of the best passers in the Group of Five rankings. Now at Indiana, the 6-foot-5, 216-pound former Ohio quarterback hopes to be the starting quarterback in 2024. As a multi-year starter with 36 career appearances, Rourke offers experience to Indiana. During his tenure with the Bobcats, he completed 66.3% of his passes for 7,666 yards and 50 touchdowns passing. On 232 carries, he also gained 832 yards and 11 scores through rushes.
Ranking on the 247Sports Transfer Portal: 4-star, 90 rating, 102nd overall, and 21st wide receiver
Wake Forest was the previous school.
Dylan Raiola, a five-star rookie, is Nebraska’s quarterback of the future, but Matt Rhule also needed to address the wide receiver position’s depth. Jahmal Banks, a Wake Forest transfer, joins the Huskers with experience after logging 1,289 yards and 13 touchdowns in his previous two seasons. With the Demon Deacons, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound soon-to-be senior averaged 12.7 yards per grab. By the end of the 2023 season, Nebraska had only a few healthy scholarship receivers, thus Banks’ addition was desperately required.
Through the transfer portal, Minnesota discovered its likely starting quarterback for the upcoming campaign. Max Brosmer, a former standout from New Hampshire, transfers as a sixth-year senior from the FCS to the Big Ten. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound quarterback was named to the second team of the All-Americans in 2023 after being among the best in the FCS the previous two seasons. In 36 games at New Hampshire, Brosmer completed 62.0% of his throws for 8,713 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions. Ten touchdowns came via his rush as well. For Minnesota, which had its lowest passing yards per game (143.4) average in six seasons in 2023, Brosmer should be an upgrade at quarterback.
Ranking on the 247Sports Transfer Portal: 4-star, 90 rating, 96th overall, and 16th quarterback
Former educational institution: New Hampshire
Through the transfer portal, Minnesota discovered its likely starting quarterback for the upcoming campaign. Max Brosmer, a former standout from New Hampshire, transfers as a sixth-year senior from the FCS to the Big Ten. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound quarterback was named to the second team of the All-Americans in 2023 after being among the best in the FCS the previous two seasons. In 36 games at New Hampshire, Brosmer completed 62.0% of his throws for 8,713 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions. Ten touchdowns came via his rush as well. For Minnesota, which had its lowest passing yards per game (143.4) average in six seasons in 2023, Brosmer should be an upgrade at quarterback.
former institution: Maryland
In December, Jaishawn Barham switched from Maryland to Michigan as part of his Big Ten transfer. During the previous two seasons, the 6-foot-4, 233-pound linebacker for the Terrapins participated in 23 games and made 22 starts. Barham made 96 tackles in all, including seven sacks and 58 solo stops. Beyond the interception, he also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In 2024, Barham moves from his native Maryland to play for the defending national champions.
Rico Flores, a former wide receiver for Notre Dame, is headed back to his native California in 2024 to play for UCLA. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound true freshman was the Fighting Irish’s second-leading receiver in 12 games during his time on the field. With 27 receptions, he gained 392 yards and one touchdown. Flores’s catch average was 14.5 yards. He was a Folsom, California, native and a four-star recruit. In the 2023 class, Flores was a highly sought-after recruit, garnering multiple offers from strong league schools.
Ranking on the 247Sports Transfer Portal: 4-star, 92-rated, 53rd overall, and second linebacker
Former institution: USC
Wisconsin has a lengthy history of producing outstanding linebacker talent. Tackett Curtis, a USC transfer, played his freshman year for the Trojans and intends to return there. In 2023, the 225-pound, 6-foot-2 linebacker for USC participated in all 12 regular-season games and recorded 40 total tackles, including four for loss and two sacks. He also had a quarterback hurry, a pass breakup, two recovered fumbles, and one forced fumble. Prior to coach Luke Fickell leaving Cincinnati to join Wisconsin, Curtis was one of the top linebackers available in the 2023 high school recruiting class.
Prior institution: UCLA
D’Anton Lynn, who had been the defensive coordinator at UCLA, brought safety Kamari Ramsey with him when he was hired by USC. This past season, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound redshirt freshman started all 11 of the Bruins’ games. In the regular-season finale against California, he not only grabbed an interception but also finished with 40 total stops, including 2.5 for loss. When the Trojans join the Big Ten in 2024, they intend to forge a new defensive identity.
A.J. HARRIS, CB, Penn State