College football transfers at every position that can have an instant impact in 2025

How important are transfers in college football you might ask? Well, in six of the last eight years a former transfer has won the Heisman Trophy.

This isn’t to say that the athletes listed in this article will win the Heisman, but they could have great impacts on their team nonetheless. Here’s a look at each position and a transfer you need to know entering the 2025 college football season.

A champion has a new home

• QB Mark Gronowski | Iowa from South Dakota State

In 2024, Iowa finished second-to-last in the Big Ten in passing. In 2023, the Hawkeyes finished last in the conference in passing. In 2022, they finished second-to-last again.

During that same time frame, new Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski won two national championships at the FCS level and the Walter Payton Award — the Heisman of the FCS.

Can Gronowski be the solution to Iowa’s long-term quarterback struggles?

Iowa finished with no more than 20 points and only one total passing touchdown in its four regular season losses last year. A quarterback like Gronowski could be the reason Iowa competes for a Big Ten title if he carries over his winning ways.

He’s with the big dogs now

• RB Ahmad Hardy | Missouri from UL Monroe

Running back Ahmad Hardy finished 12th in the nation in rushing yards with 1,351 as a true freshman at UL Monroe last season. He’ll now transfer from the Sun Belt to the SEC to play for Missouri. That’s a big step up in competition, but if Hardy keeps pace in a new conference he could lead Missouri on surprise run in the SEC.

Penn State’s wide receiver trio

• WR Kyron Hudson | Penn State from Southern California
• WR Trebor Pena | Penn State from Syracuse
• WR Devonte Ross | Penn State from Troy

In Penn State’s College Football Playoff loss to Notre Dame in 2024, the Nittany Lions didn’t have any wide receiver record yardage. In fact, wide receiver Harrison Wallace III recorded -3 yards as the only wideout listed on the stat sheet. 

In comes a trio of wideouts in Kyron Hudson, Trebor Pena and Devonte Ross to help out star quarterback Drew Allar in his final season. Can those three open up the passing game? Penn State’s championship hopes may depend on it.

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Offensive linemen with big shoes to fill

• OT Isaiah World | Oregon from Nevada
• OT Phillip Daniels | Ohio State from Minnesota

Without counting stats, it’s hard to say which offensive linemen will have the most impact this season. However, Oregon’s Isaiah World and Ohio State’s Phillip Daniels are two offensive tackles that are coming in to replace first round NFL draft picks, giving them both the mention here.

World replaces Josh Conerly Jr., who went No. 29 overall to the Washington Commanders. Daniels replaces Donovan Jackson, who went No. 24 overall to the Minnesota Vikings. World and Daniels both have big shoes to fill in 2025 as both will also be tasked with protecting new starting quarterbacks.

Big man in the Big House

• DL Tré Williams | Michigan from Clemson

Defensive lineman Tré Williams heads to Michigan from Clemson. Williams replaces a pair of first round defensive tackles in Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant who went No. 5 and No. 13 overall in the 2025 NFL draft. It’s a good fit for Williams as he tries to reach NFL dreams of his own in a scheme that lets defensive linemen wreak havoc from the interior.

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From Coach Prime to the SEC

• LB Nikhai Hill-Green | Alabama from Colorado

Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green was a bright spot for a Colorado defense that struggled at times last year, finishing second on the team in tackles. He’ll now head to Alabama to try and improve a Crimson Tide run defense that ranked in the bottom half of the SEC in head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first year.

Finally home

• CB Xavier Lucas | Miami (Fla.) from Wisconsin

Cornerback Xavier Lucas is such an important transfer that Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against Miami because of his transfer. Lucas had an interception in his first game as a freshman at Wisconsin — and now as a sophomore he’ll form a great sophomore secondary duo in the Sunshine State. Lucas will team up with OJ Frederique Jr. in what could be a lockdown tandem.

From the FCS to stardom?

• S Cole Wisniewski | Texas Tech from North Dakota State

Safety Cole Wisniewski joins Texas Tech after missing all of 2024 with foot surgery. When last healthy in 2023, he had eight interceptions and 92 tackles at FCS power North Dakota State — in a single season. Turnovers are game-changers no matter the level, and if Wisniewski can bring more of the same to Lubbock, the Red Raiders could contend for a Big 12 title.