Some of the biggest names in HBCU football are on the move this winter, turning the transfer portal into a showcase of star power that stretches from decorated quarterbacks to all-conference defenders.
For coaches at every level, the question is less whether to tap into HBCU talent and more which of these proven playmakers can change a program’s trajectory overnight when the portal officially opens on Jan. 2.
HBCU headliners at quarterback
No position shapes the portal like quarterback, and HBCU football has produced a true headliner in Alabama State star Andrew Body. The Hornets signal-caller, fresh off a season that earned him HBCU National Player of the Year, BOXTOROW National Offensive Player of the Year, and SWAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, has entered the portal after leading Alabama State to a landmark 10-win campaign.
Body’s résumé — national awards, all-conference recognition — instantly makes him one of the most coveted quarterbacks available at any level. With multiple seasons of high-efficiency production, he is expected to draw interest from Power Four, Group of Five, and top-tier FCS programs looking for an experienced dual-threat who has already proven he can carry a team.
Albany State’s Isaiah Knowles adds another intriguing name to the quarterback pool after announcing his own portal entry with one year of eligibility remaining. Knowles helped guide Albany State to an SIAC championship and developed into one of Division II HBCU football’s most productive passers, providing suitors with a seasoned leader and a championship pedigree.
Redshirt sophomore Florida A&M quarterback RJ Johnson III, who threw for 2,597 yards and 18 touchdowns in 11 starts for the Rattlers this past season, would be a solid addition to a roster.
Running back, receiver talent with national résumés available
The portal activity comes on the heels of a season in which HBCU playmakers dotted national award lists and all-star teams.
The 2025 All-HBCU squad included offensive standouts such as Alabama State wide receiver Jalen Jones, Delaware State running back James Jones, and Jackson State running back Ahmad Miller, all of whom helped drive explosive offenses that drew attention beyond the HBCU landscape.
At wide receiver, Prairie View A&M pass catcher Jyzaiah Rockwell emerged as one of the most dynamic deep threats in the subdivision, compiling 1,100 yards for the SWAC champions. He possesses the type of production that makes him an immediate priority target. Jackson State wideout Ja’Naylon Dupree, who was the second-leading receiver for the Tigers in 2025, could also be a difference-maker in an offense.
Front-seven standouts
Defensively, HBCUs again produced a wave of front-seven and secondary talent that will draw heavy interest from programs such as Mississippi Valley State defensive lineman Colton Vatne, and All-MEAC linebacker Brian Bates Jr., who will draw significant interest in the portal.
What their movement means for HBCU football
The decisions of players like Body and Rockwell reflect a broader trend: elite HBCU performers increasingly view the portal as a strategic next step rather than simply an exit.
For HBCU programs, that reality cuts both ways — losing impact players to the portal can be painful, but their success at bigger brands reinforces the message that HBCU football develops national-caliber talent.
At the same time, the portal flows both directions, with HBCUs regularly landing FBS transfers who become instant impact players and future all-conference selections.
As the 2025 cycle unfolds, the top HBCU names in the portal stand as proof that the subdivision’s best can play — and star — anywhere, and that the road to college football stardom increasingly runs through HBCU campuses before branching out through the transfer portal