.png)
_edited_edited.png)
Several teams within the Atlantic Coast Conference are powering up through the transfer portal in hopes of competing for the conference championship and reaching the College Football Playoff. Below are some of the best additions to the ACC through the transfer portal in 2024.
5. DT Thor Griffith (Harvard to Louisville)
Griffith looks to bring the thunder along the Cardinals defensive front that is already returning a lot of production from 2023, including Ashton Gillotte and Ramon Puryear. Griffith is transferring from Harvard, where he was a nightmare for opposing offenses in the Ivy League.
The 6-foot-2, 320-pound DT racked up 11 tackles for loss in only 10 games for the Crimson on his way to being named an FCS All-American. If Griffith can adjust his game to power conference football, the Louisville defensive front is going to cause a lot of frustration for opposing offensive lines in the ACC.
4. DL Jordan Van Den Berg (Penn State to Georgia Tech)
The Yellow Jackets needed to bring in some difference makers on defense, and van den Berg is primed to fit that bill. Born in South Africa, van den Berg's family moved to the United States when he was 10-years-old. An all-state linebacker in high school, van den Berg bulked up and switched positions to the interior of the defensive line at Iowa Western Community College in 2020.
Transferring to Penn State after one season, he played sparingly for the Nittany Lions in a stacked defensive lineup. He displayed his incredible strength in the weight room at Penn State, and the Jackets are hoping that translates to big production this fall in Atlanta.
3. DE Marvin Jones Jr. (Georgia to Florida State)
A Florida State legacy, Jones spent his first two seasons in college football with the Georgia Bulldogs, playing under the tutelage of Kirby Smart. Jones has the Seminole faithful hopeful that he will be the next great Athens to Tallahassee connection. Jones played high school ball at American Heritage under current FSU defensive backs coach Pat Surtain before committing to the Bulldogs.
At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Jones has the length and explosiveness to go alongside fellow Seminole defender Patrick Payton to elevate Florida State's defense in 2024. In two seasons as a backup at Georgia, he made 16 tackles, including 2 sacks. He will be asked to do much more for the Noles as they look to repeat as ACC champions.
2. QB Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina to North Carolina State)
McCall left his mark on both the Chanticleers program and the Sun Belt Conference starting in 2020, when he threw for almost 2,500 yards, ran for another 500, and had 33 total TDs. From 2020-2022, he led the Chants to a 31-7 record and a Sun Belt Championship in 2020. In 2023, McCall suffered an injury in late October that ended his season and effectively, his career at Coastal Carolina.
NC State coach Dave Doeren hopes McCall will rekindle the magic that made him Sun Belt Player of the Year three times. When healthy, McCall's legs are dangerous for any opposing defense, and coupled with the sophomore sensation WR Kevin Concepcion and Duke transfer RB Jordan Waters, the Wolfpack have the makings of an exciting offense in 2024.
1. QB Cameron Ward (Washington State to Miami)
The easiest choice for the most impactful transfer in the ACC this year, Ward has Miami fans feeling very optimistic heading into 2024. Ward started his career at Incarnate Word, where he threw for more than 6,900 yards and 71 TDs in just 19 games. After transferring to WSU, Ward continued to impress. In 2022, he finished with more than 3,200 yards and 28 total scores. In 2023, those numbers jumped to more than 3,700 yards along with 33 TDs.
The Hurricanes have pushed all the chips in this year in hopes of contending for the ACC title and a CFP berth, with Ward being the centerpiece. Alongside two returning wide receivers Jacolby George and Xavier Restrepo, incoming freshman five-star WR Joshisa Trader, and Oregon State transfer RB Damien Martinez, the offense in South Beach should be deadly.
ACC Transfer Portal Honorable Mentions
Other impact transfers to look for include some of the league's new quarterbacks: DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State to Florida State), Kyle McCord (Ohio State to Syracuse), Maalik Murphy (Texas to Duke), Tyler Shough (Texas Tech to Louisville) and Max Johnson (Texas A&M to North Carolina). It would be easier to list the ACC teams that did not pick up a transfer QB.
Some of the non-QB newcomers that could make a difference include a pair of talented wide receivers going to Louisville from the state of Alabama in Caullin Lacy (South Alabama) and Jacorey Brooks (Alabama). Joining his brother in Chapel Hill, N.C., is TE Jake Johnson (Texas A&M). Virginia coach Tony Elliott is hoping that he can get all-purpose back and return man Chris Tyree (Notre Dame) to help boost the Cavaliers offense, which returns gun-slinging QB Anthony Colandrea.
.png)
.png)