The eve of the opening of the spring transfer window brought a flurry of activity. Here are the biggest transfer announcements from the day before the opening of the transfer portal.

Ott entered the transfer portal on Monday as a grad transfer and was immediately one of the top transfer running backs this cycle. The Cal running back was one of the best in the nation during the 2023 season but injuries derailed what many expected to be an outstanding 2024 campaign. Oklahoma was planning on being aggressive during the spring transfer window and the Sooners wasted no time pursuing Ott. Now they have a strong case for the best quarterback-running back duo this transfer cycle in John Mateer and Ott.

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Maikkula put his name in the transfer portal after Troy Taylor was fired as Stanford’s head coach and there were plenty of programs he could choose from. North Carolina, Syracuse and UCLA were the other top contenders but Oklahoma was too much for him to pass up. Maikkula will head to Norman and is expected to compete for a starting spot on the offensive line this season.

Pena, Syracuse’s top receiver, is heading to the transfer portal. The New Jersey native flourished with Kyle McCord at quarterback last season, recording 84 catches for 941 yards and nine touchdowns. Pena is expected to draw heavy interest this spring. Miami and Texas Tech have already been linked to him but more teams will get involved soon.

North Carolina is expected to be very active during the spring transfer window but losing Atkinson was probably somewhat of a surprise. The Raleigh native had become one of the stronger players on the Tar Heel defense over the last two seasons, logging over 600 snaps, 39 QB pressures, 12 sacks and two forced fumbles. With this type of experience and two years of eligibility remaining, expect a robust market for Atkinson once he enters the portal.

Auburn has a strong showing during the winter portal window but Joiner is its first loss of the spring. The SEC all-freshman team offensive lineman from a season ago is heading for the transfer portal. Joiner was a Rivals250 prospect when he was recruited to Auburn as part of the 2023 class and he will surely have a number of teams interested when his name shows up in the portal.

Johnson was a key starter for Indiana during its magical run to the College Football Playoff last season but he left the team in January and ended up in the portal. Now he’s headed to UCLA to finish out his college career playing for the Bruins. Johnson is a Southern California native so this is a bit of a homecoming for him.

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Belfort, the son of UFC star Vitor Belfort, was one of the highest profile signings for Virginia Tech over the last few years. The four-star recruit was set to compete for a backup spot on the depth chart this season but he is entering the transfer portal instead. Virginia Tech has four other quarterbacks on their roster and Belfort was facing stiff competition.

Samuel entered the portal as a grad transfer last week and was a hot commodity almost instantly. UCF, Kansas, Cal, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech were all in the mix for the talented offensive tackle. Samuel took visits to Oklahoma State, UCF and Kansas but it was the Cowboys and head coach Mike Gundy who landed his commitment.

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This transfer cycle has been difficult for Kentucky and Nave is the program’s latest defection. The 2024 signee was originally committed to Ohio State during the recruiting process but decommitted in September and committed to Kentucky just a few weeks before National Signing Day. He redshirted this past season and only saw action in one game so he has four seasons of eligibility remaining.

McCray finished last season with a strong showing against South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, rushing for 114 yards and two touchdowns on only 13 carries. Now he is looking to finish out his career on a high note with a new team. Illinois has a deep running back room but a team never wants to lose their leading rusher. McCray has run for 1,369 career yards and 14 touchdowns in his career and has one more season of eligibility.