We’re entering the fourth year since the NCAA changed the transfer portal regulations to allow athletes to transfer once and maintain immediate eligibility. By this point, most coaches and fans have accepted the transfer portal as a permanent addition to college athletics. Even those coaches who disapprove of it have realized the need to utilize it to build a roster in today’s game.

According to publicly available information, 25 FCS players from Texas who entered the portal have landed at an FCS or FBS institution. Meanwhile, 58 players who played at an FCS or FBS institution last season have transferred to an FCS program in Texas. The following is a breakdown of how each FCS team in Texas has fared so far in the current iteration of the transfer portal.

Abilene Christian

The Wildcats suffered a massive hit along the defensive line, with David Oke and Jerry Lawson transferring to Arkansas and Louisville, respectively. ACU will have a new quarterback after Maverick McIvor transferred to Western Kentucky to play for offensive coordinator Rick Bowie.

Head coach Keith Patterson added to the quarterback room after the return of Stone Earle, who spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons with ACU before transferring to North Texas and Marshall. The Wildcats also added Texas Tech transfer offensive lineman Kaden Carr, and more additions are possible during the offseason.

East Texas A&M

The Lions lost four players to the transfer portal, including LS Josiah Kennard (James Madison), OL Peyton Ellis (Marshall), DB Jaden Rios (Texas State), and DCTF All-Texas Non-FBS Defensive Player of the Year Brandon Tucker Jr. (UTSA).

However, ET has announced 14 additions from the transfer portal, eight of which are from FCS or FBS programs. The Lions added LB C.J. Garnett and DB X’Avion Brice from North Texas, OL Trent Savage and OL Kendal Septs from HCU, DL Tito Chikere (PVAMU), DB Javon Gillespie (Coastal Carolina), P Ben Mehan (Cincinnati), and OL Romello Watson (Georgia State).

Houston Christian

Head coach Jason Bachtel and staff have appeared at the top of the recruiting rankings each of the last two seasons. The Huskies will need to lean on those players in 2025 since no incoming transfers from FBS or FCS programs are found in the available information.

Adding to the need for the young players to fill valuable roles for HCU next season is that nine players have left the Huskies for another FCS or FBS program. Those players include K Reed Chandley (Georgia State), WR AJ Wilson (UTSA), OL Rodney Leaks (Delaware State), OL Trent Savage (ETAMU), OL Kendal Septs (ETAMU), DE Andrew Huff (Lamar), QB Jack Stanton (Stetson), LB Braden Hay (UIW), and TE Drake Martinez (UT Martin).

Lamar 

The Cardinals had three players leave for other FCS programs: WR Andre Dennis (PVAMU), DB DeJuan Lewis (South Dakota), and LB Tah Banda (UT Martin). However, head coach Peter Rossomando and his staff have added six players with FCS or FBS experience. Part of the incoming class includes DB Demarcus Rankin (Wake Forest), WR Jamahdia Whitby (Coastal Carolina), RB Josh Robinson (Illinois State), DE Andrew Huff (HCU), LS Jacob Hefner (Furman), and QB Mekhi Hagens (UTPB).

Prairie View A&M

New head coach Tremaine Jackson said he intended to make the Panthers not only a SWAC power but also compete with the best in the FCS. Jackson and his staff have been busy trying to make his bold statement come true sooner rather than later despite losing LB Ayden Jones to Texas State.

The Panthers have added 10 DI players, half from FBS schools. The new players include DB Tay’Shawn Wilson (Baylor), WR Ja’Koby Banks (Memphis), LB Matthew Moore (North Texas), TE Joshua Gaines (Tulane), DB Michael Ray Jr. (UTEP), DT Jabarrek Hopkins (Youngstown State), DB William White (Northwestern State), WR Andre Dennis (Lamar), LB Nick Haynes (Towson), and LB David Griffith (Indiana State).

Stephen F. Austin

The Lumberjacks lost DB Azariah Levells to New Mexico but have focused on transforming the defensive backfield through the transfer portal. Thus far, they have signed four defensive backs: two from DII schools and two from junior colleges. The ‘Jacks added competition to the quarterback room with the return of Sam Vidlak and the addition of Ryan Damron from Tennessee. SFA has added three other former FBS players in TE Jerrale Powers (Florida State), WR DeVaughn “Bugs” Mortimer (Western Michigan), and OL Jaylen Robinson (Middle Tennessee State).

Tarleton 

The Texans made the FCS playoffs in their first season of eligibility and have only strengthened a talented roster during the offseason. Tarleton added RB Tylan Hines from Hawaii, DL Pius Njenge (Gardner-Webb), and TE Danny Joiner (Southeast Missouri State). Head coach Todd Whitten and staff have done a fantastic job retaining their players, with DL A.J. Sargent transferring to Sam Houston as the only player to transfer to another DI program.

Texas Southern

The good news for head coach Cris Dishman and Tigers fans is that only three players, RB Quintell Quinn (Tennessee Tech), DE Keelan Cox (Stamford), and DL Stephon Wright (UConn), departed for another DI institution. The bad news for TSU fans is that no information can be found on incoming players, which means we await a press release from the school on National Signing Day.

UIW 

Clint Killough has already proven to be a terrific hire for the Cardinals, and they rewarded him for his success with a contract extension. The 2025 roster will undoubtedly miss three key pieces who departed for FBS opportunities. QB Zach Calzada (Kentucky), DE Chase Carter (Memphis), and LB Mister Williams (San Diego State) are talented players whose production won’t easily be replaced.

The Cardinals attacked the transfer portal, adding 13 players, including 11 from DI schools. Five new additions, DB Pig Cage (La Tech), DB Reece Sylvester (Washington State), DB Jaylen Dotson (Kent State), WR Chedon James (Fresno State), and OL Mike Stoker (TCU) played at the FBS level last year. Transfers from FCS schools include WR Devin Gandy (Sacramento State), LB Braden Hay (HCU), DB Tyler Morton (Nicholls), RB Jaylon Spears (Nicholls), LB David Powers (Wofford), and OL Cameron Foster (Southern). 

UTRGV

The Vaqueros are gearing up for the first season in program history and have added 12 transfers thus far. Seven are from DI institutions, including QB Eddie Lee Marburger (UTSA), LB Spencer Rich (Utah Tech), LB Amari Pouncy (Utah Tech), LB Ismael Smith Flores (Nebraska), DB Jaden Pettway (North Texas), DL Nicholas Fernandez (Arizona), and WR Braden Baize (Oklahoma State). Three of the five junior college additions are offensive linemen.