10 Cincinnati Bearcats football transfers who will impact 2026 season

If everything goes right, the University of Cincinnati will keep finding bargain Bearcats through the transfer portal, which will affect their seasons.

Not among the Big 12's payroll leaders, UC general manager Zach Grant and company have watched hours of video and scoured the United States to find rising stars waiting to be discovered.

This has led to linebacker Jake Golday going from Central Arkansas to an NFL second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings. Last season, the Bearcats snagged 6-foot-5 Jeff Caldwell from FCS Lindenwood and picked up Cyrus Allen, who had a down year at Texas A&M after transferring from Louisiana Tech. Allen was the Kansas City Chiefs' fifth-round pick, and Caldwell was taken as a free agent.

Allen caught 51 passes and tied a school record with 13 touchdown receptions last season at UC, while Caldwell hauled in 36 passes for six touchdowns.

As UC's season opener approaches on Sept. 5 vs. Boston College, 22 transfers are on the roster. Which of them will have a breakout year?

10 Cincinnati Bearcats football transfers who will impact 2026 season

1. JC French IV, quarterback, Georgia Southern – The 6-foot-1, 205-pound fifth-year player will make his final throws for the Bearcats, leaving Georgia Southern as the school's all-time leading passer. His former coach, Clay Helton, believes he'll succeed in the Big 12, and he now has the protection of an offensive line that allowed just eight sacks last season. French was sacked 29 times last year trying to make plays. Should he have to come out, Penn transfer Liam O'Brien could lead as he proved in training camp.
2. Gi'Bran Payne, running back, Notre Dame – Stuck behind NFL first-round picks Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price last season at Notre Dame, Payne came home for his final college season. The former state champion from La Salle High School hopes to have a Corey Kiner-type year in front of the home fans. His experience, pass-catching and pass-blocking skills should get him on the field. Stanford transfer Cole Tabb, Louisiana transfer Zylan Perry and sophomore Zion Johnson are all viable running backs and will also play.
3. Kenny Worthy, cornerback, Washington State – Worthy played in 12 games for the Cougars last season, and the junior should help immensely in the secondary. During the preseason, he's been an interception machine.
4. JV Gibson, wide receiver, Oklahoma – The fifth-year player is 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds and has a similar story to Allen's. At Oklahoma, he had 18 catches and a touchdown. But the year before at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, he had 70 catches for nine touchdowns. He was the best of the receivers in spring, but the competition has picked up since then.
5. Cade Wolford, wide receiver, Kent State – Wolford is 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds and is the Wes Welker/Julian Edelman slot that can drive teams nuts. He had 19 catches for seven touchdowns for the Golden Flashes last season and averaged 26.8 yards per catch. He also rushed for 96 yards and returned kicks. Like fellow slotback Isaiah Johnson, he's lightning quick and dangerous.
6. Thomas Johnson, defensive end, UNC-Central – Playing at an HBCU, Johnson had 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss last season. The fifth-year player is 6-foot-3, 255 pounds and should be a threat to take down the quarterback.
7. Josh Hough, nose tackle, California (Pennsylvania) – At 6-foot-2 and 335 pounds, Hough was originally recruited as a running back to Syracuse. While adding more pounds, he still has the quickness and footwork to be a problem for offensive lines.
8. Malachi Henry, wide receiver, Central Arkansas – Henry was one of the stars of the Spring Showcase and has continued to be consistent. The senior is 6-foot and 205 pounds and comes from the school that brought you Golday. Perhaps the personnel team can catch lightning in a bottle twice.
9. MJ Cannon, safety, Bowling Green – The 6-foot-3 fifth-year player gives the Bearcats some length in the secondary and can deliver a heavy hit when needed. Cannon had 57 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass break-ups, two interceptions and a fumble recovery last season, with two of his tackles for loss coming against UC in September 2025.
10. Damaine Wilson, linebacker, Georgia State – Wilson is a junior who is 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and part of a linebacking crew that could rival last year's group. Fifth-year player Jonathan Thompson leads them, with Brian Simms III and Antwan Peek Jr. on the outside. Also returning are Simeon Coleman and Montay Weedon. As of Aug. 26, you can add No. 10a: D'Angelo Hutchinson, safety, Louisville – The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder was originally recruited by Satterfield's staff to Louisville, where he played four years. He had 84 tackles last season, second on the team. Hutchinson was granted a temporary restraining order to play via the "5-for-5" rule in Jefferson County (Kentucky) Court.

Other Cincinnati Bearcats transfers to watch

Running backs – Tabb and Perry have had big-burst runs, and Tabb's activity picked up in the latter half of training camp.

Receiver – South Dakota transfer Larenzo Fenner has impressed with his blocking and is a former teammate of left tackle Joe Cotton. Fenner had 44 catches for 15 touchdowns at South Dakota last season, so he has a nose for the end zone.

Defensive line – Taking Golday's No. 11 is 6-foot-1, 300-pound Chidera Otufu from UTSA, and edge rusher Patrick Bauer from Illinois State stepped up after being injured in spring.

Linebacker – 6-foot-3, 235-pound Filip Maciorowski is part of several Northern Illinois transfers that could be factors.

Secondary – Multiple veterans were taken that should help, including Jacob Finley from Northern Illinois, KK Meier from UTSA at corner and Jasper Beeler from Northern Illinois at safety.

What UC coach Scott Satterfield said about scout team players

The early assignments are set, but nothing in college football is written in stone.

"For some of the freshmen, they expect that sometimes, but for some of the guys that were close, it's like, 'Ah, man!'" Satterfield said. "Every single year there's guys that are on the look squad, that by the middle of the season are playing. That's going to happen again this year. It happens every single year. You can be a guy that pouts a little bit and that's not going to happen to you, or you can be a guy that really puts the work in and you're going to find yourself on that field."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 10 Cincinnati Bearcats football transfers who will impact 2026 season