SEC football's 10 most impactful transfers for 2026, from Cam Coleman to Sam Leavitt
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The SEC's top-tier teams loaded up in the transfer portal as the conference tries to close the gap on the Big Ten, which has won three straight national titles.
LSU has a revamped roster after bringing in first-year coach Lane Kiffin from Mississippi, who was hired after leading the Rebels to the College Football Playoff before Pete Golding led the school to the semifinals.
Texas also made big additions after failing to reach the CFP last year, despite opening the year as preseason No. 1.
Nine of the SEC’s 16 teams were included in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, which was released Aug. 4. They’re all hoping their transfer portal investments will pay off this season.
Here’s a look at our 10 most impactful SEC transfers heading into the 2026 season:
Cam Coleman, Texas
The top available receiver in the transfer portal, Texas won the Coleman sweepstakes after he opted to leave Auburn following Hugh Freeze’s firing.
Texas essentially pushed out numerous offensive players to afford Coleman’s services, and he’ll be heavily relied on by second-year starting quarterback Arch Manning. There are huge expectations for the built-in-a-lab X receiver.
Coleman has 93 career receptions for 1,306 yards with 13 touchdowns in his career, which are quite impressive numbers considering Auburn's quarterback play the past two seasons. The former five-star recruit is one of the top 2027 NFL Draft prospects at the position.
Sam Leavitt, LSU
Lane Kiffin and LSU went out and grabbed one of the best quarterbacks available in Arizona State signal-caller Sam Leavitt, who led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 championship and CFP appearance in 2024.
Leavitt had a down year last season, throwing for 1,628 yards with 10 touchdowns to three interceptions while battling injuries. His completion percentage fell from 61.7% as a redshirt freshman in 2024 to 60.7% last season, although he rushed for 306 yards and five touchdowns in 2025 in seven games.
Leavitt enters a friendly system led by one of the best offensive minds in college football in Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. He’ll be looking to revive his NFL draft stock into first-round consideration once again.
Rasheem Biles, Texas
Biles was one of the best defensive players in college football the past two seasons at Pittsburgh, ending the 2025 season with a whopping 100 total tackles — 17 for loss — and 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Biles has three career touchdowns, and has proved to be a defensive playmaker, whether it’s rushing the passer or dropping back in coverage. He’ll fill the role left by Anthony Hill Jr., who was drafted in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft by Tennessee Titans.
Princewill Umanmielen, LSU
Kiffin wasn’t able to convince star backfield tandem Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy to follow him to Baton Rouge, but he was able to land star edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, who had nine sacks last season for the Rebels.
Umanmielen and fellow Ole Miss transfer TJ Dottery will lead LSU’s defense, along with returning linebacker Whit Weeks to form a defense that isn’t lacking star power.
Jordan Seaton, LSU
Another five-star transfer, Kiffin landed Colorado offensive tackle Jordan Seaton this offseason to boost the Tigers’ trenches.
The preseason All-American was a two-year starter for the Buffaloes, and is one of the top offensive line prospects in 2027.
Byrum Brown, Auburn
Brown, one of the most prolific non-Power Four quarterbacks in college football, followed former South Florida coach Alex Golesh to Auburn for his final season of eligibility in 2026.
Brown is a true dual-threat quarterback, passing for 3,158 yards with 28 touchdowns to seven interceptions last season, also rushing for 1,008 yards with 14 touchdowns. The 6-3, 235-pound signal-caller has 32 career starts and is one of the more under-the-radar transfers of the cycle.
Hollywood Smothers, Texas
Daylan “Hollywood” Smothers eventually chose Texas after leaving NC State despite previously committing to Alabama in the transfer portal.
Smothers actually started his career at Texas’ archrival Oklahoma, although he transferred to the Wolfpack after serving in a reserve role as a freshman. The electric runner rushed for 939 yards with six touchdowns last season, also catching 37 passes for 189 yards with a score.
Texas struggled to run the ball last season, and is hoping its addition of Smothers and former Arizona State running back Raleek Brown can fix their issues.
Isaiah Horton, Texas A&M
Texas A&M lost first-round receiver KC Concepcion this offseason and replaced him with a proven SEC weapon in former Alabama pass-catcher Isaiah Horton.
Horton, who stands 6-4, gives the Aggies and quarterback Marcel Reed a much-needed, big-bodied field stretcher after lacking a receiver with such skill set in 2025. Horton caught 42 passes for 511 yards with eight touchdowns last season for the Crimson Tide.
He’ll pair with returning receiver Mario Craver to form one of the better tandems in college football.
Jacarrius Peak, South Carolina
South Carolina ranked No. 131 of 136 FBS programs in sacks allowed (43) last season, and hopes to nullify that issue with the addition of Jacarrius Peak from NC State.
Peak, a five-star transfer, was rated the No. 1 offensive tackle available, per 247Sports’ Composite. The redshirt senior has 32 career starts and was an All-ACC honorable mention selection in 2025.
South Carolina is expecting to make a jump in 2026 after going 4-8 last season, and it’s hoping the offensive line changes can make a huge improvement.
Kenny Minchey, Kentucky
Minchey battled CJ Carr late into fall camp for the starting quarterback gig at Notre Dame last season after ultimately losing the competition. He has since transferred to Kentucky, where he’ll lead an offense led by former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein in his first season as head coach.
Minchey, who briefly committed to Nebraska before flipping to the Wildcats, is a former four-star recruit and was considered one of the best backup quarterbacks in college football. There is some risk, though, as he doesn’t have any career starts.
Kentucky brought in an under-the-radar transfer portal class for the 2026 season under Stein, and Minchey has a chance to be a household name as a first-year starter.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SEC football's 10 most impactful transfers for 2026, from Cam Coleman to Sam Leavitt
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos