Monmouth football transfer portal moves. Who's in, who's out

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The college football transfer portal officially opened on Jan. 2, marking another year of novel chaos in the ever-evolving era of player movement in the sport.

The new, single transfer period was instituted by the NCAA after complaints about last year's model that included a transfer window after spring practice. The new schedule, which allows players to formally submit a transfer request until Jan. 16, is likely a step in the right direction but has had its own pitfalls as there has been plenty of back channeling by agents and other representatives in the days leading up to the transfer window.

For Division I FCS program such as Monmouth, the growth of the transfer portal has been a double-edged sword. The Hawks' top performers and All-Conference selections inevitably become targets for higher level programs, likely with an accompanying payday. But Monmouth is also the beneficiary of high-pedigree players that drop down from the FBS ranks because of a lack of playing time. There are also D-II and D-III gems that are ready to transfer up and prove they can compete at a higher level.

There are players that fit all those categories in Monmouth's early list of additions and departures from the transfer portal. Take a look at the latest news below, and this article will be updated up until Jan. 16 as players make their decisions official.

Who's in:

Amir Haskett – DB – Richmond – R-So.

Haskett is a really nice addition to Monmouth's needy secondary. He's an impressive athlete at 6-foot, 195 pounds with a 4.48 in the 40-yard-dash and he was a strong rotational player at Richmond last year as a redshirt freshman that made two starts including an impressive 11 tackle performance against William & Mary, reflecting his ability to support the run. He's a physical corner that could be an ideal replacement for Izzy Clark-White on the outside.

Caleb Newsome – WR – Lafayette – R-Fr.

Newsome was coveted recruit coming out of Nazareth in Pennsylvania with several FBS offers before settling on Lafayette, where he was a reserve as a true freshman. Interestingly, he was a 7-on-7 teammate of Donovan Catholic quarterback Kahden Davis. The 5-foot-11 and 170-pound athlete fits the general mold of prospects that have developed into productive receivers at Monmouth.

Christian Harrison – WR – Lackawanna College – Jr.

Harrison is a junior college transfer from prestigious Lackawanna College football program, which has produced NFL staple players like Kyzir White, Jaquan Brisker and Ji'Ayir Brown over the past several years. This is actually the last class of JUCO players from Lackawanna, which will begin the transition to NCAA Division II next year. Harrison was very impressive in just six games, totaling 615 receiving yards and six touchdowns. The 6-foot and 195-pound receiver is a promising addition to the Hawks' depleted receiver room.

Hugo Gil – DL – Charleston Southern – R-Jr.

Gil provides the coveted size in the front four that Monmouth has been seeking to steadily compete in the CAA. The 6-foot-3 and 300-pound lineman walked on at Temple and was with the Owls for two seasons before moving on to Charleston Southern, where mostly played as a reserve with four tackles. Gil was offered by Monmouth coming out of high school at Cheshire Academy, and the Hawks finally got him in the portal this year.

Jahide Lesaine Jr. – DL – Syracuse – R-So.

Lesaine is a great addition for Monmouth's depleted edge group and an exciting developmental project for defensive line coach Codey Cole. The 31st-ranked prospect in New Jersey in 2024 out of Irvington, Lesaine played in 12 games as a true freshman before only playing five this past fall and presumably preserving his redshirt. He's got impressive length at 6-foot-4 and 234 pounds and could potentially be seamless transition into the same role that Lamont Lester excelled in this past year.

Jake Davis – Edge rusher – Penn – Graduate Transfer

The former Shore star at Wall comes home and fills a major need for Monmouth. Davis is also a great scheme fit for the Hawks, as he's immediately added to the rotation at edge. He possesses a skillset similar to that of transfer Josiah Graham as a tenacious pass rusher with a strong foundation defending the run. He's a late bloomer that's evolved a lot as an athlete, so do not rule out his game making another major leap under the coaching tutelage of Cole. The 6-foot-3 and 245-pound former linebacker came into his own on the edge in 2025, totaling totaling 3.0 sacks with 5.5 tackles for loss and 20 total tackles.

Jaiden McLendon Parker – S – Glenville State – Jr.

Another really intriguing add for the secondary at arguably Monmouth's biggest position of need on offense or defense. McLendon Parker was the Mountain East Conference defensive freshman of the year in 2024 after tallying four interceptions in nine games in addition to 14 total tackles and a forced fumble. His production slightly regressed as a sophomore, but he was still a staple starter with two picks and 27 total tackles. The 6-foot-1 and 190-pound safety projects as an instant starter, ideally replacing Deuce Lee as more of the high safety in the Hawk defense.

Naz Treadwell – RB – Holy Cross – Jr.

The former star at Keyport is coming home to the Shore. Treadwell is a really exciting addition who can be the powerful complimentary thunder to the Hawks' stable of lightning-fast running backs. The 6-foot-1 and 220-pound back didn't really get a chance to demonstrate what he could do on the field even as Holy Cross struggled, but he should have plenty of opportunities to showcase his talents with Monmouth.

Who's out:

Deuce Lee – S – Georgia State – Sr.

Alongside All-American Jaeden Jones, who is also in the portal, Lee was a staple defender in the secondary that helped stabilize the up-and-down Monmouth defense. He was second on the team in tackles (78) and pass break ups (9). It was a bit surprising Lee elected to transfer given that he would have been a foundational piece on the defense with a chance to build on his production, but it appears he wanted to test himself at the FBS level in his final collegiate season.

Josh Derry – WR – Central Florida – Sr.

After becoming an All-American with 1,123 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns this past season, the star receiver is headed to the Big 12 at Central Florida. Derry is a three-level threat working out of the slot or even on the perimeter. The 5-foot-9 and 180-pound receiver plays well above his size both in terms of his ability to absorb contact and his ability to make contested catches. He should be a prime target for recent James Madison standout quarterback Alonza Barnett, who is also joining the Knights after leading JMU to the College Football Playoff. Derry's game should continue to flourish under Scott Frost.

Lamont Lester Jr. – Edge rusher – Colorado – R-So.

Lester became the first of Monmouth's premier transfer targets to officially announce his next college destination. The Don Bosco product chose to join Deion Sanders at Colorado, and it's going to be a tremendous fit for both sides. The Buffaloes desperately need to improve their pass rush after only totaling an abysmal 13 sacks as a team. Lester tallied 9.5 sacks last year by himself as a redshirt freshman. The scheme fit is also excellent given Lester is a slightly undersized edge rusher at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, but Colorado actually likes that type of frame on the perimeter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth football transfer portal who's in, who's out

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