High school football's biggest transfers of 2026: 15 players everyone is watching
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As the national high school football scene continues to evolve on a yearly basis, players transferring from one school to another has arguably become the biggest talking point heading into each new season.
Every state has its own set of unique transfer rules, resulting in some players being ruled ineligible and others having no issues moving from one school to another.
While cases like John Meredith III and Colton Nussmeier had transfers that were ultimately ruled ineligible, other big-name players did not have that issue and will play the 2026 season at another school.
Here's a look at 15 of the biggest high school football transfers from around the country ahead of the 2026 football season.
Austin Attalah: Cajon (CA) to Orange Lutheran (CA)
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: 2028
College Commitment: Uncommitted
Breakdown: Attalah is the newest big-name transfer, announcing his decision on July 31. The 6-foot-8. 270-pounder is ranked as the No. 25 player in the updated USA TODAY Sports 2028 composite rankings.
Jamier Brown: Wayne (OH) to Big Walnut (OH) to Wayne
Position: Wide receiver
Class: 2027
College Commitment: Ohio State
Breakdown: Brown's story added another chapter as he was reportedly seen practicing with Wayne after transferring to Big Walnut back in January. Last season at Wayne, he led the Greater Western Ohio Conference in all-purpose yardage, catching 73 passes for 1,009 yards and 10 touchdowns, tallying two rushing touchdowns and also had four special teams touchdowns.
Keegan Croucher: Cheshire Academy (CT) to Baylor (TN)
Position: Quarterback
Class: 2027
College Commitment: Ole Miss
Breakdown: Croucher made the move to Tennessee's top program ahead of his senior season and will play significantly closer to his future home in Oxford. As a junior at Cheshire Academy, he led the Cats to a 6-3 record, completing 69% of his passes for 1,692 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Joshua Dobson: Catawba Ridge (SC) to Hough (NC)
Position: Cornerback
Class: 2027
College Commitment: South Carolina
Breakdown:Dobson will return to his home state for college ball but will play his final season of high school football with the defending NCHSAA Class 8A state champions. The No. 15 player in the updated 2027 composite ranking, appeared in eight games last season making an impact in all three phases of the game.
Marcus Fakatou: Orange Lutheran (CA) to Sierra Canyon (CA)
Position: Defensive lineman
Class: 2027
College Commitment: Ohio State
Breakdown:Another top 25 Ohio State commitment, Fakatou was a standout on a Lancers team that struggled in 2025. In 12 games he was credited with 69 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks and two forced fumbles.
Brayton Feister: Archbishop Hoban (OH) to Massillon Washington (OH)
Position: Athlete
Class: 2027
College Commitment: Uncommitted
Breakdown: Along with his younger brother Brydon, Feister heads to Ohio's winningest all-time program for his senior season looking to win Washington's 26th state title. The 6-foot-2, 238-pounder was a two-way standout and Mr. Football finalist at Hoban, totaling 133 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions on defense to go along with 116 carries for 1,098 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Quentin Hale: Cathedral (CA) to Centennial (CA)
Position: Wide receiver
Class: 2027
College Commitment: USC
Breakdown: Hale will get the chance to shine at one of California's premier programs for his senior season before heading to Los Angles for college ball. He's coming off back-to-back double-digit touchdown seasons and finished his junior year with 62 receptions for 872 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Neimann Lawrence: Miami Northwestern (FL) to American Heritage (FL)
Position: Quarterback
Class: 2028
College Commitment: Texas
Breakdown: Lawrence had a standout season at Miami Northwestern as a junior, leading the Bulls to a 13-1 record and completing 71% of his passes for 1,971 yards 32 touchdowns. Like his predecessor at American Heritage Dia Bell, he also committed to Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns.
Malachi Lee: Westfield (VA) to Loudon Sports Academy (VA)
Position: Wide receiver
Class: 2028
College Commitment: Uncommitted
Breakdown: The No. 40 player in the 2028 class, Lee led the Bulldogs to a 9-4 record in 2025, catching a team-high 69 receptions for 978 yards and 11 touchdowns. He announced his transfer to Loudon Sports Academy, joining a wide receiver room that includes Virginia Tech four-star commit Cam Wade.
Nick Lennear: Miami Northwestern (FL) to Miami Carol City (FL)
Position: Wide receiver
Class: 2027
College Commitment: Miami
Breakdown: Another top area prospect Mario Cristobal was able to keep home, Lennear also made the decision to transfer from one of the area's top programs to another that is loading up with talent from all over the state. The No. 12 player in the 2027 class, Lennear played on both sides of ball for a Bulls team that made the Sunshine State Class 3A title game.
Aidan McPherson: Rome (GA) to Thomas County (GA)
Position: Quarterback
Class: 2027
College Commitment: Duke
Breakdown: McPherson's transfer from Roma to Thomas County was recently ruled on by the Georgia High School Association, allowing the Duke commit to play his final season with the defending Class 5A champions. In a quarterback room that was going to be young, the Yellow Jackets now have a quarterback who threw for 3,096 yards 31 touchdowns while also rushing for 964 yards and 15 more touchdowns last season.
Elisha Mueller: Servite (CA) to St. John Bosco (CA)
Position: Interior offensive linemen
Class: 2028
College Commitment: Uncommitted
Breakdown: Coming off an All-County season at Servite, Mueller announced his decision to transfer to St. John Bosco in February. The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder holds offers from nearly every major Power Four program and is ranked as a four-star prospect by 247Sports.
Colton Nussmeier: Marcus (TX) to Archbishop Rummell (LA)
Position: Quarterback
Class: 2027
College Commitment: Georgia
Breakdown: One of the biggest stories of the offseason was the eligibility battle between Nussmeier and the state of Texas. The original ruling was upheld by the UIL and Nussmeier transferred out of state to play his senior season. In an injury-shortened junior year, he completed 60% of his passes for 1,390 yards and 12 touchdowns with only one interception in eight games.
A'mir Sears: West Broward (FL) to Columbus (FL)
Position: Cornerback
Class: 2027
College Commitment: Miami
Breakdown: Sears has been a newsmaker since the end of sophomore season, not only for transferring high schools but for reclassifying from the 2028 class to 2027 and then committing to Miami. The Hurricanes are getting one of the nation's best who led West Broward to its first state championship in 2025, catching 49 passes for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with 61 tackles, 11 pass breakups and three interceptions.
Anthony Sweeney: Good Counsel (MD) to St. Frances Academy (MD)
Position: EDGE
Class: 2027
College Commitment: Texas Tech
Breakdown: Sweeney has been regarded as one of the best prospects in his class since he first stepped onto a football field. This year he'll play for one of the nation's top programs after accounting for 34 tackles, five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 11 games for Good Counsel as a junior.
Trae Taylor: Carmel (IL) to Millard South (NE)
Position: Quarterback
Class: 2027
College Commitment: Nebraska
Breakdown: Taylor moved closer to his future college home following a junior season at Carmel, where he led the program to an 8-3 record. He completed 82% of his passes during his junior year, throwing for 3,571 yards and 38 touchdowns with only three interceptions along with 12 rushing touchdowns.
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High school football's biggest transfers of 2026: 15 players everyone is watching
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