The 2026 FCS to FBS Transfer Rankings: Running Backs Run Wild

The 2026 college football season is heading into our lives full steam ahead, with Week 0 on the horizon. There are several notable transfer running backs dotting the landscape. Who are the best rushers making the transition to the FBS in these FCS-to-FBS running back rankings? Are there others who could make an impact at bigger programs?

Notes: All statistics are courtesy of College Football Reference and various school websites where applicable. Players are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked on talent, program fit, etc. 247Sports was the primary website used for rankings.

You can find the positional rankings as they occur below:

Quarterback

Starters

1. D.J. Crowther | 5’11 215 | USF | Redshirt Senior

Transfer from: Dartmouth

Crowther trades one shade of green for another with his transfer to USF under new head coach Brian Hartline. He originally signed with Ivy League program Dartmouth as a three-star recruit. After two underwhelming seasons, he broke out in 2025 with 929 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior. Crowther earned All-Ivy League First Team honors with his 2025 performance and elected to use his final season in Tampa. 247Sports rated him as a three-star portal running back and the 139th overall at the position, which is an improvement over his initial ranking out of high school.

He won the starting job over fellow FCS transfer Jason Collins, Jr (Morgan State) for Hartline’s inaugural team. He could be in for a big season, with a mobile quarterback drawing the defense’s attention and the Bulls having enough to compete for a bowl game. Crowther should be a great foundational piece as the operation in Tampa gets going.

2. Landen Chambers | 5’11 215 | UCF | Redshirt Junior

Transfer from: Central Arkansas

Chambers joins the other side of the War on I-4 rivalry opposite Crowther as a three-star portal running back. He rushed for 1,273 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025. The newest starting Knights running back entered college as a three-star recruit and left for Orlando as the 133rd-best at the position. He also caught 27 receptions for 238 yards, signaling his dual-threat capability. UCF has a new transfer-laden backfield with Chambers and former JMU quarterback Alonza Barnett manning the controls. While they avoid Big 12 heavy Texas Tech, BYU has to visit the Bounce House. The three-week stretch in which they face TCU, Houston, and Oklahoma State determines the fortune of their 2026 season. Its schedule sets up nicely for at least seven wins and a bowl bid in year two of the Scott Frost reunion tour.

3. Ahmad Miller | 6’0 210 | Syracuse | Redshirt Junior

Transfer from: Jackson State

Miller comes into Upper New York with a bit of a burnished CV after a standout 2025 season that saw him break the 1,000-yard barrier with six touchdowns. Clearly there’s something there for Fran Brown’s staff to make him the starter for the Orange. He’s the younger brother of JSU standout linebacker Aubrey Miller. 247Sports ranked him as the 116th-best portal running back as a three-star signee. He earned a first-team All-SWAC selection and led the conference in rushing. Miller missed a majority of the 2024 season due to injury, so 2025 was a great bounce-back season for the running back. The redshirt junior is slated to start over Ju’Juan Johnson, who transferred in from LSU.

Syracuse fell off a cliff once quarterback Steve Angeli got injured, so his health is a top priority, and a competent running game works toward that goal. Miller is a highly touted runner with draftable potential if he has a strong 2026 season. The Orange’s schedule is relatively manageable to see a seven-win campaign. Can Miller lead a revitalization for the ascending program?

4. C.J. Miller | 5’11 230 | Toledo | Redshirt Junior

Transfer from: Mercer

Miller joins a Toledo program in transition after former coach Jason Candle left for UCONN and Jim Mora Jr. departed for Colorado State. He entered the program as a zero-star recruit and left for the Rockets as a three-star portal signing and the 103rd-best running back, according to 247. The Yellowhammer State native broke out in 2024 with over 404 yards and three touchdowns and continued his good run of form in 2025. He rushed for 957 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, earning a spot on the All-SoCon first team. Miller also contributed 314 yards and three touchdowns in the passing game in 2025. He has earned the starting job over Penn State transfer Corey Smith. Watch for him to get on the draft radar if he leads the Rockets to an above-average season in 2026.

Rotation Players

1. Marquis Gillis | 6’0 220 | Redshirt Senior | Arizona State

Transfer from: Delaware State

Gillis brings extensive experience to the Sun Devils after starting his career at Delaware State, rushing for over 1,100 yards and 19 touchdowns. He turned into a three-star transfer recruit after starting as a zero-star high school recruit, which is impressive. 247Sports ranked him as the 128th-best running back in the portal. The Delaware native projects to battle incumbent Demarius Robinson for backup duties behind starter Kyson Brown. Arizona State’s running back underwent a serious transition in the past couple of offseasons, with Gillis being one of several transfers at the position. The former DSU star certainly has more experience and production over his counterparts.

Arizona State’s schedule will determine their Big 12 fate by Halloween with trips to Texas Tech and BYU plus a home date against Kansas State sandwiched in between. Can the running game take the pressure off of the still emerging passing attack? They have the talent to bounce back from a three-win season and finish midtable in the conference.

2. Lendon Phillips, Jr | 5’8 211 | Redshirt Junior | Iowa

Transfer from: South Dakota

Phillips turned into a three-star transfer signing for the Hawkeyes after initially starting his career as a zero-star recruit at South Dakota and became one of the most prolific runners during the 2025 season, rushing for over 1,900 yards and 19 touchdowns on 294 attempts. The former Coyotes star back earned his selection to the first-team FCS All-American team with his standout performance. 247 Sports ranked him as the 112th running back in the portal while On3 ranked him as the 38th-best. The Sunflower State native elected to sign with Iowa and backs up incumbent Kamari Moulton. How will the time share be distributed between Moulton and Phillips in 2026?. Both players bring similar physical traits.

Iowa’s mental fortitude gets tested early and often with a midseason stretch of Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington in consecutive order before their bye week. Illinois presents a tough challenge in November for their Big Ten title hopes. The Hawkeyes project as a conference contender.

3. Carter Vargas | 5’11 205 | Redshirt Sophomore | Cal

Transfer from: UC Davis

Vargas was a three-star recruit who signed with UC Davis as the 182nd overall running back in the 2024 class. He redshirted that season before breaking out as a redshirt freshman in 2025. Unfortunately, he was injured midseason after a productive start for the Aggies, rushing for 445 yards and five touchdowns. He also contributed in the passing game with 177 yards and two touchdowns on 10 receptions. In addition to his offensive versatility, Vargas returned kicks last season. Despite his injury, 247 ranked him as the 30th-best runner in the portal and a three-star transfer recruit. He drew interest from Oregon before signing with Cal, which hired alum and former Oregon DC Tosh Lupoi as head coach.

Cal’s top three running backs are made entirely from the portal, with Adam Mohammed leading the way after coming in from Washington. Vargas will battle backup Ashten Emory (UTEP) for reps while playing special teams as a kick returner. It could be an interesting competition for 2027. Mohammed could enter the draft after a strong season. Mohammed also has kick return experience, but how often do teams trot out their main running back on returns? Vargas could have the biggest impact for the Golden Bears in the return game. The Golden Bears should be competitive in 2026 and hope for an upper-half ACC finish under Lupoi.