The 2026 FCS-to-FBS Transfer Rankings: Offensive Line

The FCS-to-FBS transfer pipeline constantly churns out great players who make their mark at the highest levels of college football. Who are the top FCS-to-FBS offensive line prospects to watch during the 2026 season? Can they elevate their stock in the eyes of the draft community?

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

You can find the positional rankings as they occur below:

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Starters

Offensive Tackle

1. Jacob Arop | 6’6 330 | Redshirt Sophomore | Cal

Transfer from: South Dakota

Arop ranked as a four-star high school recruit before signing with South Dakota in 2024. He left the Coyotes as a three-star transfer recruit and will protect JKS’s blindside. He’s a massive mountain at a listed 6’6 330, and could be a sleeper on many draft boards in 2027 if all goes well. Cal remodeled its stagnating program with the energetic Tosh Lupoi, and Arop was the only FCS-to-FBS signee, which says a lot about his talent. Can he translate to the FBS ranks against better competition? That’s the question all of his leveling-up compatriots must answer. The Golden Bears should be competitive, and the schedule breaks nicely for an upper-half finish in the ACC.

2. Michael Bennett III | 6’5 302 | Redshirt Senior | Oregon

Transfer from: Yale

The Ducks dipped into the FCS ranks again to find a starting offensive tackle, and they received a good one. Bennett III earned All-Ivy mention for three consecutive seasons, ending up with two straight All-Ivy First Team honors. He earned AP FCS All-American Honorable Mention in 2025. 247Sports rated him as the 33rd overall offensive tackle portal prospect and a three-star recruit. Oregon has all the tools to be a national championship contender, but the offensive line has questions. Perhaps Bennett can answer the question at right tackle. Can the Ducks get past a tougher schedule that includes trips to USC and Ohio State?

3. Cedric Jefferson | 6’5 300 | Redshirt Junior | Utah

Transfer from: Montana State

Jefferson enters a Utah program in a serious transition phase, as longtime DC Morgan Scalley was promoted to head coach and legend Kyle Whittingham exits to Michigan. He was rated as a three-star portal signee from the reigning FCS national champion Montana State Bobcats. While starting every game at right tackle, he earned All-Big Sky honorable mention honors in 2025. The championship right tackle ranked as the 138th overall tackle prospect from the portal. He immediately slots in as the starting right tackle and has the tough challenge of replacing first-round selection Spencer Fano. It will be interesting to see how the coaching transition affects the Utes in 2026, but they do have a manageable schedule.

4. Frankie Tinilau | 6’6 325 | Redshirt Junior | James Madison

Transfer from: East Tennessee State

Tinilau’s interesting football life journey takes him to Harrisonburg, where he’ll start at left tackle for the Dukes. He initially signed with Miami as a three-star recruit but transferred to ETSU after two seasons. Like many Australian natives, his background is steeped in rugby, similar to Jordan Mailata. Much like Mailata, Tinilau also plays left tackle. New JMU coach Billy Napier takes over as Bob Chesney becomes the latest JMU coach to leave for a bigger job. The 2026 season will be an interesting one for the Dukes as they transition to a new coach. Tinilau anchors the offensive line with three other starters with FBS experience on their CVs. Watch for his name to pop in 2027.

Guard

1. Colin Amick | 6’6 305 | Redshirt Sophomore | Iowa State

Transfer from: Montana

Amick entered the college ranks as a two-star recruit and left perennial FCS contender Montana as a three-star portal tackle with FCS Freshman All-America honors. 247Sports rated him as the 134th offensive tackle in the portal, and he joins fellow FCS transfer Braden Smith with the rebuilding Cyclones. Amick played right tackle primarily with the Grizzlies but likely slides inside to guard at Iowa State. If he can handle the increased talent level of FBS pass rushers, he could be in line for increased attention from scouts. Teams will love his versatility.

2. Beau Johnson | 6’6 305 | Redshirt Junior | Vanderbilt

Transfer from: North Dakota State

Johnson signed with the Bison as a three-star recruit in the 2023 class, ranking as the 150th tackle, according to 247Sports. He earned numerous honors in 2025 after playing both tackle spots and guard. The redshirt junior was named to the AP FCS All-America second team and All-MVC First Team last season. Clearly, he’s versatile enough to play every position on the line but will likely line up at left tackle for the Commodores. With a good season at tackle, there’s a chance that teams will ask him to audition at guard and center during the draft process. He signed with Vanderbilt as a three-star portal recruit and the 27th-rated offensive tackle, so 247Sports thinks highly of the talented athlete.

The Commodores face a tough stretch with consecutive games against NC State, Auburn, Georgia, and Ole Miss. November is projected to be a difficult slog with contests against Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. Yes, Vanderbilt is coming off the best stretch in its history, but repeating the 2025 season will be tough. Bowl eligibility should be the standard in 2026.

Center

1. Racin Delgatty | 6’3 305 | Redshirt Junior | Alabama

Transfer from: Cal Poly

The Crimson Tide dipped into the FCS ranks to get their starting center, and he’s a good one. 247Sports rated him as a three-star portal recruit and the 35th overall IOL. He started 11 games at center in 2025, and with a good season for the Tide, he could see himself on a lot of draft boards. It will be interesting to monitor his progress as the jump from blocking FCS defenders to SEC defenders is quite the chasm. Can the Golden State native translate his play to the big boys?

2. Trent Fraley | 6’1 306 | Redshirt Senior | Michigan State

Transfer from: North Dakota State

Fraley brings an impressive CV to the Spartans, earning numerous honors before transferring from NDSU. He earned recognition with the 2025 Rimington Award, First Team All-MVFC, AP FCS All-American, among countless others. Fraley started two seasons at center for the FCS powerhouse Bison before he left the program. The son of longtime veteran NFL standout Hugh Fraley was a three-star portal recruit. He began his college career at Marshall as a two-star recruit before becoming a big name at NDSU. 247Sports ranked him as the 45th overall IOL in the 2026 class. Fraley will anchor the rebuilding Spartans program at the pivot and should be on NFL radars this season.

3. Braden Smith | 6’4 310 | Redshirt Sophomore | Iowa State

Transfer from: Tarleton State

Smith is the second Cyclone starter that they grabbed from the FCS ranks and a well-accomplished one at that. He earned All-UAC second-team honors while being named to the First Team Stats Perform All-American. Interestingly, Smith converted to right guard after spending his first season at Tarleton on the defensive line. He’s just scratching the surface of his offensive line potential and joins former Tarleton State teammate Cody Jackson in Ames. His name will be one to watch in the coming seasons as the Cyclones rebuild under a new coach.

Rotational Players

Offensive Tackle

1. Fred Hinton | 6’4 313 | Junior | Oklahoma

Transfer from: Eastern Kentucky

Hinton graduated from the prestigious IMG Academy as a three-star recruit and signed with EKU in the 2024 class. He transferred from Eastern Kentucky to Oklahoma as a three-star portal signee. The former EKU Colonels tackle is still finding his way as a college lineman, earning six starts last season. He’ll likely project as a backup to starter Michael Fasusi in 2026. Oklahoma’s offensive line is set in stone with its starters, but it doesn’t mean that Hinton won’t play a role for the Sooners. He’s one of only three transfer portal signees that Oklahoma took from the FCS. Can he make an impact and further solidify himself for the 2027 season? The Sooners have the talent and schedule to compete in the upper half of the SEC.

2. Chimida Nwaiwu | 6’5 307 | Redshirt Junior | Florida State

Transfer from: Stephen F. Austin

Nwaiwu comes highly regarded as 247Sports’ 26th-ranked offensive tackle and a three-star portal recruit. He transferred from Stephen F. Austin after making 13 starts for the Lumberjacks. The Seminoles elected to list him as the backup right tackle behind starter Nate Pabst. The former Lumberjacks tackle earned First Team All-Southland recognition during the 2025 season. If Pabst falters against a higher level of competition, Nwaiwu could take his place as the permanent starter. Florida State isn’t expected to compete for the ACC title, and head coach Mike Norvell is on an extremely short leash. It could be another lost season for the Seminoles with a brutal schedule that contains SMU, Alabama, Clemson, Miami, and Florida. They could go winless in a stretch of facing Louisville, Miami, and Clemson.

3. Tolu Olajide | 6’5 300 | Redshirt Senior | Wake Forest

Transfer from: New Hampshire

Olajide joins the Demon Deacons, who surprisingly competed well last season under new head coach Jake Dickert. He started 26 games at left tackle for New Hampshire before transferring as a three-star recruit. 247Sports ranked him as the 121st overall prospect at his position. Olajide turned into a First Team All-CAA performer in 2025 and projects as the backup left tackle behind starter Ethan Calloway. Wake won’t sneak up on opponents this season and will at least compete for an upper-half finish in the ACC.

4. Netinho Olivieri | 6’4 310 | Redshirt Senior | Pittsburgh

Transfer from: Penn

Our next key rotational piece also hails from the ACC and the Northeast. The veteran Ivy League starter has a bushel of honors, including consecutive All-Ivy League First Team selections and an AP All-American season. He’s started for three years, logging 28 starts at left tackle for the Quakers. He transferred to Pitt as a three-star recruit and the 209th overall offensive tackle. It’s entirely possible that he could start for the Panthers given the breadth of his experience. He’s battling incumbent Kendall Stanley for the left tackle role and could see himself on the draft boards with a great season.

5. TyQuez Richardson | 6’5 325 | Redshirt Sophomore | Georgia

Transfer from: Alabama A&M

Richardson started every game last season for Alabama A&M at left tackle before entering the portal as a three-star transfer to Georgia. The Peach State native returns home as a redshirt sophomore. He’ll likely play a role as a reserve swing tackle for the Bulldogs in 2026 before competing for the starting role in 2027. It says volumes that a high-caliber program like Georgia took him in as their only FCS transfer. Clearly, he brings talent and fills a much-needed role. Georgia looks to retain its SEC crown once again with a loaded roster hungry for more CFP success.

Guard

1. Isaiah Cook | 6’2 310 | Redshirt Senior | Rutgers

Transfer from: Delaware State

The Scarlet Knights received good news when Cook committed to Greg Schiano’s staff as a well-accomplished three-star portal IOL. He earned All-MEAC First Team honors last season while also landing on the HBCU All-America First Team. Cook is a versatile lineman with experience across the line, with starts at center, right guard, and right tackle. He projects as a swing interior lineman who has the experience to play all three positions in a pinch. The New Jersey native returns to his home state for his final collegiate season before making his way to the next level. Teams will love his versatility and could launch him onto draft radars with a positive season in 2026. Keep an eye out for him to possibly make a postseason college all-star game in 2026. Rutgers should compete for bowl eligibility, which should be the minimum expectation.

2. Ja’Quan Sprinkle | 6’4 297 | Redshirt Junior | LSU

Transfer from: NC Central

Sprinkle started at NC Central for two seasons and earned two consecutive All-MEAC Second Team selections. 247Sports rated him as a three-star portal recruit and the 61st overall interior offensive lineman. He was part of a large transfer class for Lane Kiffin’s first season in Baton Rouge. The former NCCU standout is the only FCS/HBCU player listed on LSU’s two-deep interior line amid the plethora of FBS transfers. While he likely won’t start in 2026, he’s a capable starter who could swing between both guard positions. The Palmetto State native projects as the backup right guard behind starter Ali Bah, who transferred from Maryland. Expect big things for him in 2027 if he stays with the program. Interestingly, he’s one of only three IOL transfers that LSU took from the portal, and the only one from the FCS ranks.