The 2026 FCS-to-FBS Transfer Rankings: Wide Receivers

The college football season is mere days away, with Week 0 coming on like a freight train amidst the NFL preseason. Talented receivers from the portal are coming from across the country. Which of these FCS-to-FBS WRs are the best of the lot, and how could they impact their teams? Let’s take a look below!

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

Starters

1. Josh Derry | 5’9 182 | Senior | UCF

Transfer from: Monmouth

Derry starred at Monmouth for two seasons, finishing his Eagles career with 1,123 yards and 13 touchdowns on 76 receptions in 2025. He was named a FCS All-American receiver because of his impressive production, and 247Sports rated him as a three-star portal recruit.”Scary Derry” is on the smaller side, so he’ll likely be limited to slot receiver at the next level. The former zero-star recruit has risen impressively through the FCS ranks and has the chance to prove it at the Power 4 level. He’ll lead the Knights’ receiver room that features newish faces looking to improve their production. Derry will likely be transfer QB Alonza Barnett’s best target. The former three-star signee could get on many draft radars with a great season and if he tests well during the offseason.

UCF’s three-headed hydra of offensive firepower and their schedule should have the Knights go bowling at the minimum. 247Sports had Derry ranked as the 198th overall portal receiver, and he possesses the chance to become better than his rating. Can he lead the receiver room out of the abyss in year two of Scott Frost’s regime?

2. Tony Diaz | 5’10 184 | Redshirt Sophomore | Iowa

Transfer from: UT-Rio Grande Valley

The Hawkeyes got a steal from the FCS ranks in Diaz, who’s generating daily hype with his ability. He earned numerous honors, including Southland Freshman Of The Year, Southland First Team, and AP All-American Honorable Mention. Needless to say, he’s on track to turn it up a notch at the FBS level as one of Iowa’s most talented receivers in a long time. The former UTRGV receiver is one of the more underrated receivers in the country. The Texas native projects to start in the Hawkeyes’ revamped passing attack, which improved in 2025. Can they carry it over to 2026 with a new quarterback? Diaz teams up with another FCS transfer on this list to form a dynamic receiver group. Iowa will be led by running back Kamari Moulton as the winner of the QB competition gets adjusted.

3. Isaiah Fuhrmann | 6’4 210 | Redshirt Junior | Georgia Tech

Transfer from: Elon

Fuhrmann is a big-bodied receiver who fits the mold of previous standout Georgia Tech wideouts. He ranked as a three-star recruit and the 311th overall receiver, according to 247Sports. He’s a big play threat, averaging almost 20 yards per catch in 2025. The former Elon receiver produced a standout campaign with 907 yards and nine touchdowns on 46 receptions. With Georgia Tech’s offense decimated due to transfers, he’ll be asked to carry the load for a young receiver room trying to find its feet under a new offensive coordinator. Tech isn’t widely known for its passing attack, but that could change with transfer quarterback Alberto Mendoza and Fuhrmann leading the way.

2026 could be a rebuilding year for the Yellow Jackets as the talent adjusts and the schedule is unkind, to say the least. After opening up with Colorado and Tennessee, they close with Louisville, Clemson, Wake, and Georgia in November. Achieving bowl eligibility will be a positive turn of events for this group.

4. Malachi Henry | 6’0 205 | Redshirt Junior | Cincinnati

Transfer from: Central Arkansas

Henry broke out in 2024 with 41 receptions for 683 yards and five touchdowns and truly emerged as a starting option in 2025. He posted 69 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns, which garnered him All-UAC First-Team honors last season. 247Sports rated him as a three-star portal receiver and the 373rd overall player at his position. He’s projected as a starter for the Bearcats in 2026 and has good size along with the production to get himself at least an invite to a lower-tier postseason all-star game. Cincinnati has an interesting quarterback situation brewing, with transfers JC French IV and Liam O’Brien battling for the job. Henry projects well to soak up a lot of numbers regardless of who the quarterback is. The Bearcats lost a ton to the portal and the draft, so opportunity is there for him.

Another FCS-to-FBS wide receiver name to keep an eye on is Larenzo Fenner, who transferred from South Dakota. Isaiah Johnson is another name to watch, as he also came from the FCS ranks (Western Carolina). Cincinnati will be hard-pressed to be bowl-eligible with a tough schedule that features Texas Tech, Utah, Houston, and Iowa State consecutively.

5. Cody Jackson | 6’0 190 | Redshirt Senior | Iowa State

Transfer from: Tarleton State

Jackson is a well-traveled receiver who began his career as a four-star high school signee at Oklahoma in 2021 before transferring to Houston and ultimately landing at Tarleton State in 2023. Jackson was highly regarded coming out of high school, ranking as the sixth-best receiver in the entire class. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with Lamierre Syndrome while at Oklahoma, which affected his career significantly. Still, he began to thrive at Tarleton, producing 490 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. The 2025 season put his name on the FBS radar with 53 receptions for 799 yards and six touchdowns. He concludes a remarkable journey, bouncing back from a serious illness, and returns to the Big 12 with Iowa State as a three-star recruit.

The Cyclones are starting fresh with a new head coach as longtime head coach Matt Campbell left for Penn State’s siren song this past offseason. Jackson has shown flashes of what made him a top recruit at the FCS level; can he translate it to a bigger role at the FBS level? He’s in line to start for the new administration with promising Jaylen Raynor throwing the pigskin around. Iowa State has the tools to be competitive in the Big 12, but the schedule is tough at spots.

6. Evan James | 5’10 170 | Sophomore | Iowa

Transfer from: Furman

James entered Furman as a three-star high school recruit and left the Paladins with the same star ranking. He led the team with 65 receptions for 796 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman. James was named to the FCS Freshman All-American team because of his contributions. The Sunshine State native joins the Hawkeyes as a key rotation piece, if not an outright starter, even at his precocious age. James is talented enough to become a featured receiver for the traditionally deficient Iowa passing attack that needs to replace massive amounts of talent at his position. Could he seize a starting role for the Hawkeyes in 2026? It will be interesting to see how they use him in their offense. Keep an eye out for his name in 2027.

7. Jared Richardson | 6’2 220 | Graduate | Duke

Transfer from: Penn

Richardson, like so many of his FCS colleagues, made a name for himself after entering college as an unranked recruit. Before signing with Duke, he slowly got himself onto the radar, culminating in a monster 2025 that produced 80 receptions for 1,033 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s a two-time All-Ivy League first-team selection and a FCS All-American receiver. 247Sports ranked him as the 83rd overall receiver and a three-star recruit. The former Quaker star receiver should get the start for the rebuilt Blue Devils’ passing offense with a new quarterback in two. Richardson should keep the pass game afloat with his size and length that will fool opposing defensive backs.

The reigning ACC champions should compete for another title, but a crucial stretch in November against NC State, Miami, and Clemson will determine their fate. Richardson is a clear WR1, leading the way with draft intrigue surrounding the talented pass catcher.

Rotation Players

1. Ernest Campbell | 5’9 145 | Redshirt Sophomore | Colorado

Transfer from: Sacramento State

Campbell is another portal receiver who reentered Power 4 football by signing with Colorado as a three-star portal recruit. He transferred in from newly enshrined FBS member Sacramento State alongside former Hornets head coach Brennan Marion. His experience in the “Go-Go” offense should give him a leg up in the competition along with his blinding track speed. However, his smaller frame is a significant concern at a listed 145 pounds, which would shatter most records for the lightest players ever to play the game. He originally signed with Texas A&M as a three-star recruit in the 2024 class. 247Sports ranks him as a three-star portal receiver and the 70th-best at his position.

The diminutive receiver could be in line to start early as standout transfer receiver Danny Scudero is battling an injury that has kept him out of fall camp. He also ran track for the Aggies during his time at College Station and posted 37 receptions for 755 yards and eight touchdowns. Campbell took his track exploits to Boulder as well. If OC Marion can carve out a gadget role for him, there’s no reason that he couldn’t succeed right away at Colorado.

2. Jalen Jones | 5’8 180 | Redshirt Junior | Texas Tech

Transfer from: Alabama State

Jones is one of the best FCS-to-FBS receivers to enter the portal with his production and resume. Like many of his FCS compatriots, he entered college as an unranked zero-star recruit who made good. He elevated his play for the Hornets, finishing with a flourish by posting 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns on 51 catches. His 2025 campaign earned him numerous honors such as FCS Second Team All-America and All-SWAC First Team. Jones is a deep-threat master with an absurd 22.8 yards per reception in 2025. He transferred to Texas Tech as a three-star portal recruit as the 140th overall receiver.

He’ll likely begin the season as a rotational receiver behind veteran Coy Eakin. The Red Raiders have serious talent to replace at his position, so Jones will get his chance sooner or later to prove himself in the FCS-to-FBS WR rankings. Micah Hudson and Kenny Johnson are expected to lead the group. The Red Raiders have a soft schedule that avoids the other Big 12 superpower BYU (unless they meet in the conference championship). However, the Big 12 is notorious for eating its own regularly, and they have quarterback issues if Will Hammond isn’t fully healthy yet. It would be a major upset if Texas Tech isn’t part of the CFP in 2026.

3. Jackson Voth | 5’11 190 | Redshirt Sophomore | Louisville

Transfer from: Drake

Voth reenters Power 4 football after spending a season with Drake by signing with Louisville as a three-star-rated portal receiver. 247Sports rated him as a two-star high school prospect in the 2025 class. He produced 600 yards and five touchdowns on 51 receptions in his lone season starting in FCS play. Voth originally signed with Kansas State as a high school recruit before leaving after a redshirt season in Manhattan. He will likely serve as a backup for the Cardinals, who have high hopes of competing in the ACC. Voth will have to earn his way through special teams as a returner. Expect bigger things in 2027 if he doesn’t transfer or the Cardinals recruit better players.