Top 5 transfers ACC teams acquired through winter window of portal ft. Carson Beck 

The ACC was the only one of the Power 4 conferences not represented in the College Football Playoff. With Florida State on a down year and Miami not quite all the way back, perennial power Clemson and conference newcomer SMU made the CFP but were eliminated in the first round.

This season, the Seminoles and Hurricanes were active in the transfer portal. Carson Beck was the big name landing in an ACC school, but the class wasn’t that loaded for the conference.

Top 5 transfers acquired by ACC teams

After a down year for the ACC, the conference had a couple of top-ten transfer commitments and five in the top 25. Needing to fill spots all over the roster, Florida State had a top-five class, while the Hurricanes also landed in the top 10.

Here are the top five main transfers acquired by ACC schools.

Duce Robinson led USC in yards per catch average. - Source: Imagn

#5. Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele, QB, California Golden Bears

Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele has had an odd last few months. He committed to Cal in the summer only to flip to Oregon. After enrolling for a month at Eugene, he decided to enter the transfer portal and wound up back with the Golden Bears. Oregon has Dante Moore and Austin Novosad on the roster.

Sagapolutele became the Hawai’i all-time high school passing leader in the fall. He is accurate and has good arm strength. In their second year as part of the ACC, the Bears currently have redshirt sophomore CJ Harris and redshirt freshman EJ Caminong, so Sagapolutele could compete for playing time in 2025.

#4. Fa’alili Fa’amoe, OT, Wake Forest Demon Deacons

The talented offensive tackle followed his former head coach at Washington State, Jake Dickert, to Winston-Salem. After five years at Pullman, Fa’alili Fa’amoe will have one year of eligibility remaining.

The Samoa native is a strong blocker and started the final nine games of the season. He was a team captain for the Cougars. His addition should help the Demon Deacons strengthen their offensive line. He was the No. 2 offensive tackle in the portal.

#3. James Williams, Edge, Florida State Seminoles

After a disastrous 2024 season, Florida State revamped some spots in the transfer portal. James Williams is a pass-rush specialist who had five sacks this season for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He added 14 tackles.

In two years at Nebraska, he totaled 18 tackles and seven sacks. He will be rejoining some old members of the Huskers’ coaching staff at Tallahassee, including position coach Terrence Knighton.

#2. Duce Robinson, WR, Florida State Seminoles

Another transfer landing in Tallahassee, but this time on the other side of the ball. The former USC player was the No. 3 wide receiver in the transfer portal. At 6-6, 220 pounds, Duce Robinson is a big target who could thrive as a red zone target.

In two years with the Trojans, Robinson caught 39 passes for 747 yards and seven touchdowns. He led the team in touchdowns this season with five. He also averaged 17.2 yards per reception. He should be the top receiver for the Noles coming into the 2025 season.

#1. Carson Beck, QB, Miami Hurricanes

The top player in the portal once again committed to the Miami Hurricanes. After Cam Ward came in last season and raised his draft stock considerably, Carson Beck will look to do the same in his final season.

Beck is an experienced quarterback who flashed talent in two years at Georgia. While he couldn’t win a national title as a starter, he was part of both championship teams in Athens.

His 2024 season was uneven. The Jacksonville, Florida native finished with 3,485 yards, and career-highs in touchdowns (28) and interceptions (12). He suffered a UCL injury in the SEC Championship Game that could affect his preparation for the 2025 season, but Beck will look to follow what Ward did a year before.