An overview of USF’s 2025 transfer portal so far

As the Bulls’ 2024 football season has come to a close with a victory in the Hawaii Bowl, all eyes now look toward the many additions and losses from the transfer portal.
The portal opened on Dec. 9 and closed on Dec. 28. Last year, USF welcomed 14 new transfers – five more than this year’s total
USF has secured nine incoming transfers in 2025 so far. On the other hand, 16 USF players from last season’s roster entered the transfer portal – 14 of them already announcing their commitments.
Related: Why these USF transfers made the move: ‘Not about the logo’ – The Oracle
Former Tennessee receiver Chas Nimrod and Stanford offensive lineman Connor McLaughlin are among the new Bulls the team is welcoming.
Nimrod tallied 29 career receptions for 315 yards and one touchdown during his time as a Volunteer. The former 4-star prospect was previously named to the 2022 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
McLaughlin played a majority of Stanford games in 2023 and 2024, although he did not see action in his first year as a Cardinal in 2020. The Tampa native has been named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll three times. Former FSU and Appalachian State offensive lineman Thomas Shrader will join McLaughlin on the field.
Related: What you missed in USF Athletics over break – The Oracle
Former Charlotte running back Cartevious Norton and FAU tight end Wyatt Sullivan also committed to USF in December.
In defense, USF will welcome two new defensive linemen, namely Josh Celiscar from Texas A&M and Jacob Merrifield, who played in FAU alongside Sullivan since 2022.
Defensive backs Boogsie Silvera and Jonas Duclona from McNeese State and Wisconsin, respectively, will also be joining the team’s ranks this year.
The former McNeese State defensive back will have big shoes to fill in his tenure as a Bull. Silvera’s brother, Nesta Jade Silvera, played football in Miami and Arizona State before being drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Third string quarterback Israel “Izzy” Carter is one of USF’s losses. The California native struggled to find playing time in 2024 despite Byrum Brown’s injury. Carter appeared in only four games and threw 195 yards for four touchdowns this past season.
Calls for Carter to see playing time grew as Brown’s backup – quarterback Bryce Archie – struggled at times.
Carter will play this upcoming season in Virginia at Norfolk State.
Related: USF QB Israel Carter enters transfer portal – The Oracle
The USF special teams lineup also lost several players to the transfer portal. Senior kicker John Cannon will head to Western Kentucky University after sharing kicking privileges with sophomore kicker Nico Gramatica in 2024. Cannon played for the Bulls for two seasons.
Long snappers Trey Dubuc and Eli Hiscock will leave for New Mexico and Wagner College, respectively. Dubuc, who also plays rugby, appeared in only one game as a Bull, that being the 2024 season opener against Bethune-Cookman. Hiscock, on the other hand, did not break through at USF.
In defense, other notable players that have left South Florida for new teams include defensive backs Tawfiq Byard and Aamaris Brown-Bunkley; defensive linemen Doug Blue-Eli and Chenellson Exume; and linebacker Langston Long.
In offense, wide receivers Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen, Tyree Kelly, and Ranod Smith; and offensive linemen Nikola Milovac and Andrew Kilfoyl have committed to new universities.
Defensive linemen Rashad Cheney, who announced his medical retirement in the fall, and Immanuel Hickman have entered the portal, but have not found a new team yet.
While the portal closing indicates that there will not be any new outgoing players from the USF roster, there is a possibility that South Florida can add some new potential assets into its ranks in the months to come.