When Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss takes the field against Georgia at the Sugar Bowl Friday night, it could be his last college game if his waiver seeking a sixth year of eligibility is denied.
Whatever happens, Chambliss has already etched his name in the history books as one of the best transfer portal finds ever. He’ll need to make a big impact at the next level to be mentioned with the likes of Tyreek Hill, Adam Thielen and Austin Ekeler — several of the former Division II players who went on to make an All-Pro team in the NFL — but from a college perspective, Chambliss proved a former DII quarterback could step in and lead an SEC school to the College Football Playoff.
Chambliss, who led Ferris State in Michigan to the 2024 national championship, was one of the 130-plus players from the Division II, Division III and NAIA ranks who transferred into FBS programs prior to the 2025 season. Of those, 44 started at least six regular-season games, including eight at Power 4 programs.
When the transfer portal opens Friday, expect even more former non-Division I players to test the free agency waters in hopes of getting called up to the top level of college football.
Before that happens, let’s look back at some of the former DII players, aside from Chambliss, who became success stories during the 2025 season. Players are listed by position.
Marcellous Hawkins, RB, Virginia Tech: Hawkins made nine starts for the Hokies and was their most productive tailback with 749 yards and one touchdown on 118 carries after earning first-team All-MIAA honors in 2023 at Central Missouri.
DJ Black, WR, UCF: The 6-3, 205-pound redshirt junior from Limestone (S.C.) University started 11 games for the Knights and had 22 catches for 273 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning grab against Jacksonville State in the opener.
Terrill Davis, WR, Oklahoma State: A former All-American at Central Oklahoma, Davis started 10 games and ranked second on the team in both receptions (29) and receiving yards (373).
Cameron Dorner, WR, North Texas: The senior from Shepherd (W.Va.) University was the Mean Green’s second-leading receiver with 56 catches for 911 yards and eight touchdowns.
Tre Richardson, WR, Vanderbilt: The 5-10, 175-pound junior added some much-needed speed to the Vanderbilt receiving corps and heads into the Reliaquest Bowl Wednesday ranked second on the team with 679 receiving yards. The former first-team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association pick at Washburn (Kan.) University has three touchdown catches of 50-plus yards.
Tre Richardson 71-yards to the house. Vandy leads Kentucky 10-0 early in the 2nd quarter.
pic.twitter.com/biFY7uMFD4— Billy Derrick (@billyderrick10) November 22, 2025
DeAree Rogers, WR, Northern Illinois: The 5-11, 200-pound junior from Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) University led the Huskies in all major receiving categories with 46 catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns.
Tre Williams III, TE, North Texas: The 2024 All-American at Limestone (S.C.) University started all 14 games for North Texas as a senior. He caught 30 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns, including a season-high five catches for 60 yards in a win over Charlotte.
Mark Robinson, OT, UTEP: The 6-5, 320-pound sophomore started all 12 games for the Miners at left tackle after being named the Sun Conference Freshman of the Year at Southeastern (Fla.) University in 2024. Robinson, who allowed 24 pressures and one sack, according to Pro Football Focus, announced his intentions to enter the portal earlier this month.
Liam Wortmann, G, Colorado State: Wortmann started 35 games at Central Missouri and then 11 games for the Rams in 2025 at right guard. He gave up two sacks and 15 pressures in his final season of eligibility.
Dallas Shirley, C, Charlotte: The 6-4, 290-pound redshirt junior started 12 games for the 49ers, including 10 at center, after spending three seasons at Newberry (S.C.) College, where he earned second-team All-SAC Piedmont Division honors.
Jonathan Denis, OG, Louisiana Tech: Denis, a former four-star prospect, made stops at Oregon and Miami (Fla.) before transferring down to Central Missouri in 2024, where he started nine games for the Mules. He returned to the FBS ranks in 2025 and started the final nine games of the regular season at right guard for Louisiana Tech.
Cooper Trnavsky, OT, East Carolina: The 6-3, 295-pound redshirt senior from Newberry (S.C.) College started 10 games for the Pirates at right tackle in 2025.
Demarcus Hendricks, edge, Arkansas State: Hendricks, who spent five seasons at Texas A&M-Kingsville, finished second in the Sun Belt with 8.5 sacks and tied for fourth in tackles for loss with 13.5.
Cody Sigler, DL, Arkansas State: The 6-3, 297-pound redshirt junior from West Alabama registered seven tackles for loss, five sacks and 35 tackles for the Red Wolves while starting 11 games.
Cliff Mosley, DL, Louisiana-Monroe: The 6-4, 325-pound senior from Henderson State in Arkansas started 11 games for the Warhawks and produced 22 tackles, three TFLs and one interception.
Niles King, Edge, San Diego State: King, who made the move from Grand Valley State in Michigan, ranked second on the team in tackles for loss (10) and third in sacks (6.5).
Niles King + Sam Benjamin= Big Time Sack 💪
📺: @CBSSportsNet #AztecFAST 🍢 x #BeTheA1pha 🐺 x #TheClimb📈 pic.twitter.com/jt9yh4Mxox
— San Diego State Football (@AztecFB) November 28, 2025
Brayden Johnson, LB, Wyoming: Johnson emerged as one of the Cowboys’ top defensive players in his only season at Wyoming, leading the team with 81 tackles, to go along with 5.5 TFLs and two interceptions. He was previously a first-team All-Great American Conference pick at Oklahoma Baptist.
Brandon Rawls, LB, Oklahoma State: The redshirt senior, a two-time second-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection at Saginaw Valley State in Michigan, started 12 games for the Cowboys and was the team’s third-leading tackler with 67.
Sefa Saipaia, LB, Western Michigan: The redshirt senior was the second-leading tackler (77) for the MAC champions after coming over from Ferris State, where he won a Division II national championship alongside Chambliss.
Devin Pringle, CB, UConn: The redshirt senior started 12 games for the Huskies and tallied 45 tackles and one interception after coming over from Grand Valley State in Michigan.
Jaquez White, CB, Troy: White started 12 games for the Trojans as a junior and grabbed a team-high three interceptions and recorded 67 tackles after previously playing at Washburn (Kan.) University.
Solo Barnes, S, UTEP: The 6-3, 205-pound senior from Fayetteville State in North Carolina was the Miners’ third-leading tackler (66) and led the team with two interceptions.
Jasper Beeler, S, Northern Illinois: Beeler, a junior, tied for second in the MAC with three interceptions and was the Huskies’ third-leading tackler (77) after playing two seasons at Saginaw Valley State in Michigan.
Lento Smith, S, Tulsa: The third member of Ferris State’s national title team on this list, Smith was the Golden Hurricane’s second-leading tackler with 79 in his final season of eligibility.