College football's impact freshmen in 2026: Vanderbilt 5-star QB Jared Curtis grabs early spotlight

The transfer portal has fundamentally changed the sport of college football. For most programs, it has taken precedence when it comes to roster building. Indiana just won a national title with a starting lineup comprised mostly of transfers. Miami, its opponent in the College Football Playoff National Championship, also fielded its fair share of experienced imports. But high school recruiting -- and development -- is still as important as ever. Plenty of freshmen are ready to play early. Consider, once again, the Hurricanes. Malachi Toney was arguably their most important offensive player. He did it all for Miami as both a wide receiver and a high-level return specialist. He was also a true...