The NCAA’s relaxed transfer rules and legislation allowing players to be compensated for their name, image and likeness have changed the face of college football recruiting.

Even though coaches aren’t fond of the changes – including Wake Forest’s Dave Clawson, who has referred to the transfer portal as “the transfer toilet” – they’ve been quick to take advantage of the process.

Especially with such a deep pool of available veteran talent.

When the NCAA’s new 45-day transfer portal window opened on Monday, the rush to get in resembled that at a Target store upon opening its doors for business on Black Friday morning.

Nearly 1,000 players nationwide and 100 from ACC teams have filed for what amounts to the college version of free agency. Included in the group are 6 ACC quarterbacks that began the season as their team’s starters.

The entry list will continue to grow, but here’s a look at the 10 whose departures will be the most impactful to their soon-to-be former conference teams:

10. Fred Davis II, CB, Clemson

Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei’s entrance into the transfer portal is the headline grabber. But he’s expendable now that he’s been replaced as the Tigers’ starting quarterback by freshman Cade Klubnik. Davis’ departure from the newly crowned ACC champions is likely to have more of an impact, given some of the difficulties Clemson’s secondary had this season and the fact that starting corner Sheridan Jones is a senior who will have to be replaced.

A former 4-star prospect, Davis played in 24 games and picked off 2 passes during a 3-year Tigers career. He recorded 15 tackles and a fumble recovery in 4 starts this season before suffering a year-ending ankle injury. He has 2 seasons of eligibility remaining.

9. Storm Duck, CB, North Carolina

Nine members of a Tar Heels’ defense that was statistically the ACC’s worst have entered the transfer portal, which in most cases is addition by subtraction. Duck, however, would have been 1 of the keepers.

Finally healthy again in 2021 after missing most of the previous 2 seasons because of injury, the 6-0, 200-pound redshirt junior led the Tar Heels with 3 interceptions while amassing 46 tackles, 9 PBUs and a forced fumble while earning second-team All-ACC honors.

Duck, who has 1 year of eligibility remaining, gave a hint of his intentions by going through UNC’s Senor Day ceremony. He finishes his career in Chapel Hill with 103 tackles and 5 interceptions, including a pick-6 as a true freshman against Temple in the 2019 Military Bowl.

8. Armani Chatman, CB, Virginia Tech

The Hokies are deeper at cornerback than a lot of positions with Dorian Strong returning on 1 side and talented freshman Mansoor Delane splitting time with Chatman on the other.

Chatman would have had to beat out Delane for a starting spot next season in his final year of eligibility had he stayed. Even as a backup, his experience would have been a major asset to a defense looking for improvement in Year 2 under coach Brent Pry.

He started all 11 games this season with 22 tackles, 5 pass breakups and an interception and finished his Tech career with 89 tackles, 20 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and a sack.

7. Gavin Holmes, CB, Wake Forest

A 2-year starter for the Deacons, Holmes’ decision to leave just as he’s coming into his own was something of a surprise. He has already become a hot commodity for high–profile programs looking for a veteran cover corner for the next 2 seasons. According to his Twitter feed, he’s received offers from Texas, Arkansas, Baylor and Ole Miss, among others.

The 5-11, 175-pound New Orleans native had a career-high 23 tackles and 9 pass breakups in 11 games this season. He has 2 career interceptions, including a 32-yard pick-6 in a win against Syracuse in November 2020.

6. Jaylan Knighton, RB, Miami

A former 4-star prospect, Knighton ran for 561 yards and 8 touchdowns while catching 20 passes for 280 yards and 3 more scores during 2021. But like everyone else associated with the Hurricanes’ offense, he struggled this season. Especially when it came to holding onto the ball. He fumbled 6 times.

He still finished 2nd on the team in rushing with 423 yards and a touchdown while averaging better than 5 yards per carry and showed his potential as the big-time back Miami is lacking by rushing for 118 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in a 35-14 win against Georgia Tech.

Knighton amassed 1,193 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in his 3 seasons with the Hurricanes and will have 2 seasons of eligibility once he lands at his new school. Miami, meanwhile, is down to just 2 scholarship running backs on its active roster.

5. Tony Grimes, CB, North Carolina

Grimes is the highest-rated recruit signed by coach Mack Brown who made an early splash after re-classifying and enrolling at UNC just before the start of preseason camp in 2020. The 5-star recruit played in 12 games and started 4 as a true freshman, finishing with a flourish with a sack and 2 PBUs in the Orange Bowl against Texas A&M.

Even though he hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations over the past 2 seasons, he’s still been solid. He totaled 97 tackles, 1 sack and 1 interception in his 3 seasons, with 36 stops, 7 PBUs and a forced fumble this season before missing all but 4 snaps of the season finale against NC State and last week’s ACC Championship Game loss to Clemson because of injury.

Grimes’ upside could have been a key piece in the effort to rebuild a defense that was statistically the worst in the ACC. Instead, he’ll be a hotly pursued transfer commodity. He has 3 years of eligibility remaining.

4. Christian Turner, RB, Wake Forest

Running backs don’t stay long in the Deacons’ slow-mesh RPO offense. Kenneth Walker III left for Michigan State and became a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2020. Christian Beal-Smith left to help South Carolina make positive strides under 2nd-year coach Shane Beamer.

Now 2 more ball-carriers are on the way out, with Turner and Quinton Cooley entering the portal. Turner, who has 1 more season of eligibility, will be the more damaging loss. He rushed for 516 yards and 7 touchdowns this season while scoring another touchdown through the air while splitting time with Justice Ellison.

His departure will leave Wake thin in the backfield next season in an offense that may have to rely more on the ground game with the graduation (and likely exit) of record-setting quarterback Sam Hartman and top receiver AT Perry.

3. Fentrell Cypress, CB, Virginia

Other than the quarterbacks, Cypress is the most accomplished ACC player to enter the portal. He has already generated interest from some of the highest-ranked teams in the country, including Playoff participant Ohio State.

The 2nd team All-ACC selection, who has 1 year of eligibility remaining, led the ACC with 14 pass breakups and his 1.56 passes defender per game ranked 4th nationally despite seeing action in only 9 games.

According to Pro Football Focus, Cypress allowed only 18 receptions for 179 yards with 9 PBUs on 40 targets, for a reception percentage of only .450. He also had 29 tackles. With the graduation of fellow corner Anthony Johnson, coach Tony Elliott will have a major rebuilding job to do at 1 of the few position groups that performed well for the Cavaliers in 2022.

2. Kaleb Smith, WR, Virginia Tech

The Hokies were among the lowest-scoring teams in the ACC this season with an average of fewer than 20 points per game. The last thing they needed was to lose the most talented offensive players on their roster. But that’s what has happened with Smith’s decision to enter the portal.

The former walk-on only had 37 catches this season. But that was still the most on the team. And he made the most of those opportunities with 674 yards for an average of 18.2 yards per reception. He promises to be even more productive as part of a better offense during his extra COVID year of eligibility in 2013.

Smith’s entrance into the portal leaves the Hokies’ receivers room seriously devoid of talent. Other than sophomore Da’Wain Lofton, who had 22 catches for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2022, there isn’t much left.

1. Devin Leary, QB, NC State

Leary had already stated his intention to enter the NFL Draft after this year, so the Wolfpack are prepared to replace the 2022 preseason ACC Player of the Year. But as much promise as heir apparent MJ Morris displayed in his brief starting role following Leary’s season-ending injury, he’s still essentially an unknown quantity.

State’s offense would be in a much better place next year with a veteran leader running it, especially one who has shown he can be elite when healthy. Leary set a school record with 35 touchdown passes while throwing for 3,433 yards during his only full season under center in 2021. 

Apparently, though, he feels that a change of scenery is in his best interest as he returns for a 4th college season in hopes of restoring his draft status following surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle.