No. 1 Transfer Portal LB Snubbed In Most Impactful College Football Rankings

Texas Longhorns linebacker Rasheem Biles was left off a key ranking despite being one of the most coveted players in the NCAA transfer portal.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Texas Longhorns linebacker Rasheem Biles, ranked as the No. 1 linebacker in the transfer portal and the No. 15 player overall, was not included in On3's list of the 10 most impactful transfers for the 2026 college football season. Biles, an All-ACC selection at Pittsburgh, ended up at Texas after being pursued by several major programs. While he was named an honorable mention, the analyst behind the rankings said Biles deserved to be in the top 10 but had to make tough decisions due to the limited number of spots.

Why it matters

Biles was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal this offseason, with several top programs pursuing him. His exclusion from the list of the 10 most impactful transfers is surprising given his high ranking and the fact that he will be joining a Texas defense looking to replace key players. This highlights the competitive nature of the transfer portal and the difficult decisions analysts have to make in determining the most impactful transfers.

The details

Rasheem Biles, a linebacker from the Pittsburgh Panthers, entered the NCAA transfer portal and was ranked as the No. 1 linebacker and No. 15 overall player by Rivals. He heard from programs like Colorado, Miami, Ohio State, and Michigan before ultimately deciding to transfer to the Texas Longhorns. Despite being an All-ACC selection this past season, Biles was not included in On3's list of the 10 most impactful transfers for the 2026 season. The analyst behind the rankings, JD PicKell, said Biles was given an honorable mention but that he deserved to be in the top 10, noting that Biles will be a key piece of the new-look Texas defense under new coordinator Will Muschamp.

  • Biles entered the NCAA transfer portal during the two-week window in January 2026.
  • Biles was ranked as the No. 1 linebacker and No. 15 overall player in the transfer portal by Rivals.

The players

Rasheem Biles

A linebacker who transferred from the Pittsburgh Panthers to the Texas Longhorns, Biles was ranked as the No. 1 linebacker and No. 15 overall player in the transfer portal by Rivals.

JD PicKell

The analyst who released the list of the 10 most impactful transfers for the 2026 college football season, which did not include Rasheem Biles despite his high ranking in the portal.

Will Muschamp

The new defensive coordinator for the Texas Longhorns, hired to replace Pete Kwiatkowski after his dismissal earlier in the offseason.

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What they’re saying

“Before we get to the 10, I want to start with an honorable mention cause this dude deserves to be in the top 10 just by nature of there only being 10 spots I had to make some tough decisions. But y'all, Pitt transfer to Texas, linebacker Rasheem Biles...All-American kind of player is going to uphold that standard in Austin, Texas of what a defense is supposed to look like with that Longhorn logo on the side of the helmet. I fully expect Rasheem Biles to add to what they were a year ago.”

— JD PicKell, Analyst (On3)

The takeaway

The exclusion of Rasheem Biles, one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal, from the list of the 10 most impactful transfers highlights the competitive nature of the portal and the difficult decisions analysts have to make in determining the top transfers. Despite being left off the list, Biles is still expected to be a key piece of the new-look Texas defense under coordinator Will Muschamp.