Just over three weeks removed from the Bulldogs capturing their fourth national championship in five seasons, many key Bulldogs have decided to test the transfer portal to move to the next level of college football.
College football’s transfer portal officially opened at midnight on Jan 2, and by midday of that day, more than 4,500 players had entered the transfer portal, and those players have until Jan 16 to enter their name to transfer.
So far, 10 Bulldogs have entered their names into the portal: on the defensive side of the ball, sophomore defensive backs Tre’ Rigby and Ahlston Ware, redshirt freshman Devon Strobel, freshman defensive lineman Kaiel Stewart, and senior linebacker Isaiah Byars.
Ware and Byars were both high-impact starters for the Bulldogs. During the 2026 season, Byars had 91 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and five interceptions while also securing first-team All-GLIAC. Ware was just as good, as he had 58 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions while also being named first-team All-GLIAC in 2025 and earning second-team in 2024.
The offense has taken the biggest losses to the transfer portal as they have seen junior receiver Taarik Brett, junior offensive lineman Dayne Arnette, senior receiver Jeremiah Lee, and junior H-back Carson Gulker.
Brett was a huge part of the offense for the 2025 season, rushing 86 times for 583 yards and six touchdowns, while having 47 catches for 533 yards and nine more touchdowns. Brett was also a key player on special teams, having 504 return yards and adding another touchdown.
Two of those players have committed to a school already, those being Gulker and Arnette. Gulker had offers from Texas Tech, LSU, West Virginia, Duke, and SMU, and Michigan State, and he ultimately chose Michigan State. Arnett had many offers, the biggest of which being South Carolina, Michigan State, Iowa State, Colorado State, and Toledo and he chose South Carolina.
Gulker was a highly impactful player during his time at Ferris, mostly being used as a quarterback until this season, during his time as a Bulldog he threw for 1,591 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. During the 2025 season his role changed, being used all over on the offense, he ended up running for 541 yards and five touchdowns but also being a big part of the receiving game, catching 34 passes for 548 yards and seven touchdowns.
Gulker spoke about his reason to transfer.
“It was honestly such a hard decision for me,” Gulker said. “It was so hard to leave a place you have so much love for. I just felt like I needed to give myself the opportunity to play at a higher level if it presented itself, and it did, and I chose MSU because I think that what they do offensively is a great fit for my skillset.”
The Bulldogs have also received a big commit from the transfer portal, receiving a commit from former Michigan State offensive lineman Rashawn Rogers. Rogers hails from Ottawa Hills High School, he did not receive many offers out of high school, with his only official offer coming from Wayne State. Rogers decided to enroll at Michigan State and walk on to the team, and ended up earning a spot.
Rogers did not see a snap while playing at Michigan State, and this was his main reason for transferring to Ferris.
“I transferred for an opportunity to play,” Rogers said. “I want to play for someone who actually wants me, I will get the job done no matter what the cost is, go dawgs!”
With only a couple days until the transfer portal closes on Jan. 16, we may see a few more Bulldogs enter the portal.