According to On3, 24/7 Sports and Heartland Sports as of January 28, 2026, USF is the clear portal champion among Group of Five programs. The Bulls secured a Top 15 national transfer class despite losing Alex Golesh to Auburn. Their rise reflects a dramatic roster overhaul driven by new head coach Brian Hartline.
THE HARTLINE EFFECT TRANSFORMS USF OVERNIGHT
USF hired Brian Hartline on December 3, 2025. He arrived with Big Ten connections and a reputation as an elite recruiter.
His impact on the roster was immediate and unmistakable.
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ELITE TALENT ACQUISITION DEFINES THE CLASS
USF added more than 37 transfers during the cycle.
Twenty‑four came from Power Four programs with proven experience.
The class features former five‑star linebacker C.J. Hicks from Ohio State.
Four‑star quarterback Luke Kromenhoek from Florida State also joined the roster.
These additions give USF rare star power for a Group of Five team.
A DEFENSIVE OVERHAUL BUILT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP ASPIRATIONS
Hartline surprised many by focusing heavily on defense.
Nine of his first eleven portal additions were defensive players.
Impact defenders like Grayson Howard and Teddy Foster highlight the group.
USF now features one of the strongest defensive cores in the AAC.
HARTLINE REPLACES LOST PRODUCTION WITH HIGHER‑RATED TALENT
Fourteen key players followed Golesh to Auburn after his departure.
Hartline replaced that production almost instantly with stronger recruits.
USF maintained its position near the top of the AAC talent rankings.
The roster now looks deeper and more explosive than before.
WHAT THIS PORTAL CLASS MEANS FOR BRIAN HARTLINE
This portal cycle sets the tone for Hartline’s first head‑coaching job.
He made it clear that USF is not entering a rebuild.
The Bulls expect to compete for the Group of Five playoff spot immediately.
HARTLINE’S RECRUITING POWER SHIFTS THE LANDSCAPE
Convincing C.J. Hicks to leave Ohio State for USF is a major statement.
Landing blue‑chip players from national contenders shows Hartline’s influence.
His recruiting reputation now extends beyond the Big Ten.
USF’s dominance in the 2026 transfer portal reflects Brian Hartline’s immediate impact as the Bulls’ new head coach, delivering the Group of Five’s top portal class and one of the nation’s strongest overall roster overhauls. While Hartline leaned heavily on proven Power Four talent to rebuild the depth chart, he also addressed long‑term needs through a steady high‑school recruiting class that adds speed, length, and developmental upside.
USF’S INVESTMENT PAYS OFF EARLY
USF’s portal surge also reshapes the balance of power inside the American Athletic Conference, positioning the Bulls as an immediate contender in a league searching for a new standard‑bearer. With proven Power Four talent filling critical gaps and a developmental high‑school class building the foundation behind them, Hartline has engineered a roster built to compete now while scaling for the expanded College Football Playoff era. The Bulls enter 2026 with the rare combination of top‑end transfers, system continuity, and long‑term roster planning that gives them a legitimate path to the AAC title chase and a realistic shot at becoming the Group of Five’s next playoff representative.
