2026 high school football transfer tracker: Which top players are switching schools

The 2026 high school football transfer tracker is officially launched to identify top players switching schools in Southern California.

There were more than 17,000 transfers statewide last school year, and football is the sport that consistently has more than any.

According to CIF rules, players who transfer and physically move along with their family are eligible immediately to play at the new school. If a player transfers and his family doesn’t move, there’s a sit-out period of close to 50% of the season. The date athletes become eligible in the fall after sitting out is Sept. 28, 2026, for the Southern Section and Sept. 24, 2026, for the City Section.

Listed players are confirmed as having switched schools through social media or from coaches, parents or players. Their transfer eligibility remains uncertain until paperwork is submitted to the Southern Section or City Section. Names will be updated each week, with the latest at the top. Students have been known to change their minds, too, before the season begins.

Pole Moala

Previous school: Leuzinger

New school: Gardena Serra

Position: Defensive back

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: After leaving Leuzinger for Santa Margarita, then returning, the UCLA commit joins an already strong secondary at Serra.

Austin Attalah

Previous school: Cajon

New school: Orange Lutheran

Position: Offensive line

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: He’s 6-7, 270 pounds and highly recruited.

Hudson Ploog

Previous school: Troy

New school: Orange Lutheran

Position: Tight end

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: UNLV commits is big and capable of blocking big time

Bryson Kennedy

Previous school: Little Rock (Ark.) Central

New school: Oak Park

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Sophomore

Buzz: Passed for 2,103 yards and 17 touchdowns as a freshman in Arkansas.

Ryan Matheson

Previous school: San Juan Hills

New school: San Clemente

Position: Receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Caught 69 passes as a junior

Wyatt Nucci

Previous school: El Toro

New school: Mira Costa

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Passed for 24 touchdowns as a junior.

Kiingbaraka Kizzee

Previous school: Orange Lutheran

New school: Mission Viejo

Position: Defensive back

Year in the fall of 2026: Sophomore

Buzz: Already committed to UCLA.

Devin Del Toro

Previous school: Chatsworth

New school: El Camino Real

Position: Linebacker

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He’s been contributing since his freshman season but must overcome knee injury.

Ethan Grant

Previous school: Los Angeles

New school: Crenshaw

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: He started as a sophomore and is the son of longtime Crenshaw assistant.

AJ McBean

Previous school: Mira Costa

New school: Gardena Serra

Position: Running back

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Stanford commit ran 10.55 100 meters this spring.

Jake Stearns

Previous school: Oaks Christian

New school: Chaminade

Position: Offensive line

Year in the fall of 2026: Sophomore

Buzz: He started as a freshman and is 6 feet 6, 330 pounds.

Cooper Cook

Previous school: Tustin

New school: Sierra Canyon

Position: Defensive lineman\

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: UNLV commit listed at 6-3, 260 pounds.

Hunter Eligon

Previous school: Los Alamitos

New school: Western

Position: Defensive lineman

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Was a key player on defense for Division 2 champions.

Iona Uiagalelei

Previous school: Damien

New school: Orange Lutheran

Position: Linebacker

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He’s the cousin of former St. John Bosco quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.

Jonathan Urquhart

Previous school: Etiwanda

New school: JSerra

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Sophomore

Buzz: He’s grown to nearly 6-4 and projects as a strong candidate to contribute in the coming seasons.

Duvay Williams

Previous school: Gardena Serra

New school: Sierra Canyon

Position: Defensive back/receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Was a three-year starter at Serra.

Lequand Jackson

Previous school: Upland

New school: Baldwin Park

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Passed for 1,900 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Hayes Cloutier

Previous school: Texas North Crowley

New school: JSerra

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Passed for 2,058 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior.

Sevelino Taliauli

Previous school: Servite

New school: Long Beach Poly

Position: Edge

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Was all-Trinity League as a junior.

Trevor Scott

Previous school: Mater Dei

New school: Long Beach Poly

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Sophomore

Buzz: He’s a highly regarded 6-foot-5 quarterback who should fit in well in the new offense run by the former coach of Bryce Young and Nico Iamaleava.

Nash McElree

Previous school: Aledo (Texas)

New school: Mission Viejo

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Was the starter for a 14-1 Aledo team.

KJ Woodbury Jr.

Previous school: Mission Viejo

New school: Orange

Position: Receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Caught 40 passes as a sophomore.

Kale Murphy

Previous school: Servite

New school: Downey

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Started at Servite as a sophomore.

Cooper Berry

Previous school: Maranatha

New school: Cathedral

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Passed for 2,669 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Matthew Smith

Previous school: Villa Park

New school: Santa Margarita

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He started as a sophomore in the playoffs for Loyola, then started at Villa Park last season.

Cade Burbidge

Previous school: Pasadena

New school: Charter Oak

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Passed for nearly 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Braylin Spencer

Previous school: Leuzinger

New school: JSerra

Position: Linebacker

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He’s 6-2, 215-pounder who averaged nearly seven tackles a game.

Jacob Gallegos

Previous school: San Dimas

New school: South Hills

Position: Running back

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Rushed for 1,668 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Jaylen Cox

Previous school: Leuzinger

New school: Carson

Position: Defensive line

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Had 14 tackles for losses as a junior.

Marcus Fakatou

Previous school: Orange Lutheran

New school: Sierra Canyon

Position: Defensive line

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He’s considered one of the nation’s top defensive line prospects.

Troy Roberts

Previous school: Yorba Linda

New school: Crean Lutheran

Position: Receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Was the Bravo League MVP as a receiver and defensive back.

Kingston Hunter

Previous school: Orange

New school: Chaparral

Position: Receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: He’s fast and had 29 receptions as a sophomore.

Kevin Garcia

Previous school: Buena Park

New school: St. Paul

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Passed for 1,369 yards, six touchdowns as a junior.

Demare Dezeurn

Previous school: Palisades

New school: Westlake

Position: Receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He’s one of the fastest in the state and was All-City as a junior.

Daniel Mielke

Previous school: Murrieta Valley

New school: Chino Hills

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Has attended multiple high schools and shown potential.

Owen Erdman

Previous school: Servite

New school: Los Alamitos

Position: Kicker

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Highly regarded young kicker.

Cameron Pooley

Previous school: Chaminade

New school: Mater Dei

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Started several games as a junior at Chaminade.

Joshua Williams

Previous school: St. Paul

New school: Chino Hills

Position: Defensive back

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He’s 6 feet 3, which makes college recruiters take notice.

Russell Sekona

Previous school: Leuzinger

New school: Mater Dei

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: A two-year starter and leader for Leuzinger while his father was serving as offensive coordinator.

Elisha Mueller

Previous school: Servite

New school: St. John Bosco

Position: Offensive tackle

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: A sophomore All-American, he’s a future college standout and probably the best transfer player so far as of early February.

Isaiah Guerrero

Previous school: Los Osos

New school: Bonita

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Passed for more than 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior.

Deshawn Laporte

Previous school: Burbank

New school: Quartz Hill

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Passed for 54 touchdowns as a junior.

Javier Millan

Previous school: Mater Dei

New school: Corona Centennial

Position: Linebacker

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Had eight solo tackles as a sophomore.

Elijah Tuua

Previous school: Folsom

New school: St. John Bosco

Position: Defensive end

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: He’s 6 feet 6, 225 pounds.

Damian Randin

Previous school: Valley View

New school: Alta Loma

Position: Receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Caught two touchdown passes as a sophomore.

Jaxon Sharp

Previous school: Oaks Christian

New school: Sierra Canyon

Position: Receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Caught 24 passes and three touchdowns as a sophomore.

MyKel Ramos

Previous school: Mater Dei

New school: Sierra Canyon

Position: Defensive back

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Was backup at Mater Dei as a sophomore.

Elijah Juarez

Previous school: King/Drew

New school: Banning

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Played in five games for King/Drew last season.

Skylar Robinson

Previous school: Huntington Beach

New school: Chaminade

Position: Receiver/defensive back

Grade in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He’s attended San Juan Hills, Gardena Serra and Huntington Beach while earning scholarship to North Carolina.

Damoni Lair

Previous school: Leuzinger

New school: Mary Star

Position: Receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Has been slowed by injuries.

Dylan D’Epifanio

Previous school: Irvine Northwood

New school: Bishop Amat

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Passed for 1,769 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Jackson Humphries

Previous school: Nevada Coronado

New school: San Clemente

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He passed more than 1,500 yards and is also a defensive back.

Daebrion Peterson

Previous school: Royal

New school: Chaminade

Position: Defensive end

Year in the fall of 2026: Sophomore

Buzz: Started as a freshman last season at Royal.

Ahmeer Williamson

Previous school: St. John Bosco

New school: Crean Lutheran

Position: Linebacker

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Was second-team all-Trinity League.

Gino Wang

Previous school: JSerra

New school: Servite

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Had 17 touchdown passes as a sophomore.

Jaden Jefferson

Previous school: Cathedral

New school: Corona Centennial

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He’s a small but dynamic quarterback with tremendous ability to pass and run. He has been a starter since freshman year.

Quentin Hale

Previous school: Cathedral

New school: Corona Centennial

Position: Receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Had 62 receptions and 12 touchdown catches in 2025.

Simote Tupou

Previous school: Henderson (Nev.) Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon

New school: St. John Bosco

Position: Defensive line

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Had 19 sacks as a 6-1, 230-pound sophomore.

Koa Smith-Mayall

Previous school: JSerra

New school: Santa Margarita

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Was briefly JSerra’s starting QB and overcame injuries early in high school.

Cruz Nunez

Previous school: JSerra

New school: Santa Margarita

Position: Linebacker

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Had 15 solo tackles as a junior.