High school football transfers tracker: Which top players are switching schools?

Unlike the college transfer portal, there’s no official high school transfer portal even though there are hundreds of sports transfers in Southern California each year.

Considering the number of top players moving around, it’s time to launch a transfer tracker for Southern California football.

According to CIF rules, players who transfer and physically move along with their family are eligible immediately at the new school. If a player transfers and doesn’t move, there’s a sit-out period of close to 50% of the season. The date athletes become eligible after sitting out is Sept. 22 for the City Section and Sept. 25 for the Southern 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.

Former school: First Lutheran (Las Vegas)
New school: San Clemente
Position: Safety
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: He’s 6 feet 4 with leaping skills.

Former school: Corona Centennial
New school: Orange
Position: Defensive end
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Older brother Malachi plays at Arizona.

Former school: Antelope Valley
New school: St. Bonaventure
Position: safety
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: Committed to Washington State.

Former school: Pasadena
New school: Chaminade
Position: Linebacker
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Has good size, plays other positions and was all-league as a sophomore

Former school: Las Vegas Liberty
New school: Newbury Park
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: Committed to Arizona

Former school: Olathe North (Kan.)
New school: Long Beach Poly
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Comes from Kansas after catching 20 passes as a sophomore.

Former school: Las Vegas Liberty
New school: St. John Bosco
Position: Defensive end
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: Committed to Utah and can help pass rush.

Former school: Long Beach Poly
New school: San Juan Hills
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He’s committed to Washington and is good possession receiver.

Former school: Long Beach Poly
New school: San Juan Hills
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: With speed and good hands, he and his older brother will make big impact at Santa Margarita.

Former school: Campbell Hall
New school: Los Alamitos
Position: Linebacker
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: One of the top linebackers in the state says he transferred because he wants to graduate in December.

Former school: Chaminade
New school: Sierra Canyon
Position: Safety
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: Was the Mission League defensive player of the year in 2022.

Former school: Mater Dei
New school: Tustin
Position: Defensive back
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He’s played for St. John Bosco, Mater Dei and Bishop Alemany. Committed to UCLA.

Former school: Chaparral
New school: St. John Bosco
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He’s only 5 feet 7 but caught 100 passes as a junior for Chaparral.

Former school: Norco
New school: Corona Centennial
Position: Offensive line
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: A starter for Norco last season, he’s 6-4 and 300 pounds and adds to an already strong Centennial offensive line.

Former school: Woodbridge
New school: Irvine Northwood
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He passed for 15 touchdowns as a junior at Woodbridge.

Former school: Gardena Serra
New school: St. John Bosco
Position: Defensive back
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He can be a top safety for an already strong St. John Bosco secondary.

Former school: King
New school: Corona Centennial
Position: Linebacker
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: A physically imposing middle linebacker who led his team with 95 tackles.

Former school: Oaks Christian
New school: Thousand Oaks
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Sophomore

Buzz: He’s set to join the Lancers this summer and compete for the starting position for new coach.

Former school: JSerra
New school: Mater Dei
Position: OL
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He’s 6-5, 285 pounds and will add depth to Mater Dei’s offensive and defensive lines.

Former school: Temecula Valley
New school: Vista Murrieta
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Sophomore

Buzz: He passed for 694 yards sharing time as a freshman starter on varsity.

Former school: Santa Ana Mater Dei
New school: Orange Lutheran
Position: Linebacker
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He had 13 tackles for Mater Dei last season at inside linebacker.

Former school: Sherman Oaks Notre Dame
New school: Crean Lutheran
Position: Defensive end
Year in the fall of 2023: Sophomore

Buzz: Jones led Notre Dame in sacks with five as a freshman.

Former school: Chaminade
New school: Sierra Canyon
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He’s the third top offensive player to transfer to Sierra Canyon and has multiple scholarship offers.

Former school: Monrovia
New school: Westlake
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: He caught 35 passes as a sophomore.

Former school: Camarillo
New school: Newbury Park
Position: Tight end
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Bryce is 6-5, 235 pounds and caught two touchdown passes as a sophomore at Camarillo.

Former school: Ayala
New school: Eastvale Roosevelt
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: Wilson was a three-year starter at Ayala and offers new coach Chuck Chastain perfect person to build offense around.

Former school: Bishop Amat
New school: Rancho Cucamonga
Position: Linebacker
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: A talented two-way player who makes impact at running back and linebacker.

Former school: Rancho Cucamonga
New school: Corona Centennial
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: Was No. 1 receiver for Rancho Cucamonga.

Former school: Inglewood
New school: Corona Centennial
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Led Inglewood to the Division 2 championship game and has UCLA scholarship offer.

Former school: Santa Margarita
New school: Los Alamitos
Position: Defensive back
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Was a major contributor at cornerback as a sophomore.

Former school: Cathedral
New school: Sierra Canyon
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: Probably the top returning receiver in Southern California, Jordan had 20 touchdown receptions.

Former school: Bishop Alemany
New school: Cathedral
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: Injured most of last season, Ceron will be given the chance to show off his arm in a first-pass offense.

Former school: Westlake
New school: Calabasas
Position: Defensiive back
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: A two-year varsity starter and all-league selection.

Former school: Texas Allen
New school: Los Alamitos
Position: Tight end
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Some consider him the No. 1 tight end for the class of 2025 and he has a USC offer.

Former school: Long Beach Millikan
New school: Newport Harbor
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He previously played for Warren and Millikan and has proven to be a big-play receiver.

Former school: Sacramento Christian Brothers
New school: Mission Viejo
Position: Receiver
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: 247sports has him ranked No. 26 overall player from the class of 2025.

Former school: Chaminade
New school: Newbury Park
Position: Defensive lineman
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He’s 300 pounds with three years of varsity experience and improving strength.

Former school: Sherman Oaks Notre Dame
New school: Sierra Canyon
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Becker started at quarterback for Notre Dame as a sophomore and has several college scholarship offers.

Former school: Simi Valley
New school: Sherman Oaks Notre Dame
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: It’s like Pizzella is part of a three-way trade, with Becker going to Sierra Canyon, a player to be named later to Simi Valley and Pizzella to Notre Dame, where new coach Evan Yabu will rely on him to rebuild the Knights.

Former school: Sierra Canyon
New school: Los Alamitos
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Esparza started at Culver City as a freshman, started at Sierra Canyon as a sophomore and now will try to be the replacement for Malachi Nelson at Los Alamitos.

Former school: San Diego Cathedral
New school: San Juan Capistrano JSerra
Position: Linebacker
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: He was one of the top young defensive players in San Diego. Faraimo’s sister, Megan, is a star softball player at UCLA.

Former school: San Juan Hills
New school: San Juan Capistrano JSerra
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: There’s no reason Tollefson can’t become a promising prospect in the Trinity League for new coach Victor Santa Cruz after starting for two years at San Juan Hills. Committed to Arizona State.

Former school: Santa Margarita.
New school: Irvine Crean Lutheran
Position: Defensive lineman
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Parker has attracted a social media following for his strength, work ethic and physique.

Former school: Gardena Serra
New school: Orange Lutheran
Position: Defensive back
Year in the fall of 2023: Sophomore

Buzz: Ryan made major contributions in the Serra secondary as a freshman and decided to move closer to his home in Orange County.

Former school: Oxnard Pacifica
New school: Westlake
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: Has passed for nearly 3,000 yards the last two seasons while sharing time.

Former school: Chaminade
New school: Birmingham
Position: Defensive back
Year in the fall of 2023: Junior

Buzz: With 4.5-second 40-yard speed, Gentle should fit in perfectly for the defending City Section champions.

Former school: Eugene (Ore.) Sheldon
New school: Gardena Serra
Position: Defensive back
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He’s the son of Oregon assistant Adrian Klemm and highly regarded as a cornerback.

Former school: Desert Pines in Nevada.
New school: Los Alamitos
Position: Defensive back
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: He’s 6 feet 1 with several scholarship offers.

Former school: Los Alamitos
New school: Newport Harbor
Position: Quarterback
Year in the fall of 2023: Sophomore

Buzz: A very talented young quarterback who could end up being one of the best from the class of 2026.

Former school: Valencia
New school: Calabasas
Position: Running back
Year in the fall of 2023: Senior

Buzz: Played only three games last season but has 4.4 40-yard speed.