Minnesota wide receiver and return specialist Quentin Redding is officially entering the transfer portal, signaling a new chapter in his college football journey. After wrapping up his senior season with the Golden Gophers, Redding will look to use his final year of eligibility in 2026 elsewhere.
A native of Menomonee Falls, Redding carved out a key role for Minnesota as the team’s primary return man in 2022 and 2023. His speed and field vision made him a consistent threat on both punts and kickoffs.
But an untimely injury during a 2024 matchup against Rhode Island sidelined him for the rest of the season. In his absence, freshman Koi Perich stepped in-and never looked back.
Perich’s strong performance in the return game effectively shifted the depth chart, leaving Redding on the outside looking in as he recovered.
Now, Redding becomes one of eight Minnesota scholarship players to enter the portal so far. He joins a group that includes quarterback Jackson Kollock, running back Fame Ijeboi, wide receivers Kenric Lanier, Malachi Coleman, Cristian Driver, and Legend Lyons, along with offensive lineman Reese Tripp. While the destinations for most of these players remain to be seen, the volume speaks to the shifting landscape in college football-and Minnesota’s roster is clearly in the middle of it.
The transfer portal, which launched in October 2018, has become a fixture of the college football offseason. It gives players the freedom to explore new opportunities without needing permission from their current coaching staffs. Once a player requests to be entered into the portal, it usually takes a day or two for their name to appear, at which point other programs can reach out freely.
It’s important to note that entering the portal doesn’t lock a player into leaving. They can pull their name at any time. However, schools aren’t obligated to maintain a scholarship for players once they’ve entered, so the decision carries real weight.
The portal has only grown in popularity since its debut. During the 2020-21 cycle, more than 2,600 FBS players entered-up significantly from just a couple years prior.
A big reason for that surge? The NCAA’s updated rule allowing players a one-time transfer without sitting out a year.
As long as athletes meet the entry deadline, they’re immediately eligible at their next school.
For Redding, the move represents both a reset and a fresh opportunity. He’s shown he can impact games in the return game and provide depth at receiver-valuable traits for programs looking to bolster special teams and add experience to their locker room. With one year left, he’ll be aiming to land in a spot where he can contribute right away.
Wherever he ends up, Redding’s next stop will be worth watching.