College football currently has three transfer portal windows. The winter window usually runs from December 9 to December 28 —Â the approximate time from conference championships to the end of the calendar year — while the spring window is usually open in April. Most players who choose to transfer do so during these two periods.
However, this year, there is also a third and final window for players who receive waivers to enter the portal after the spring period ends. While this window was expected to see little activity, one of the top EDGE prospects from the 2024 recruiting class has just entered the portal.
Why Did KingJoseph Edwards Enter the Transfer Portal, Leave Syracuse?
KingJoseph Edwards, a four-star recruit and the No. 24 EDGE prospect in the 2024 class, committed initially to Syracuse. But he won’t be with the Orange in 2025, as Edwards surprised the college football world by entering the transfer portal during the third and final window.
BREAKING: Syracuse EDGE KingJoseph Edwards plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
The 6’4 240 EDGE will have 4 years of eligibility remaining
Played in 5 games in 2024 to preserve his redshirt, totaling 5 Tackles, 3 Sacks, & 1 QB hurry https://t.co/qIykUKA1Sw pic.twitter.com/Jv20BtTogB
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 7, 2025
The 6’4″, 240-pound pass rusher appeared in five games for the Orange in 2024, meaning he will still have four full years of eligibility remaining. Edwards used a recent NCAA waiver that allows student-athletes on a “designated student-athlete” list to enter the portal during this third window, which opened on July 7 and extends to August 5.
In limited playing time, Edwards recorded five tackles, three sacks, and one quarterback hurry. His best performance came against Holy Cross, where he tallied three sacks in a single game, showing his ability to get after the quarterback.
The loss of Edwards is a significant blow for Syracuse and head coach Fran Brown. The Orange have now lost three top recruits from Brown’s first class in 2024 to the portal. Four-star defensive end transfer Maraad Watson left for Texas, and three-star corner transfer Marcellus Barnes departed for SMU.
In December 2023, Edwards originally committed to Syracuse over Colorado and Florida State. The Georgia native chose the Orange despite having strong relationships with multiple Power Five programs.
Syracuse pulled Edwards through its connection with EDGE coach Nick Williams, who had recruited him while serving as Colorado’s defensive line coach.
Which Programs Could Land EDGE KingJoseph Edwards?
During his high school recruitment, Edwards was pursued by some of the top programs in the country. Given his talent and four years of remaining eligibility, many of those same teams are expected to pursue him in the portal.
Georgia Bulldogs
Edwards is a Georgia native who took 10 unofficial visits to Athens while at Mill Creek High School.
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His prior relationship with head coach Kirby Smart and the rest of Georgia’s staff, combined with the school’s proximity to his hometown of Hoschton, Ga., makes the Bulldogs a natural fit. Edwards also knew Brown from when he was a defensive backs coach with the Bulldogs.
Colorado Buffaloes
During his high school recruitment, Edwards’ final two schools were Syracuse and Colorado. While he chose Syracuse, there’s no reason he won’t consider transferring to Boulder to play for Deion Sanders now that he is in the portal. The Buffaloes were one of his finalists for a reason.
Florida State Seminoles
Florida State was another program that Edwards was very interested in during his high school recruitment, and the Seminoles made it into his top three.
With Mike Norvell still at the helm, that prior relationship should help Florida State get a head start on Edwards’ portal recruitment. The Seminoles have a history of developing pass rushers and could offer immediate playing time.
Edwards held offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Tennessee, and Texas A&M, among others, during his original recruitment. As a high school senior, he led his Mill Creek team to a 12-1 season in one of Georgia’s most competitive regions, recording 34 tackles, six sacks, and six pass breakups.
