Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss seemingly came out of nowhere last season, a Ferris State transfer who seized the starting job at Ole Miss and led the Rebels to a run to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
In trying to identify the next possible Chambliss in the 2026 transfer portal class, CBS Sports on Thursday included a player who hails from the former Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern standout’s conference, and shares his West Michigan roots.
Quarterback Mason McKenzie, a Caledona product who starred at Saginaw Valley State before transferring to Boston College, is one of 15 “under-the-radar” transfer portal additions for 2026 from CBS Sports who they say “could be stars by the time the 2026 season concludes.”
Two former Michigan State players — defensive end Alex VanSumeren (USC) and tight end Michael Masunas (Texas) — also made the list.
It’s McKenzie who shares some of the same traits as Chambliss, who after leading Ferris State to its third Division II national title in four seasons in 2024, transferred to Ole Miss, where he completed 66% of his passes for 3,937 yards for 22 touchdowns (and just three interceptions), grabbing the reins following an early season injury to starter Austin Simmons. He also rushed for 527 yards and eight more touchdowns, finishing eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
McKenzie didn’t win a national title at Saginaw Valley, but he was a dual-threat signal caller while in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, amassing 4,301 yards passing in 25 games over three seasons with the Cardinals, with 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry last season, rushing for 942 yards and 10 touchdowns.
McKenzie, who is ranked No. 1,176 overall among transfers, and No. 69 among quarterbacks by 247Sports, led Caledonia to a Division 1 state title game appearance in 2022, a 35-17 loss to Belleville.
“McKenzie came up so often asking people recommendations for this list that I wonder if he really qualifies as under the radar,” Chris Hummer of 247 Sports and CBS Sports writes. “But I don’t think people were grinding Saginaw Valley State tape from last year, so let’s make a quick introduction. … He’s a dynamic runner and a productive passer. The early returns at Boston College are very strong, too. He’ll be a fun Saturday watch for college football diehards.”
Masunas and VanSumeren (Essexville Garber) entered the portal following a season in which Michigan State went 4-8 and fired head coach Jonathan Smith, replacing him with former longtime Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Masunas had 19 catches for 232 yards and three touchdowns for the Spartans last season, with Hummer calling him a “plus blocker with upside as a pass catcher.” According to Hummer, VanSumeren already is earning raves at USC.
“Under the radar may be a bit of a stretch for VanSumeren, who had a ton of love in the portal this cycle,” Hummer writes.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Ex-SVSU QB, ex-Spartans among CBS Sports’ top ‘under-the-radar’ transfer portal adds
Reporting by Daren Tomhave, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
