Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

College Football Star Enters Transfer Portal on Christmas

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Dec 26, 2025 4:11 AM ET

The 2025 college football transfer portal, which opened on Dec. 4, has been active throughout the postseason. Since the window opened, several high-profile players have either declared for the 2026 NFL Draft or entered the portal in search of new opportunities ahead of next season. The movement has included established starters, breakout contributors and special-teams standouts.

Even on Christmas Day, the activity did not slow. Although there were no bowl games played on the holiday, the sport remained busy behind the scenes as players continued to announce their next moves. One such decision came from the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, who experienced a notable departure during the holiday period.

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors players.Marco Garcia-Imagn Images

On Thursday, Hawaii punter Billy Gowers announced that he is entering the transfer portal. His decision comes after a strong first season with the program. A former Australian rules footballer who joined Hawaii in 2025, Gowers quickly established himself as one of the nation’s more effective punters.

During the 2025 season, he recorded 49 punts for 2,266 yards, averaging 46.2 yards per punt, a mark that ranked 10th nationally. He also averaged 3.9 punts per game with a long of 67 yards, providing consistent field-position value for the Rainbow Warriors.

The 29-year-old shared the news via a post on X:

“Thank you Hawai’i!! After a lot of thought and consideration, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal with 3 years of eligibility left. Mahalo, Billy.”

Thank you Hawai’i!!

After a lot of thought and consideration, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal with 3 years of eligibility left.

Mahalo, Billy pic.twitter.com/0u5lesjVCk
— billy gowers (@BillyGowers) December 26, 2025

Gowers’ performance was part of a special-teams unit that played a steady role throughout the 2025 season. Hawaii finished the campaign with a 9-4 record and closed the year on a high note with an impressive 35-31 victory over the California Golden Bears in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve.

With three years of eligibility remaining, Gowers will now explore options at other FBS programs. Given his production and background, he is expected to draw interest from teams seeking an experienced punter capable of making an immediate impact on special teams heading into the 2026 season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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