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Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Staff Writer
College football coaches all over the country retooled, or outright overhauled, their rosters since last season.
Using the transfer portal and high school recruiting, they hoped to add players who would push their programs to a higher level. We have seen the transfer portal used by coaches more and more each offseason to try to fill vacancies and that was no different following 2022. From record-breaking quarterbacks to former five-star recruits, the portal had some big names switching to a new team. Those players join the class of 2023 recruits signed last year.
However, it’s not just rankings or previous production that will make these players impactful.
Whether there is a need at the position, a vacancy from a player leaving or a lack of talent, all of these factor into who could have a big year for his new team. Our list is a combination of high school players and transfers who are coming into the right situation at the right time to help make their team better.
With so many new faces this season, we ranked our top 50 newcomers.
Transferred from Jackson State to Colorado
Hunter became well-known as a senior in high school when he flipped his college commitment from Florida State to Jackson State, becoming the first five-star prospect to commit to an FCS school. He played a significant role on both sides of the ball in his first season. On defense he had 19 total tackles, 2 interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 1 forced fumble. On offense, he had 18 receptions for 190 yards and four touchdowns. Last season Colorado ranked 113th in pass yards allowed per game, 115th in interceptions per pass attempt and 112th in total interceptions. Hunter, while aiding the offense, will immediately be an upgrade in the secondary to help improve those numbers.
Transferred from Wake Forest to Notre Dame
Hartman was one of the top quarterback transfers this offseason and is coming to Notre Dame at the perfect time. Drew Pyne and Tyler Buchner both transferred and the Irish were searching for stability at the position. Hartman was a five-year starter at Wake Forest and earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2022. He threw for 12,967 yards and 110 touchdowns with 41 interceptions in his Deacons career and is now tasked with leading the Irish in 2023.
Transferred from Jackson State to Colorado
Sanders is the son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders and committed to play for his father at Jackson State. Sanders was an ESPN 300 recruit with major offers and could have gone elsewhere. In his first season at Jackson State, he won the Jerry Rice FCS national freshman of the year award after throwing for 3,231 yards and 30 touchdowns with 8 interceptions. He followed that up with 3,752 yards, 40 touchdowns and 6 interceptions this past season and will now take over as the starter for Colorado. Sanders will help upgrade Colorado’s performance on offense last season, when the Buffaloes averaged just 172.9 pass yards per game, finishing 120th in total pass yards and 117th in passing touchdowns.
Transferred from Virginia to Florida State
Cypress was a second-team All-ACC player in 2022 for the Hokies, finishing with 39 total tackles and 14 pass breakups. He was one of the top cornerbacks in the transfer portal and had plenty of options before opting for the Seminoles. Cypress is a 6-foot corner with experience in the conference and will immediately give the Seminoles a disruptive presence in the secondary. He stood out in the spring for Florida State and barring anything unusual happening, he should be a big part of the defense in 2023.
Transferred from Missouri to Georgia
Lovett led Missouri in receiving yards last season with 846. He had three touchdowns and averaged 15.1 yards per catch. He’s joining a national contender that will be breaking in a new quarterback, but Lovett should get plenty of opportunities. The Dawgs can use playmakers with SEC experience and Lovett checks those boxes. The offense returns tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Ladd McConkey, but Lovett will help round out the receiving corps and give the staff multiple options.
Transferred from Indiana to Oklahoma
McCullough, ranked No. 43 overall in the 2022 class, was the highest-ranked recruit Tom Allen had signed at Indiana. He played as a true freshman, finishing with 49 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks and 3 pass breakups. Oklahoma coach Brent Venables has been looking for defensive help after the Sooners finished the season ranked 122nd out of 131 FBS teams in yards allowed per game. The defense ranked 106th in rush yards allowed per game and 119th in pass yards allowed per game in 2022. McCullough, now a sophomore, is an instant upgrade at linebacker and gives Venables a versatile player who can drop back in coverage, rush the quarterback or help against the run. He should fit in nicely with what Venables wants to do on defense and improve the unit as a whole.
Transferred from Oregon State to LSU
Speights was an All-Pac-12 first-team selection last season and led Oregon State in tackles with 83 including eight for loss. LSU lost linebackers Micah Baskerville, Mike Jones Jr. and DeMario Tolan from last season, so there was a need for another linebacker to join Harold Perkins and Greg Penn III. Adding Speights, one of the top transfers at the position, gives LSU a really good linebacking corps with versatility and experience.
Transferred from Oklahoma State to USC
Cobb played in all 14 games of his sophomore season in 2021, then finished second on the team in total tackles for 2022 with 96. He led the team in tackles for loss with 13 and also had 2 sacks, 1 interception and 11 quarterback hurries. He brings experience and talent to a USC defense that needs leaders and help across the board. Cobb is an immediate upgrade for the Trojans given the struggles the team has seen on defense. USC was 106th in total yards allowed per game last season and 124th in yards allowed per play. Cobb pairing with Eric Gentry will give USC stout linebackers in the middle of the defense to help lead a retooled unit.
Transferred from Arizona State to Michigan
Henderson started all 13 games last season for Arizona State at left guard, but will likely compete at right tackle at Michigan. The Wolverines have won the Joe Moore Award for the best offensive line the past two seasons but are looking to fill a few open starting spots upfront for 2023. Henderson has a realistic shot at starting on the right side and brings a wealth of experience. At 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, Henderson could be one of a few transfer linemen to make an impact for the Wolverines.
Transferred from SE Louisiana to LSU
Alexander was an FCS All-American after an outstanding 2021 season. He finished with 32 total tackles, 6 interceptions, 13 passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He had 20 total tackles, 7 pass breakups and 3 interceptions in 2022 and returned two of the picks for a touchdown. He’ll have competition to start at LSU as the staff brought in Denver Harris from Texas A&M and JK Johnson from Ohio State, and a few returning players on the roster are in the mix. But Alexander has the experience and production that should translate to the field for the Tigers.
Transferred from NC State to Kentucky
Leary started the last five games of the 2019 season as a redshirt freshman and played in eight games overall. He played in four games in 2020 before an injury ended his season. He then played in 12 games during 2021 and threw for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns, breaking Philip Rivers’ single-season school record for passing scores. He played in six games during the 2022 campaign before suffering another season-ending injury. The Wildcats saw starter Will Levis selected in this year’s NFL draft and, if Leary can stay healthy, he should have no problem successfully running Kentucky’s offense.
Transferred from Georgia to Texas
Mitchell played in all 15 games during his freshman season in 2021 and had 426 yards and four touchdowns. He then started in three games in 2022 and finished with 134 yards and three touchdowns in six total games after an injury lingered through most of the season. He transferred to Texas and is healthy and projected to make a major impact this season. The Longhorns return receivers Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington, as well as tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, who were the team’s top three pass-catchers last season. Mitchell, at 6-foot-4, provides another big target for Quinn Ewers, though, and gives the Longhorns a formidable wide receiver corps.
Transferred from Texas A&M to LSU
Harris was ranked No. 25 overall in the 2022 recruiting class, but was suspended twice while with the Aggies and transferred after just one season. He was part of a large haul of secondary players for LSU. The staff added Harris, Duce Chestnut from Syracuse, Zy Alexander from Southeastern and JK Johnson from Ohio State. There will be a competition for playing time, but Harris should make an impact in some fashion.
Transferred from Arizona to USC
Singer led the Wildcats in receiving yards last season with 1,105 and caught six touchdowns. He averaged 16.7 yards per catch and was an All-Pac-12 second-team player. The Trojans’ leading receiver from 2022, Jordan Addison, is gone and USC’s offense returns Mario Williams, Brenden Rice and Tahj Washington, but there will be plenty of catches to go around with Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams also coming back.
Transferred from Kent State to Penn State
Cephas, a two-time All-MAC selection, led Kent State in 2021 with 1,240 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He was second on the team last season with 744 yards and three touchdowns. He is joining Penn State at a time when the Nittany Lions are looking for playmakers on offense. Leading receiver Parker Washington is now in the NFL, as is second-leading receiver Mitchell Tinsley. Penn State will have a new quarterback for 2023, likely Drew Allar, and will need consistent targets at receiver. Cephas is a good option and should get plenty of looks.
Transferred from Virginia to NC State
Armstrong played in nine games during the 2020 season and threw for 2,117 yards and 18 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He had his best season in 2021, throwing for 4,449 yards and 31 touchdowns with 10 interceptions, but his numbers declined significantly in 2022. At NC State, Armstrong is reuniting with Robert Anae, his former playcaller at Virginia. NC State had a need at quarterback when Devin Leary transferred to Kentucky and Armstrong will fill that void.
Transferred from Nebraska to Michigan
Hausmann was a three-star prospect in the 2022 class. He made an immediate impact on the team, playing in every game last season with seven starts. Hausmann finished with 54 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a sack in his breakout campaign. The Wolverines have a set starter in Junior Colson, but Hausmann will likely compete for the other starting job with Michael Barrett. If Hausmann builds on the freshman season he had at Nebraska, he should see significant playing time.
Transferred from Western Michigan to Florida State
Fiske is 6-foot-5, 297 pounds, can move for a big man and he has the strength to compete right away. His versatility will allow the defense to put him in several spots and fill needs along the line. He had 58 total tackles last season, 12 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 7 quarterback hurries and 2 forced fumbles. He has already stood out this offseason and should bring explosiveness upfront.
Transferred from SMU to Wisconsin
Mordecai began his career at Oklahoma, then transferred to SMU and started all 12 games during the 2021 season for the Mustangs. He threw for 3,628 yards and 39 touchdowns that year and followed it up with 3,524 yards and 33 TDs in 2022. Wisconsin has a new staff in place with coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who will be moving to more of an Air Raid offense. Quarterbacks Graham Mertz and Chase Wolf both transferred, but the staff brought in Mordecai, Nick Evers from Oklahoma and Braedyn Locke from Mississippi State. Mordecai knows how to operate a pass-heavy offense and should fit in with what Longo wants at quarterback.
Transferred to South Carolina to Oregon
Burch was the No. 4 prospect in the 2020 class and signed with South Carolina after a strange recruiting process. He got off to a slow start at South Carolina, but had his best season in 2022 with 60 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He’s now playing for a defensive-minded coach in Dan Lanning and has an opportunity to help Oregon bring a pass rush element and a versatile defender upfront. If he can continue to improve, Burch should be a factor for the Ducks.
Transferred from Michigan State to Florida State
Coleman, the Spartans’ leading receiver in 2022, was a big loss for Michigan State. He caught 58 passes for 798 yards and seven touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver is now going to be paired with 6-7 receiver Johnny Wilson, who led Florida State in receiving yards last year. That is a formidable duo for returning quarterback Jordan Travis and there is no reason Coleman can’t reproduce the results he had in 2022.
Transferred from Ball State to UCLA
Steele took over as the lead rusher in 2021, his freshman season, and ran for 891 yards with six touchdowns. He improved on those numbers in 2022, running for 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns. Steele was ninth among running backs in rushing yards for the season and is coming to UCLA at a time when the Bruins are looking to replace Zach Charbonnet, who was selected in the NFL draft. With quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson also off to the NFL, the offense will have a new quarterback and could rely heavily on Steele to help move the ball early in the season.
Transferred from Michigan to Iowa
McNamara was an ESPN 300 recruit in the 2019 class and signed with the Wolverines after decommitting from Notre Dame. He played sparingly in the truncated 2020 season, with Joe Milton getting the majority of the snaps. McNamara took over as the starter in 2021 and helped lead Michigan to a Big Ten title. He then lost the starting job to J.J. McCarthy in 2022. The Hawkeyes averaged 251.6 yards per game last season, which was second to last among all FBS teams. The team ranked 123rd in pass yards per game and 127th in offensive points per game. To say Iowa needs a consistent, experienced quarterback is an understatement. McNamara is an immediate upgrade who can help improve the offense from last season.
Transferred from Coastal Carolina to Michigan
At 6-foot-1, 245 pounds, Stewart is a little undersized, but he has a ton of speed off the edge. He had 36 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 5 quarterback hurries last season at Coastal Carolina. The Wolverines lost Mike Morris, who led the team in tackles for loss last season, to the NFL. The defense returns Jaylen Harrell, who was second on the team in tackles for loss, and a few others. But Stewart’s ability to get to the quarterback makes him an asset and his versatility will get him onto the field this season.
Transferred from Georgia to USC
Alexander was the No. 56 prospect overall in the 2022 class and played in 12 games as a true freshman when he had 9 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries. He decided to transfer to USC and the Trojans can use all the help on defense they can get. The Trojans ranked in the bottom half of most major defensive categories and Alexander is part of a new-look defense that has added talent across the board. He should be an upgrade along the defensive line and make an immediate impact.
Alabama | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 11
Downs, a 6-foot, 190-pound recruit out of Georgia, was the No. 1 safety in the 2023 class. He’s a talented defensive back who has already garnered hype since enrolling at Alabama. The Crimson Tide lost safeties Brian Branch and Jordan Battle to the NFL, so there are open spots. Downs has every opportunity to see the field early this fall and, given his talent level, could become one of Alabama’s better players in the secondary.
USC | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 7
Branch was the No. 1 wide receiver in the class and signed with USC over offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Texas A&M and plenty of other major programs. USC brought in Dorian Singer from Arizona and has a ton of talent in the receiving corps, but Branch is too good to keep on the sidelines.
Colorado | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 14
McClain was committed to Miami, but flipped late in the process to Colorado. He’s yet another five-star cornerback whom Deion Sanders was able to flip from a Florida school, following Travis Hunter from the 2022 class. McClain is a 6-foot-2, 165-pound corner who should be an immediate contributor for the Buffs. He and Hunter will be a formidable duo in the secondary for Colorado in 2023.
Texas | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 16
Hill was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 inside linebacker in the class. He had been committed to Texas A&M, but decommitted and eventually signed with the Longhorns. Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski recently told reporters the team plans to allow Hill to learn from players in front of him, then it will find roles for him on the field. Kwiatkowski said that could be in third-down or passing situations or off the edge. So Hill might not start right away, but his skill set should be used in some form this season.
South Carolina | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 39
Harbor legitimately could have played defensive end, tight end or receiver, but it looks as though he’ll be a receiver for South Carolina. He’s 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and runs a 10.28 second 100-meter dash. He plans to run track for the Gamecocks, as well, and hopes to make it to the Olympics someday. For now, coach Shane Beamer hopes he will add an explosive presence for quarterback Spencer Rattler. The Gamecocks are returning leading receiver Antwane Wells from last season, but lost second-leading receiver Jalen Brooks, third-leading receiver Josh Vann and tight ends Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner.
Texas | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 26
Cook, the No. 3 receiver in the class, was a big win for Texas in the 2023 cycle. He has been mentioned by coach Steve Sarkisian this offseason as a freshman who could make an impact early. Despite AD Mitchell transferring in, Cook has the tools to help the offense right away and will give Sarkisian another option to try to put up points in 2023.
Alabama | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 24
Haynes was the No. 2 running back in the class behind Richard Young, who also signed with Alabama. Haynes is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound back from Buford, Georgia, and has already caused a stir during the spring, showing versatility in the spring game — two touchdowns on the ground another receiving. Haynes has the talent, and although he still has some competition ahead of him in Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams, he should be able to find reps this season.
Clemson | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 4
Woods was one of the most sought-after defensive linemen in the 2023 class. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound lineman had 90 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 8 sacks as a senior in high school. He finished his high school career with 260 tackles, 72 tackles for loss and 29.5 sacks. Woods played in the Clemson spring game and had seven tackles with one sack while playing on the first-team defense.
Miami | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 6
At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds out of IMG Academy, Mauigoa was the top-rated tackle in the 2023 class. It’s difficult for offensive linemen to come in and start right away, but the Hurricanes are looking for help upfront and the coaching staff and players have already been raving about Mauigoa and his strength.
Miami | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 21
Similar to Mauigoa, Okunlola, also a five-star prospect, is ahead of the curve for a freshman offensive lineman. At 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, he could help anchor the line with Mauigoa.
UCLA | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 2
Moore originally committed to Oregon but then flipped to UCLA. He threw for 2,392 yards and 32 touchdowns with 3 interceptions as a senior at King High School in Detroit. UCLA is looking to replace last season’s starter, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Moore has a shot at being that guy. The staff brought in Collin Schlee from Kent State, so there will be competition, but Moore has talent that will be difficult to keep off the field.
Oklahoma | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 17
Bowen was a five-star in the 2023 class and the No. 2 safety overall. He originally committed to Notre Dame, but then flipped to Oregon before eventually signing with the Sooners. Coach Brent Venables needs all the help he can get on defense and Bowen is someone who can come in right away and help in the secondary. There are other options and competition with Reggie Pearson, Key Lawrence, Billy Bowman and Robert Spears-Jennings, but given that Oklahoma’s defense gave up 273.5 pass yards per game, which ranked 119th, adding competition will only be a good thing for this defense.
Transferred from Texas A&M to Michigan State
Adeleye, the No. 42 prospect in the 2021 class, redshirted his first season, then suffered an injury that caused him to miss most of 2022. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman joins an experienced Michigan State defense. The Spartans are returning most of their top pass-rushers from last season, including Jacoby Windmon, who had 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. However, the team ranked 91st in sacks per pass attempt, 54th in total sacks and 92nd in defensive pressures. Adeleye should help improve those numbers and add talent upfront.
Transferred from Louisville to Ole Miss
Montgomery was the second-leading tackler for Louisville last season with 70 total tackles. He had 11 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 pass breakups and 4 forced fumbles in 2022 for the Cardinals. He was a force on defense and is now filling a need for Ole Miss at linebacker in 2023. The Rebels lost Austin Keys to Auburn, but return Ashanti Cistrunk this coming season. Montgomery and Cistrunk give new defensive coordinator Pete Golding two excellent options at linebacker.
Transferred from Michigan to Iowa
All had a breakout year for Michigan in 2021, when he had 437 yards and two touchdowns. He dealt with injuries while at Michigan and missed most of the 2022 season. He is healthy now, and joins an Iowa offense that uses the tight ends. Teaming up with Cade McNamara, with whom he already has familiarity and a level of comfort, should make both assets to a woeful Iowa offense.
Transferred from Kentucky to Auburn
Rogers had 35 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks last season for Kentucky. He’s a 6-foot-3, 346-pound tackle who should factor in right away upfront. New coach Hugh Freeze told reporters he has been pleased with Rogers and his transition to Auburn and said Rogers should provide a boost in the middle on defense. He will be paired with Jayson Jones and Mosiah Nasili-Kite along the line.
Ohio State | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 241
Tate is coming into a pretty deep wide receiver room at Ohio State with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka entrenched in their roles. The Buckeyes are happy to spread the ball around, however, and Tate might be too good to keep off the field. He had 750 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last season at IMG Academy and has already earned promising reviews this offseason. Ryan Day mentioned Tate at Big Ten media days, saying that although the receiver is a freshman, the coach sees some of the early enrollees as sophomores now and expects them to contribute early on.
Georgia | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 35
Georgia has had a ton of success on defense under Kirby Smart and had a large number of players selected in the NFL draft. That has created a few holes, including outside linebacker, which will need to be filled. Jalon Walker and Marvin Jones have both dealt with injuries, which has created some opportunity for Wilson to get extra reps. He had two sacks in the spring game and has an opportunity to see early playing time.
Tennessee | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 185
Carter was a star linebacker in high school who also played running back. He chose Tennessee over Alabama and received praise from his coaches throughout the spring. There are some experienced players ahead of Carter at linebacker, but the Tennessee coaches have said this offseason that Carter doesn’t look like a freshman. If he keeps progressing on the path he’s on, he should make a significant impact in 2023.
Miami | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 70
Bain was the No. 7 defensive end in the 2023 class and one of the top prospects in the state of Florida. He had three sacks in Miami’s spring game and the coaches have already been talking about the impact Bain could make this season. Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry told reporters he expects Bain will play a lot in his first year and has not looked like a typical freshman.
Colorado | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 140
Edwards had been committed to Notre Dame, but flipped to Colorado in December. He was the No. 7 running back in the class and now has a chance to contribute right away because of the mass turnover at Colorado and the talent level Edwards possesses.. The staff brought in Alton McCaskill from Houston and Sy’Veon Wilkerson through the transfer portal, but Edwards should still have every chance to play early.
Texas A&M | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 44
Owens was one of the top running backs in the 2023 class and flipped his commitment from Louisville to Texas A&M. He had over 7,000 rush yards and 100 rushing touchdowns in his high school career and was one of the top players in Texas for his class. The Aggies’ leading rusher from last season, Devon Achane, is now in the NFL and the staff is looking for his replacement. Both Amari Daniels and Le’Veon Moss are returning, but Owens should have a good opportunity to see the field given his talent level.
Auburn | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 205
Auburn lost three of its top four players in tackles for loss from last season with Derrick Hall, Colby Wooden and Eku Leota all gone to the NFL, and the Tigers have a glaring need at defensive end. Faulk flipped his commitment from Florida State to Auburn late in the process and now has an opportunity to get on the field in pass rush situations to replace some of the production lost from 2022.
Nebraska | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 155
Coleman is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound receiver out of Lincoln, Nebraska, and has a chance to be the hometown hero on this offense. He has all the tools to be a great wideout for coach Matt Rhule and will provide a big target for quarterback Jeff Sims. Coleman has already received rave reviews from his coaches and, if he progresses on the path he’s on, he should contribute quite a bit in the fall.
Florida | 2023 ESPN 300 ranking: 146
Wilson, the No. 7 athlete in the class, enrolled early at Florida and has already made a name for himself. Coach Billy Napier said he thinks Wilson will make the team better. Napier also mentioned Wilson’s speed as an aspect that has stood out this spring and given that Florida’s offense was ranked 77th in pass yards per game, Wilson and fellow freshman Andy Jean will be welcomed additions.