Top NCAAF Big Ten Transfers Worth Considering

Nebraska Adds Proven Pass Rusher to a Defense in Need of Playmakers

Defending Big Ten Champion Michigan’s top Transfer is the Center of Attention

In the era of the transfer portal, the conference standings can be changed with the addition of a couple of key top NCAAF Big Ten Transfers.

When looking at the top NCAAF Big Ten transfers, it is clear that the conference coaches have done their due diligence. A look at the current top 100 rated transfers in the 247sports.com database, 12 of the 17 players with ties to the Big Ten is coming into the conference.

Unlike many other conferences, there were very few players transferring within the Big Ten Conference. The new blood could make things even more interesting heading into the 2022 season.

Here’s a look at the top NCAAF transfers coming into the Big Ten as well as some prominent departures.

Ochaun Mathis, Defensive End (Texas Christian to Nebraska)

Mathis wasn’t nearly as productive during the 2021 season at TCU as he was in 2020 when he had 14 tackles for losses and nine sacks. He should give Nebraska a pass-rush presence after the Cornhuskers ranked 12th in the conference with 12 sacks a season ago.

In a conference featuring five of the top 31 incoming transfers in the country, Mathis tops the list of top Big Ten transfers.

Victor Oluwatimi Offensive Lineman (Virginia to Michigan)

Michigan led the Big Ten with 3001 rushing yards and 39 touchdown runs on the way to winning the conference title. Oluwatimi, who was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, was going to be considered among the top centers in the country regardless of where he landed. Rather than remaining in the ACC to play at Clemson, he is now a key piece of Michigan’s power-running offense.

Tanner McCalister, Defensive Back (Oklahoma State to Ohio State)

The versatile McCalister has the ability to play either cornerback or safety. Three of his six pass breakups in 2021 came against ranked teams. Ohio State usually has one of the most talented secondaries in the country and a look at recent NFL drafts is an indication of how well defensive backs are coached at Ohio State. Perhaps McCalister will become part of Ohio State’s NFL pipeline.

Jay Shaw, Defensive Back (UCLA to Wisconsin)

With six interceptions and a fumble recovery over the last three seasons, Shaw certainly has shown the ability to be around the ball. He’ll be joining a Wisconsin team that finished fourth nationally in passing defense, and fourth in pass efficiency defense while only Washington allowed fewer touchdown passes in 2021 than the nine allowed by the Badgers.

Demeioun Robinson, Defensive End (Maryland to Penn State)

Robinson was recruited by Penn State out of high school, but he opted to stay home to play at Maryland. He had 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks as a freshman before making the move to Penn State.

If getting an edge rusher from Maryland to make an impact as a transfer sounds familiar, there is a good reason. Former Temple star Arnold Ebiketie led Penn State with 9.5 sacks during the 2021 season. With Ebiketie being selected in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons, the Nittany Lions are in need of a new player who is a force off the edge.

Taj Harris, Receiver (Syracuse to Rutgers)

Rutgers should know what they are getting after Harris torched the Scarlet Knights for 122 yards on eight catches in the second game of 2021. Harris only played in three games and finished with 16 catches.

The New Jersey native had 151 catches in four seasons at Syracuse and now heads back home.

Best of the Rest

The Nebraska defense not only adds a pass rusher but brings in cornerback Tommi Hill from Arizona State. The Florida native had just nine tackles in his lone season for the Sun Devils but has tons of potential.

Maryland was third in the Big Ten in passing offense a season ago and adds receiver Jacob Copeland from Florida. Copeland led Florida with 642 yards in 2021 and with the way the Terrapins can throw the ball, that number could increase in 2022. He is one of the noteworthy Top NCAAF Big Ten transfers at the offensive skill position.

There was plenty of movement among quarterbacks and the highest-rated incoming transfer among the quarterbacks is former Missouri starting QB Connor Bazelak. He is now in Indiana.

Rutgers dipped into the Football Championship Subdivision left to add former Sacred Heart offensive lineman J.D. DiRenzo.

Michigan State added top 100-rated college football transfers on both sides of the ball bringing in the tight end Daniel Barker from Illinois and defensive end Khris Bogle from Florida.

On the Way Out

If not for Caleb Williams following his former head coach Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma to Southern California, former No. 1 national recruit Quinn Ewers would be the top-rated transfer in the NCAA football landscape.

Ewers never threw a pass while at Ohio State and now he is at Texas. He is tied for fifth in the current Heisman Trophy odds. The Buckeyes should be fine with Heisman Trophy front-runner C.J. Stroud returning at quarterback. Former Nebraska starting quarterback Adrian Martinez is headed off to Kansas State.

Northwestern finished second to last in the Big Ten in total defense in 2021 and now the Wildcats will be without one of their best defensive players as safety Brandon Joseph transferred to Notre Dame.

Minnesota loses running backs Mar’Keise Irving and Ky Thomas to Oregon and Kansas. Minnesota does return former 1,000-yard rusher Mohamed Ibrahim, who played in just one game a season ago along with Trey Potts so the Golden Gophers’ running game shouldn’t suffer.

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