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With the events of the conference media days starting this week and the start of preseason practices in a few weeks, college football rosters are finally looking like finished products. Due to new rules allowing players to transfer once and be eligible immediately at their new schools, there have been a record number of transfers in the sport this offseason which has left coaches scrambling to finalize their 2021 squads plus late in the schedule than usual.
At this point, however, the July 1 deadline has passed for players to access the portal and be immediately eligible at their new schools. So while a few laggards who were in the portal before could still engage, the hay is mostly in the barn when it comes to transfers that could actually impact the 2021 season.
If this offseason was any indication, we can expect the transfer to play an increasingly important role in the evolution of the sport. Several potential difference-makers are on the move. At the end of the offseason, 247Sports posted its latest batch of the top 150 transfers on Wednesday. Check out the full list here, but first, let’s take a closer look at the 10 best impact transfers for 247Sports’ 2021 college football season.
To: Alabama | From: Tennessee – After racking up 140 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss in two seasons with the Volunteers, this former top 50 prospect in the 2019 class joins the reigning national champions. To’o To’o originally considered the Crimson Tide before going to play for their former defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt, and he is expected to be an immediate high-level contributor to a linebacker unit that should be one of the best in the country. With a good season, To’o To’o will enter the NFL Draft in 2022.
To: Oklahoma | From: Tennessee – Gray became Tennessee’s best offensive weapon last season, covering 772 yards on 157 carries and catching 35 passes for 254 yards. He was one of the few bright spots for a bad offense and chose a more efficient system for his next stop on the way to the NFL. In Oklahoma, Gray will likely share reps with 1,000-yard double-runner Kennedy Brooks, who retired last season and then let the draft pass. But there should be plenty of touches for both of them, and Gray is the most proven wide receiver.
To: Georgia | From: LSU (via Florida) – Gilbert secured a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team at LSU last season after catching 35 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns after picking the Tigers over Alabama and Georgia as the consensus top prospect in the class. 2020. Initially, he signed on to Florida as a tight end after entering the transfer portal, but changed course and headed to Georgia, his home state. Gilbert is also moving from the tight end to the receiver and could help make the Bulldogs a perimeter clash nightmare as he teams up with giant tight end Darnell Washington in some packages.
4. WR Wan’Dale Robinson
To: Kentucky | From: Nebraska – Robinson is the kind of electric, versatile playmaker that a revamped Kentucky offense needs. The Kentucky native and former top 100 prospect in the 2019 class racked up 580 rushing yards and 914 receiving yards in 18 games over his two seasons in Nebraska. If new offensive coordinator Liam Coen can figure out how to properly use Robinson, he could help make the Wildcats a lot more dynamic on offense.
5. LB Mike Jones
To: LSU | From: Clemson – Jones spent three seasons at Clemson and appeared in 20 games, but is technically only a sophomore as he arrives at LSU for a potential breakout season. The former four-star prospect of the 2018 Class is the all-round type of cog that’s big enough to be a force in run defense while still bringing in enough athleticism to take on a variety of wide receivers. He should be an immediate asset for a restarting LSU defense with Daronte Jones as coordinator.
To: Georgia | From: Clemson – The Bulldogs have met a huge need by landing Kendrick, who was an All-ACC first team performer in 2020 and a second team winner in 2019. As a veteran of the Lockdown Corner, he will fit in as a starter. for Georgia and will bring big-playing experience to a team with national title aspirations. Side play is likely to remain UGA’s primary focus as we head into the 2021 season, but Kendrick will help bring a base level of talent and experience to the unit. He played catcher as a rookie and was also a good kick returner during his first two years at Clemson. So Bulldogs can get creative here if they want to.
To: Florida | From: Clemson – Bowman is the least proven player in the top 10 after recording just 32 rushing yards on nine carries in two games at Clemson last season before being transferred to Florida. But there is no doubt about its potential. The 5-foot-9 speedster ranked 20th overall in the 2020 Class overall outlook, according to the 247Sports Composite. With an initial offer slate that included Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and Florida among others, Bowman brings a big game promise to a UF backfield that also includes veterans Dameon Pierce and Malik Davis.
To: Oklahoma | From: Tennessee – With 17 left tackle starts under his belt in two seasons at Tennessee, Morris comes to Oklahoma as a proven passing protector who is still reaching his full potential after starting immediately as a true freshman in 2019. Morris is a former five-star prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite, and assuming he wins the left tackle protecting Spencer Rattler’s back, he’ll have plenty of opportunity to impress NFL scouts.
To: Georgia | From: West Virginia – Like Kendrick, Smith will be essential in helping Georgia reach their full potential as the Bulldogs see most of their secondary production from last season continue. Smith won All-American honors from various publications last season after intercepting a few passes and making eight tackles for a loss in nine games from his safety point for the Mountaineers. With another solid season, he will likely be in the draft, but his time in Georgia could be special nonetheless.
10. CB Tyrique Stevenson
To: Miami (FL) | From: Georgia – The No.2-ranked corner and the No.20 overall player in the Class of 2019 is set to play for his hometown side at a critical time for the Hurricanes. With many returning productions from a team that started 8-1 last season, Miami’s prospects have rarely been higher in recent years. Stevenson will be one of a handful of new defenders who could help the unit take a step forward.
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