The college football season isn’t about to begin, but over the past few weeks, a lot of transfers have been approved, providing an important series of news developments which will definitely affect the coming year of action. A lot of transfers will alter the competitive balance across the country, but these are five of the more prominent ones in major college football.
Shea Patterson, Michigan
The mobile dual-threat quarterback from Ole Miss is the electric player Jim Harbaugh has needed at quarterback to jump-start the Wolverines’ offense. Michigan has struggled under Harbaugh because the quarterback position has been a mess. Harbaugh’s failure to develop a top-level quarterback has been one of the bigger mysteries and surprises of his tenure and of the college football universe over the past few seasons. A number of coaches with a talent for developing quarterbacks have similarly struggled to develop prospects within their own programs, but have received lifelines through transfers who came in and lifted the performance of the program. Patterson definitely fits this identity for Michigan. He could become the man who makes Michigan’s offense devastatingly powerful. Since Michigan has always had good defenses under Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Don Brown, Patterson could be the guy who changes the fortunes of Michigan football. Their regular season win total sits at 8.5, according to BetDSI.
Joe Burrow, LSU
The above example with Patterson is an instance of an SEC quarterback transferring to the Big Ten. This situation with Joe Burrow is an example of a Big Ten quarterback transferring to the SEC. Burrow has graduated from Ohio State, and as a graduate transfer, he knows he doesn’t have much time to waste. He picked LSU because he knows the quarterback situation for the Tigers is shaky, and that he can therefore expect to be the starter in Week 1. He was buried behind Dwayne Haskins at Ohio State, so he went to a program where he could finally get playing time in his collegiate career. If he lives up to expectations, LSU can legitimately challenge Auburn for second place in the SEC West, but beating Alabama will be a different challenge altogether.
Jalen Hurd, Baylor
This transfer is especially interesting because Hurd, upon leaving Tennessee, is not merely switching programs. He is switching positions. The running back intends to play at wide receiver for Baylor, trying to capitalize on his speed and reduce wear and tear on his body. Baylor coaches are optimistic that the move will work out. Yet, Hurd has to adjust not only to a different position, but also a different conference. The way football is played in the Big 12 is very different from the SEC. The Big 12 is a shootout league dominated by offenses. The recent SEC was a defense-first smashmouth league. The demands on offensive skill players are very different, and the amount of points generally needed to win games is different. Hurd has to be a high-volume producer, but he has the skill set to make it happen.
Brandon Dawkins, Indiana
Dawkins is a very fast quarterback who has a real chance of getting Big Ten defenses off balance and causing defensive linemen to gasp for air. His playing style is different from what most Big Ten quarterbacks involve. He transferred from Arizona, a casualty of both the rise of Khalil Tate and the departure of former coach Rich Rodriguez due to scandal. Dawkins has enormous talent and potential, but he doesn’t see the field well at times. If he can read defenses even a little bit better, he could become a highly valuable addition for the Hoosiers and lead the team to a bowl game.
Keller Chryst, Tennessee
Jalen Hurd transferred out of Tennessee. Chryst is transferring into Tennessee. This is a move which should help the Vols primarily because Chryst fits the style of offense the Vols use. Chryst came from Stanford, which used a power running game and a play-action passing game once the threat of the run was established. Chryst should have a great comfort level in this offense under first-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt. The Vols might not score a lot of points, but they will try to control the ball to keep opposing offenses off the field. Chryst is not spectacularly talented, but he can definitely help Pruitt get the kinds of ball-control results – 35 minutes of possession per game – he and the Vols need this year.
