College football has become defined by the transfer portal, and teams can rise and fall depending on the quality of the transfers they attract. Nowadays it’s rare for a freshman to come in and steal that newcomer thunder on any given team … but it happens sometimes.
Headed into the 2024 season, here’s a look at one newcomer to watch for all 16 teams in the Big 12 Conference.
Arizona, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB: In 2023, Croskey-Merritt rushed for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns for New Mexico and averaged 6.3 yards per carry on the way to being named All-Mountain West Conference as well as being named an honorable mention All-American by College Football News. Arizona opens the season against New Mexico.
Arizona State, Sam Leavitt, QB: Leavitt won the starting job at Arizona State after transferring from Michigan State and faces an uphill battle with the Sun Devils picked toward the bottom of the Big 12.
Baylor, Dequan Finn, QB: Finn was magic against mid-major competition the last three seasons at Toledo, where he earned MAC Most Valuable Player honors in 2023 and was a two-time All-MAC selection.
BYU, Jack Kelly, LB: Kelly, 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, dominated FCS competition the last two seasons. In 2023, Kelly had 56 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and led the Big Sky Conference with 10.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. Over the last two seasons, Kelly had 16.5 sacks.
Cincinnati, Jake Golday, LB: Golday, 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, comes to Cincinnati from Central Arkansas, where he had 82 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries in 2023. Also gets to play behind one of the nation’s best defensive tackles in Dontay Corleone.
Colorado, B.J. Green, Edge: Green was an All-Pac-12 selection in 2023 at Arizona State with 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.
Houston, Maliq Carr, TE: According to PFF, Carr had the highest grade of any transfer tight end in the FBS at 81.9 percent and has the highest pass-play grade of any tight end in the Big 12 at 91.6 percent. Over the last three seasons, Carr played in 34 games with 7 starts and caught 54 passes for 696 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. This is Carr’s third college stop after starting his career at Purdue then spending several seasons at Michigan State, where he also played basketball.
Iowa State, Eli Green, WR: Green comes to the Cyclones from FC powerhouse North Dakota State, where he led the Bison with 1,197 all-purpose yards in 2023, including 877 receiving yards.
Kansas, Deshawn Warner, Edge: Warner is the highest-rated high school recruit for Kansas in under head coach Lance Leipold and could change the edge rusher position for the Jayhawks.
Kansas State, Dylan Edwards, RB: The highest-ranked transfer in the Big 12 according to On3, Edwards was mostly misused in Colorado’s offense as a freshman in 2023. If he wants to play in the NFL, he’ll probably need to do it as a wide receiver or return specialist — the Wildcats would be smart to use him in various ways in their offense.
Oklahoma State, Tyler Foster, TE: Foster transferred from Ohio and earned a starting spot for the Cowboys — one of just two new starters on either side of the ball for a team that played in the Big 12 Championship Game in 2023.
TCU, Drake Dabney, TE: Dabney comes to TCU from its rival, Baylor, where he was an All-Big 12 pick in 2023 after he set a school record for tight ends with 552 receiving yards. Dabney has the size at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds to play his way into becoming an NFL draft pick.
Texas Tech, Micah Hudson, WR: The highest-rated recruit in Texas Tech history could change the offense for the Red Raiders and third-year head coach Joey McGuire. Could step in and be one of the better wide receivers in the Big 12 from his first game. Also the only freshman to make the list.
UCF, KJ Jefferson, QB: Jefferson was unstoppable at times in three seasons as the starter at Arkansas — just not in 2023. He gets a chance to reboot his career and become a legit NFL prospect playing for head coach Gus Malzahn at UCF.
Utah: Dorian Singer, WR: Singer is on his third team in three seasons but had 66 receptions for 1,105 yards and 6 touchdowns at Arizona in 2022 before spending 2023 with USC. He could be a prime target for Utah quarterback Cam Rising.
West Virginia, T.J. Jackson, DL: Jackson was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection at Troy and gets his shot at the big time after transferring to West Virginia. Jackson has 21.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks over the last two seasons.