By Mark Pszonak
Transfers are once again playing a vital role this season. Here are five that everyone should keep an eye on this Saturday:
RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (Ole Miss)
Judkins came in with plenty of expectations and has not disappointed. Despite only getting 47 carries in four games, mostly because he wasn’t needed for more in the blowout wins, he has still rushed for 390 yards and five touchdowns. Saturday against Iowa’s stingy defense may be the first time that he receives a busier workload. Rested and fresh through the first quarter of the regular season, will he dominate the Hawkeyes’ #4 ranked run defense? Eyes will be watching.
RB Jonah Coleman, Washington (Arizona)
Washington has had its ups-and-downs through five games, but one consistent has been Coleman. Averaging 7.2 yards per carry while totaling 521 yards and four touchdowns, he will have to continue to excel if the Huskies hope to gain some level of revenge on Michigan at home. It will be a very difficult test against a Wolverines’ defense that come in with the #6 run defense nationally.
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DE Teddye Buchanan, Cal (Cal-Davis)
Buchanan enjoyed a nice career with Cal-Davis, totaling 208 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and eight interceptions in 36 games, but not many people expected him to be as dominant as he has with the Golden Bears. Already with 40 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble, his tackle total leads the team and is currently #3 in the ACC. Cal will need another top-level effort if they hope to upset Miami.
QB Eli Holstein, Pittsburgh (North Carolina)
Holstein has been one of the pleasant transfer surprises in the country this season with 1,186 yards, 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions for the 4-0 Panthers. The next test comes Saturday at North Carolina, which is reeling after an embarrassing 70-50 home loss to James Madison and then a 21-20 collapse at Duke. The Tar Heels seem prime for the picking, but now Holstein and the Panthers must take advantage of the opportunity.
QB Sam Leavitt, Arizona State (Michigan State)
Coming off a 3-9 season, there wasn’t a great deal of buzz around Tempe this summer. Now 3-1, despite a tough loss to Texas Tech in their last game, the Sun Devils have put themselves on the radar heading into October. A huge opportunity awaits on Saturday at home against struggling Kansas, but for Arizona State to move closer to bowl qualification, Leavitt needs to play better than he did against the Red Raiders when he only completed 22 of 38 attempts, didn’t throw a touchdown and had one interception.
