Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

The Most Important Addition and Loss From the Transfer Portal for Every Big 12 Team

KJ Jefferson and Josh Kelly in, Jamaree Caldwell and BJ Green out will change the Big 12 next year.

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Sep 24
Sep 24

By Alec Nederveld

Arizona

Tre Smith (In), Jonah Coleman (Out)

Following Brent Brennan, Arizona gains a First-Team All MWC Edge from a year ago. Tre Smith had 66 tackles, 9.5 for loss, and 6.5 sacks and will have two more years of eligibility. 

As a true sophomore, Jonah Coleman led the Wildcats with 871 yards and five rushing touchdowns. He added 283 yards and 1 receiving touchdown. Coleman will also follow a coach, going up to Washington with Jedd Fisch.

Arizona State

Keyshaun Elliott (In), BJ Green (Out)

Keyshaun Elliott was a talented LB and one of many starters from New Mexico State to enter the portal. He led the Aggies with 111 tackles, 10 for loss, while adding 2.5 sacks and six pass breakups. The sophomore also earned All-CUSA honors in 2023. 

The former walk-on led the Sun Devils in sacks for all three of his seasons. BJ Green had his best season last year with 39 tackles, 11.5 being for a loss, and six sacks. The DE will go to conference rival Colorado and Deion Sanders.

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Baylor

Dequan Finn (In), Drake Dabney (Out)

After starting three years at Toledo and improving every year, Dequan Finn chose to enter the portal for his final season. He’s a true dual threat and was the MAC MVP last year. I think Finn is an upgrade over Blake Shapen, who transferred to Mississippi State.

Baylor’s leader in receiving touchdowns and number two in receptions and yards, Drake Dabney went to TCU. The TE has started 24 games in the last two years and will finish his career with the Bears’ rival.

BYU

Jack Kelly (In), John Henry Daley (Out)

Coming from Weber State, BYU picks up a talented LB who led the Big Sky with 10.5 sacks a season ago. Jack Kelly gets to stay in and play in the same state he’s always lived in. He was named to the All-Big Sky First Team a year ago and should make an immediate impact for the Cougars.

The 6’4″, 250 defensive end was sparingly used as a True Freshman but had immense family ties and time to develop. John Henry Daley brother, father, and three uncles, including Taysom Hill are/were all former BYU players. Daley took a redshirt in 2023.

Cincinnati

Brendan Sorsby (In), Deshawn Pace (Out)

Starting seven games at Indiana as a RS Freshman, Brendan Sorsby hops over to the Queen City. Sorsby threw for 1,587 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions. He also had 276 yards and four touchdowns rushing and will compete for the starting job in 2024.

A multi-year starter for Cincinnati, Deshawn Pace is a tough loss. He led Scott Satterfield‘s team with 80 tackles and 11.5 for loss a season ago with 1.5 sacks, six pass breakups, and an interception. The younger brother of All-American LB Ivan Pace Jr., Deshawn is one of three Bearcats to transfer to UCF.

Colorado

Kahlil Benson (In), Michael Harrison (Out)

No team needed offensive line help more than Colorado, and they got a good one in Kahlil Benson. He started all 12 games for Indiana at RT, only allowing one sack on 424 dropbacks. 

The TE started his career as a Walk-On and finally found an offensive role under Deion Sanders. Michael Harrison finished with 31 catches, 284 yards, and five touchdowns in four starts and 12 appearances. He will follow OC Sean Lewis to San Diego State for 2024.

Houston

Maliq Carr (In), Jamaree Caldwell (Out)

Maliq Carr was second on Michigan State with 30 receptions, 352 yards, and tied for first with three touchdowns. The tight end has played in 34 games, started seven, and also played basketball for one season with the Spartans. Carr only has one more year of eligibility. 

A talented defensive tackle, Jamaree Caldwell was a star on the inside of Houston’s defense. The Second-team All-Big 12 selection was second in sacks and tackles for loss for the Cougar defense. He will finish his career in the Pacific Northwest with Oregon.

Iowa State

Jalen Travis (In), Darrell Simmons (Out)

A massive 6’9, 315″ tackle and two-time All-Ivy League honoree, Jalen Travis brings a lot to Ames. Travis chose the Cyclones over eight other Power-four portal offers and will have one more year of eligibility.

Linemen in, linemen out. Darrell Simmons started 38 games over his career at right guard, although was benched in 2023. He stays in the Big 12, playing his final season with rival Kansas.

Kansas

Shane Bumgardner (In), Ar’maj Reed-Adams (Out)

After winning the Rimington Trophy, given to the best D2 Center, Shane Bumgardner moves up a level in competition. He joins a Kansas team that’s gained a lot (see above) and lost a lot (see below) on the offensive line. He has one final year of eligibility. 

Ar’maj Reed-Adams was an 11-game starter at guard and tackle a season ago and has been with Kansas since 2020. Reed-Adams will finish his career with Texas A&M.

Kansas State

Easton Kilty (In), Kobe Savage (Out)

A multi-year starter at North Dakota, Easton Kilty looks to make the K-State OL better. He’s started 36 games over four positions for the Fighting Hawks. Kilty’s experience and versatility will certainly give him a role for a talented Wildcat team.

Starting his career at the JuCo ranks, Kobe Savage was an immediate starter for Chris Klieman‘s team. Savage had 57 and 58 tackles, and 3 interceptions in both Kansas State seasons. The two-time All-Big 12 safety transferred to Oregon for his final season.

Oklahoma State

Obi Ezeigbo (In), DJ McKinney (Out)

The D2 DE was great last year with 54 tackles, 10.5 for loss, and seven sacks, earning first-team All-PSAC Honors. In 2022, he was coached by Oklahoma State DC Bryan Nardo who gives familiarity to the Cowboy’s 3-3-5 defense. After flipping from South Florida, Obi Ezeigbo could make an immediate impact with a lot of departing seniors at DE.

DJ McKinney was a backup CB for Oklahoma State as a RS Freshman. He was tied for first on the team with five PBUs and led the CB room with 38 tackles. McKinney transferred to Colorado to play under HOF CB Deion Sanders. 

TCU

Kaleb Elarms-Orr (In), Randon Fontenette (Out)

An All-Pac 12 Second-Team LB a season ago, Kaleb Elarms-Orr is a fantastic pickup for Sonny Dykes. The sophomore from Cal had 92 tackles, 3.5 for loss with five deflections, one sack, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Randon Fontenette was a consensus four-star in 2023 and played in all 12 games. The S made 16 tackles while coming off the bench in his first season. Fontenette transferred to Vanderbilt.

Texas Tech

Josh Kelly (In), Monroe Mills (Out)

Josh Kelly only needed one year in Pullman to become the top WR for a 4,000-yard passing team. The sixth-year senior started his career at Fresno State and played his best year with the Cougs. With Texas Tech’s WRs 1, 2, and 4 from a year ago leaving, Kelly will make a big impact.

After starting 22 games in two years and being named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention last year, Monroe Mills chose to leave Texas Tech. The 6’6″, 315 lb tackle has one more year of eligibility. 

UCF

KJ Jefferson (In), Corey Thornton (Out)

Three-year SEC starting quarterbacks typically don’t enter the portal. This one did, and Gus Malzahn picked up a star. In his career, KJ Jefferson has completed 65.1% of passes, 7911 yards, 67 touchdowns and 18 picks. He added 1,876 yards and 21 touchdowns with his legs. It’s a great addition and scheme fit for the Knights. 

Corey Thornton played in 47 games and started 38 over four years with UCF. Last year, the CB led the team with nine pass breakups and had three picks, tied for first. Thornton will also spend his final season at Louisville.

Utah

Dorian Singer (In), Ja’Quinden Jackson (Out)

Dorian Singer broke out with Arizona in 2022, catching 66 passes for 1,105 yards and six touchdowns as a true sophomore. He transferred to USC in 2023 but had much less of an impact, only catching 24 passes for 289 yards and three scores. A change of scenery could help bring Singer back to his All-Pac 12 prime. 

Once a quarterback at Texas, Ja’Quinden Jackson changed schools and later positions before being Utah’s rushing leader in 2023. He ran for 797 yards and four touchdowns for a badly injured Ute team. Jackson transferred to Arkansas and has two more years of eligibility.

West Virginia

Xavier Bausley (In), Tomiwa Durojaiye (Out)

A True Freshman who started 11 games a season ago, Xavier Bausley moved back to his home state to continue his career. Bausley helped make the FBS transition successful for a West Virginia legend – Rich Rodriguez. He comes to Morgantown with three more seasons of eligiblity. 

Tomiwa Durojaiye played in all 13 games as a RS Freshman with the Mountaineers. The DE was tied for third on WVU with six TFLs and second with 3.5 sacks. He had 23 tackles in total. Durojaiye started his career at Kentucky and also has three more years of eligiblity.

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