By Tony Thomas
Players in the transfer portal are beginning to make their commitments to their new teams, and Notre Dame, Arkansas and Wisconsin have found talented quarterbacks to lead their respective offenses in 2024.
QB Riley Leonard
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (from Duke)
6’4”, 212 lbs.
As the #5 rated quarterback in the transfer portal (per 247sports), Leonard was plagued with injuries this season, passing for 1.102 yards, three touchdowns, and three INTs. For his career, Leonard threw for 4,450 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 INTs. In addition, he added 1,224 yards rushing and 10 scores.
Oh you know… just Riley being Riley 👀 pic.twitter.com/N3p00ls0TQ
— Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) September 19, 2023
Leonard fills an immediate need with the departure of Sam Hartman. He will be throwing to returning receiver Jaden Greathouse, and transfer receivers Kris Mitchell and Beaux Collins. With a reloaded but talented offense, Notre Dame will be stocked up for a playoff run in 2024.
QB Taylen Green
Arkansas Razorbacks (from Boise State)
6’6”, 221 lbs.
Green has two years of eligibility left and is coming off a stellar performance in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game. In that game, Green accounted for four touchdowns in a 44-20 win over UNLV. This season, Green passed for 1,752 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine INTs, completing 57% of his passes. In addition, Green added 436 yards rushing and nine more scores.
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🎶 He's soarin', flying 🎶 https://t.co/5qsLfdqlyN pic.twitter.com/j6rDPyy0DJ
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) December 2, 2023
With his athleticism, Green could thrive in the Razorbacks offense under Bobby Petrino.
QB Tyler Van Dyke
Wisconsin Badgers (from Miami-FL)
6’4”, 224 lbs.
With one year of eligibility left, Van Dyke brings 32 games of collegiate experience to Phil Longo’s offense in Madison, WI. The former ACC Rookie of the Year in 2021, Van Dyke passed for 2,703 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 INTs, while completing 65% of his passes. For his career, Van Dyke has posted 7,470 yards, 54 touchdowns and 23 INTs.
WR Deion Burks
Oklahoma Sooners (from Purdue)
5’11”, 195 lbs.
The leading receiver for the Purdue Boilermakers this season, Burks caught 47 passes, 629 yards, and seven touchdowns. As the #3 wide receiver in the transfer portal (by 247sports), Burks has played in 30 games in his college career.
WHAT A CATCH, DEION BURKS ‼️ @BoilerFootball
📺: BTN pic.twitter.com/iXbFqb7JkK
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2023
His high game of the season was four catches for 152 yards (38-yard average) and two touchdowns in a 39-35 loss to Fresno State. Burks will be a talented target for the presumed 2024 starter at quarterback Jackson Arnold.
TE Jalin Conyers
Texas Tech Red Raiders (from Arizona State)
6’4”, 270 lbs.
Rated as the #4 tight end in the transfer portal (by 247sports), Conyers caught 30 passes for 362 yards, but did not find the end zone. In addition, he added one rushing touchdown.
Jalin Conyers what a catch 🔱
NFL caliber TE imo pic.twitter.com/0OT1OL6g1h
— RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) September 24, 2023
Conyers has caught 68 passes for 784 yards in two seasons. A native of Gruver, TX, Conyers was rated as the #4 tight end prospect out of high school and ranked in the Top 100, and was recruited by Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire when he was an assistant at Baylor.
