By Mark Pszonak
With the high number of transfers making an immediate impact at the college football level on a weekly basis, it is easy for a few performances to slide under-the-radar. Below are five from Week 1 that deserve more attention:
QB Emory Jones – Cincinnati (Arizona State)
The skinny: Jones has had an interesting collegiate career after being one of the top 100 recruits in the country in the Class of 2018. Four up-and-down seasons at Florida, followed by one at Arizona State, meant that there was little fanfare nationally when he decided to transfer to Cincinnati for his final season. However his performance on Saturday against Eastern Kentucky opened some eyes. Completing 19 of 23 passes for 345 yards and five touchdowns, as well as having two rushing touchdowns, Jones was extremely efficient while leading the offense like a veteran. The schedule will quickly get more difficult so bigger tests are around the corner, starting with a trip to Pittsburgh on Saturday and then a visit from Oklahoma two weeks later. But for now Jones has added even more excitement to what was already going to be an interesting first season in the Big 12 for the Bearcats.
QB Mikey Keene – Fresno State (UCF)
The skinny: When Keene committed to Fresno State a couple of days before Christmas, there wasn’t a great deal of buzz about the decision. Then, after a rather quiet off-season, he was eventually named the starter one week before the season began. Expectations around Fresno seemed rather reserved, but that all changed in one afternoon after Keene completed 31 of 44 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns in a win at Purdue. His impressive statistical performance and a win on the road at a Big Ten school is a combination that not many envisioned only a few days ago. Suddenly, Fresno State is considered a strong contender in the Mountain West with an interesting game coming up on September 16th at Arizona State to further pad their resume.
DB Clayton Isbell – Coastal Carolina (Utah)
The skinny: Isbell was an FCS All-American at Illinois State before transferring to Utah for one season and then Coastal Carolina. After a season with the Utes that was rather anti-climactic (16 tackles in 14 games) Isbell reverted to his FCS days for the Chanticleers during a hard-fought loss at UCLA on Saturday night. Finishing with nine tackles and three interceptions, which tied a school record, proved vital in keeping Coastal within reach throughout the game.
WR Tre Harris – Ole Miss (Louisiana Tech)
The skinny: Ole Miss was hoping to add some playmakers at wide receiver through the portal during the off-season, with Harris being one of the main additions. The Rebels did not have to wait very long to see what they got as he totaled six receptions for 133 yards and four touchdowns, three of which came in the first quarter. Considering the Rebels’ offense was dominated by the running attack last year, adding a reliable passing attack in 2023 would immediately make them a bigger threat in the SEC.
More Sports News
DB Josh DeBerry – Texas A&M (Boston College)
The skinny: Texas A&M hasn’t been one of the most aggressive schools in the country when it comes to adding players through the transfer portal, which some people (such as me) have critiqued. So, when one of their additions performs at a high level, it is worth mentioning. DeBerry pieced together a solid career at Boston College before making his way to College Station. The thought was that he would be a reliable depth piece for the Aggies in their secondary this season, but he responded by matching a career-high with 10 tackles, as well as 1.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, one interception and one pass breakup in a victory over New Mexico. For a roster that is still relatively young and inexperienced, having a player like DeBerry in the secondary could prove to be invaluable.
