Big 12's Top 25 Impact Transfers for the 2024 College Football Season

College football's transfer portal and the ability to play right away after changing schools has dramatically altered roster management for all 134 FBS teams. Retaining key players was always a challenge, but it's even more difficult with the new rules surrounding transfers and the ability to change programs every offseason now.

Big 12 teams were active in the portal this offseason, as over 300 players are set to transfer into the conference for '24. Under coach Deion Sanders, Colorado was one of the big winners from the portal, reeling in impact players like receiver LaJohntay Wester, offensive lineman Tyler Johnson, and defensive linemen Dayon Hayes and B.J. Green II. The Buffaloes weren't the only team bringing in a massive haul of transfers, as Arizona State, UCF, and Houston all brought in over 20 new players from the portal.

Although Kansas, Utah, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State weren't incredibly active in this market, each team reeled in a couple of key pieces that could help in the quest to win the Big 12 title in 2024.

Which transfers will make the biggest impact in the Big 12 this fall? Athlon Sports ranks the top 25 and lists more to watch in '24:

Big 12's Top 25 Impact Transfers for 2024

The Top Five

1. QB KJ Jefferson, UCF (from Arkansas)
Jefferson's dynamic ability to hurt defenses on the ground or through the air should be an outstanding fit in coach Gus Malzahn's offense. A sluggish overall season by the Arkansas offense hindered Jefferson's numbers last season, but he still threw for 2,107 yards and 19 scores and added 447 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

2. DL B.J. Green II, Colorado (from Arizona State)
Reinforcements were needed in the trenches to improve Colorado's defense in 2024, and coach Deion Sanders landed a couple of impact players. Green II is one of those transfers, as he arrives in Boulder after recording 13.5 sacks from 2021-23 at Arizona State. The Georgia native was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection last year.

3. RB Dylan Edwards, Kansas State (from Colorado)
Edwards ranked as one of the top running back prospects in the 2023 signing class and showcased his potential in an extended role at Colorado last season. The Kansas native led the Buffaloes with 321 rushing yards and chipped in 36 receptions for 299 yards and four scores. He should team with DJ Giddens to form an explosive backfield that will also rank among the best in college football.

4. QB Dequan Finn, Baylor (from Toledo)
Baylor's offense ranked last in the Big 12 in scoring (23.1 points a game) last year, but this unit should see an immediate lift thanks to the arrival of new play-caller Jake Spavital, as well as Finn's transfer from Toledo. The Michigan native is coming off his best season as a passer (2,269 yards and 23 touchdowns) while maintaining his dynamic ability on the ground (563 yards and seven scores). Finn has room to grow as a passer and must cut down on the mistakes (21 interceptions over the last two years). However, this offense should be a good fit for his skill set.

5. DL Dayon Hayes, Colorado (from Pitt)
The arrival of Hayes and his former Pitt teammate Samuel Okunlola provide a huge boost to Colorado's defensive front. Hayes led the Panthers with 10.5 tackles for a loss and also contributed four sacks, a forced fumble, and four pass breakups. Per PFF, Hayes recorded 29 quarterback hurries in '23.

No. 6-10

6. DL Samuel Okunlola, Colorado (from Pitt)
Okunlola is a high-upside addition for Colorado's defense at a major position of need in the trenches. As a redshirt freshman at Pitt last season, Okunlola registered 18 tackles (six for a loss) and recorded five sacks.

7. OL Easton Kilty, Kansas State (from North Dakota)
With three starters gone from last year, Kansas State's offensive line will be under renovation early in the '24 season. Kilty's arrival fills an immediate need up front after starting 37 games at the FCS level at North Dakota.

8. WR LaJohntay Wester, Colorado (from Florida Atlantic)
Wester should emerge as a key target for Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders this fall after catching 108 passes for 1,168 yards and eight scores at Florida Atlantic last year.

9. WR Josh Kelly, Texas Tech (from Washington State)
With three out of the top four targets from last season departing, the Red Raiders hit the portal hard for help at receiver. Kelly and fellow transfer Caleb Douglas (Florida) should replenish the outside weapons for quarterback Behren Morton. Kelly paced Washington State's offense with 923 receiving yards and eight scores and grabbed 61 passes over 12 contests in '23.

10. LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU (from California)
Elarms-Orr delivered a standout freshman season (92 tackles, five pass breakups, and one interception) at California last year. He will be a key cog in TCU's hopes of an improved defense in '24.

No. 11-25

11. WR Dorian Singer, Utah (from USC)
12. RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona (from New Mexico)
13. QB Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati (from Indiana)
14. WR Will Sheppard, Colorado (from Vanderbilt)
15. DB Garnett Hollis, West Virginia (from Northwestern)
16. QB Sam Leavitt, Arizona State (from Michigan State)
17. TE Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech (from Arizona State)
18. DL Quency Wiggins, Colorado (from LSU)
19. LB Jack Kelly, BYU (from Weber State)
20. OL Tyler Johnson, Colorado (from Houston)
21. DL Tre Smith, Arizona (from San Jose State)
22. LB/DB Deshawn Pace, UCF (from Cincinnati)
23. WR Eric McAlister, TCU (from Boise State)
24. TE Drake Dabney, TCU (from Baylor)
25. RB Peny Boone, UCF (from Louisville/Toledo)

Other Offensive Transfers to Watch

QB Gerry Bohanon, BYU (from South Florida)
QB Treyson Bourguet, BYU (from Western Michigan)
QB Zeon Chriss, Houston (from Louisiana)
QB McCae Hillstead, BYU (from Utah State)
QB Ken Seals, TCU (from Vanderbilt)
QB Jeff Sims, Arizona State (from Nebraska)
RB Isaiah Augustave, Colorado (from Arkansas)
RB Raleek Brown, Arizona State (from USC)
RB Quali Conley, Arizona (from San Jose State)
RB Dallan Hayden, Colorado (from Ohio State)
RB Dominique Johnson, TCU (from Arkansas)
RB Alton McCaskill, Arizona State (from Colorado)
RB Myles Montgomery, UCF (from Cincinnati)
RB Evan Pryor, Cincinnati (from Ohio State)
RB Kedrick Reescano, Arizona (from Ole Miss)
WR Damien Alford, Utah (from Syracuse)
WR Jamaal Bell, Baylor (from Nevada)
WR Jaden Bray, West Virginia (from Oklahoma State)
WR Dante Cephas, Kansas State (from Penn State)
WR Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech (from Florida)
WR Ashtyn Hawkins, Baylor (from Texas State)
WR Ja'Varrius Johnson, UCF (from Auburn)
WR Tony Johnson, Cincinnati (from Florida Atlantic)
WR Jacoby Jones, UCF (from Ohio)
WR Da'Wain Lofton, Oklahoma State (from Virginia Tech)
WR Taeshaun Lyons, Utah (from Washington)
WR Malik McClain, Arizona State (from Penn State)
WR Mekhi Mews, Houston (from Georgia)
WR Justin Robinson, West Virginia (from Mississippi State)
WR Cordale Russell, Colorado (from TCU)
WR Marquis Shoulders, Houston (from Tulsa)
WR Tyrin Smith, Cincinnati (from UTEP) Cincinnati
WR Devan Williams, Houston (from Tulsa)
TE Maliq Carr, Houston (from Michigan State)
TE Markeston Douglas, Arizona State (from Florida State)
TE Tyler Foster, Oklahoma State (from Ohio)
TE Chamon Metayer, Arizona State (from Colorado)
TE Sam Olson, Arizona (from San Jose State)
TE Joe Royer, Cincinnati (from Ohio State)
TE Michael Trigg, Baylor (from Ole Miss)
OL Omar Aigbedion, Baylor (from Montana State)
OL Josh Atkins, Arizona State (from Hawaii)
OL Dylan Barrett, Iowa State (from Wisconsin)
OL Xavier Bausley, West Virginia  (from Jacksonville State)
OL Cade Bennett, TCU (from San Diego State)
OL Kahlil Benson, Colorado (from Indiana)
OL James Brockermeyer, TCU (from Alabama)
OL Carson Bruno, TCU (from Louisiana Tech)
OL Shane Bumgardner, Kansas (from Tiffin)
OL Davion Carter, Texas Tech (from Memphis)
OL Bryce Foster, Kansas (from Texas A&M)
OL Bless Harris, TCU (from Florida State)
OL Amir Herring, Kansas (from Michigan)
OL Jalen Klemm, Arizona State (from Washington)
OL Austin Leausa, BYU (from Southern Utah)
OL Xavier Lozowicki, Cincinnati (from Maine)
OL Justin Mayers, Colorado (from UTEP)
OL Sterling Porcher, Texas Tech (from Middle Tennessee)
OL Vinny Sciury, Texas Tech (from Toledo)
OL Darrell Simmons, Kansas (from Iowa State)
OL Keegan Smith, UCF (from Central Michigan)
OL Colton Thomasson, Baylor (from Texas A&M)
OL Jalen Travis, Iowa State (from Princeton)
OL Colin Truett, Baylor (from Chattanooga)
OL Yakiri Walker, Colorado (from UConn)
OL Dakota White, Houston (from Louisiana Tech)
OL Jake Wiley, Houston (from UCLA)

Other Defensive Transfers to Watch

DL Hakeem Ajijolayia, TCU (from Houston)
DL Carlos Allen, Houston (from Kennesaw State)
DL Rayyan Buell, Colorado (from Ohio)
DL De'Braylon Carroll, Texas Tech (from Rice)
DL Taurean Carter, Colorado (from Arkansas)
DL Mikah Coleman, Cincinnati (from Eastern Michigan)
DL Keith Cooper Jr., Houston (from Tulane)
DL Kevon Darton, Arizona (from Syracuse)
DL Devean Deal, TCU (from Tulane)
DL J.P. Deeter, Arizona State (from Purdue)
DL Javier Derritt, Kansas (from North Dakota State)
DL Daylan Dotson, UCF (from Tennessee-Martin)
DL Obi Ezeigbo, Oklahoma State (from Gannon)
DL Paul Fitzgerald, Utah (from Utah State)
DL James Hansen, Texas Tech (from Nevada)
DL T.J. Jackson, West Virginia (from Troy)
DL Bai Jobe, Kansas (from Michigan State)
DL Nyjalik Kelly, UCF (from Miami)
DL/LB Lance Keneley, Arizona (from Stanford)
DL Quindario Lee, Houston (from Central Michigan)
DL Steve Linton, Baylor (from Texas Tech)
DL Chubba Maae, Arizona (from UC Davis)
DL Chidozie Nwankwo, Colorado (from Houston)
DL Elinus Noel, Baylor (from Texas Southern)
DL Nana Osafo-Mensah, TCU (from Notre Dame)
DL Gabe Peterson, Houston (from New Mexico State)
DL Cam Roetherford, Cincinnati (from Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
DL Everitt Rogers, Houston (from Tulsa)
DL Kenard Snyder, Iowa State (from ULM)
DL Zac Swanson, Arizona State (from Texas)
DL J'Mond Tapp, Arizona State (from Texas)
DL Darian Varner, Cincinnati (from Wisconsin)
DL Dylan Wudke, Kansas (from Youngstown State)
LB Xe'ree Alexander, UCF (from Idaho)
LB Ethan Barr, UCF (from Washington/Vanderbilt)
LB Jared Bartlett, Cincinnati (from West Virginia)
LB Michael Batton, Houston (from ULM)
LB Christian Brathwaite, Houston (from LSU)
LB Chloe Bryant-Strother, BYU (from UCLA)
LB Reid Carrico, West Virginia (from Ohio State)
LB Johnny Chaney, Colorado (from Florida A&M)
LB Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State (from New Mexico State)
LB Jacques Evans, Baylor (from Western Kentucky)
LB Zyrus Fiaseu, Arizona State (from San Diego State)
LB Ty French, West Virginia (from Gardner-Webb)
LB Kendre Gant, Houston (from Louisiana)
LB Nikhai Hill-Green, Colorado (from Charlotte)
LB Jack Kelly, BYU (from Weber State)
LB Alec Marenco, Kansas State (from New Mexico)
LB Jesiah Pierre, UCF (from Texas Tech)
LB Keaten Wade, Colorado (from Kentucky)
LB Nikhil Webb Walker, Colorado (from New Mexico State)
LB Jaylen Wester, Colorado (from Florida Atlantic)
DL/LB Kameron Wilson, Cincinnati (from Louisville)
DB Ormanie Arnold, Cincinnati (from Idaho)
DB Sheldon Arnold, UCF (from East Tennessee State)
DB JaTravis Broughton, TCU (from Utah)
DB Cameron Calhoun, Utah (from Michigan)
DB Derrick Canteen, Cincinnati (from Virginia Tech)
DB Marque Collins, BYU (from Weber State)
DB TJ Crandall, West Virginia (from Colorado State)
DB Jordan Dunbar, Kansas State (from Rice)
DB Devin Dye, Kansas (from Utah State)
DB Dontez Fagan, West Virginia (from Charlotte)
DB Tre'Quon Fegans, UCF (from USC)
DB Ayden Garnes, West Virginia (from Duquesne)
DB Alaka'i Gilman, Utah (from Stanford)
DB Tre Gola-Callard, Cincinnati (from Southern Utah)
DB Cedrick Hawkins, UCF (from Ohio State)
DB Preston Hodge, Colorado (from Liberty)
DB Colton Hood, Colorado (from Auburn)
DB Kobe Hylton, Oklahoma State (from UTEP)
DB Antione Jackson, UCF (from East Carolina)
DB LaMareon James, TCU (from Old Dominion)
DB Kenan Johnson, Utah (from Georgia Tech)
DB Lorando Johnson, Baylor (from Arkansas)
DB Jaheem Joseph, West Virginia (from Northwestern)
DB Cole Martin, Arizona State (from Oregon)
DB Bryan Massey, Houston (from SMU)
DB A.J. McCarty, Texas Tech (from Baylor)
DB Latrell McCutchin, Houston (from USC)
DB Jevon McIver (from Austin Peay) TCU
DB D.J. McKinney (from Oklahoma State) Colorado
DB Hershey McLaurin (from West Virginia) Houston
DB Mac McWilliams (from UAB) UCF
DB Mehki Miller (from New Mexico State) Cincinnati
DB Jaise Oliver (from Tulsa) TCU
DB Deshawn Pace (from Cincinnati) UCF
DB Javan Robinson (from Washington State) Arizona State
DB JD Rhym (from Auburn) Houston
DB Jordan Riley (from Ball State) Kansas State
DB Savion Riley (from Miami) Colorado
DB Jordan Robinson (from Kentucky) Cincinnati
DB Myles Rowser (from New Mexico State) Arizona State
DB Kendrick Simpkins (from Western Kentucky) Baylor
DB Kye Stokes (from Ohio State) Cincinnati
DB Kekoura Tarnue (from Jacksonville State) West Virginia
DB Ladarius Tennison (from Ole Miss) UCF
DB Bryon Threats (from Cincinnati) UCF
DB Richard Toney (from Nevada) TCU
DB Kentrell Webb (from Tulane) Houston
DB Laterrance Welch (from LSU) Arizona State
DB Javeon Wilcox (from TCU) Texas Tech
DB Teagan Wilk (from East Carolina) Houston
DB Jeremiah Wilson (from Syracuse) Houston
DB Kamari Wilson (from Florida) Arizona State
DB Logan Wilson (from North Texas) Cincinnati
DB Ivan Yates (from Furman) Colorado

Specialists Transfers to Watch

K Carter Davis, Iowa State (from Florida Atlantic)
K Parker Lewis, Arizona State (from Ohio State)
P Jack Burgess, Texas Tech (from Weber State) Texas Tech
P Sam Vander Haar, BYU (from Pitt)

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