2022 Top 5 College Football Transfers and Predictions for This Season
This College Football season has been a very interesting one, to say the least. With Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) being allowed now in CFB, players are transferring more than ever before. The transfer portal is more active than ever, even a couple coaches entering it such as Lincoln Riley. School pageantry may not be a thing as much anymore, it may be about chasing the bag. Who are the 2022 top 5 college tootball transfers for this season?
1. Caleb Williams (Oklahoma -> USC)
Williams started the 2021 season with Oklahoma as a backup, riding the bench. It seemed that he wouldn’t see much playing time last year, as Spencer Rattler looked to be the Heisman Favorite. Then, the Red River Showdown happened – Rattler had 3 early turnovers and was benched for the true Freshman from D.C. Down 21 to Texas in the 2nd quarter, Williams broke a 66-yard run for a TD that would spark the Sooners. He would engineer a game winning comeback and not look back, remaining OU’s starter for a majority of the season. He would finish the season with 21 passing TD’s to 4 INT’s for 1912 yards. Also he along with 6 rushing TD’s and just under 450 yds rushing. Williams transferred from OU after the 2021 season to join his former head coach, Lincoln Riley in Southern Cali. He enters the 2022 season as one of the Heisman favorites, and has a good shot to win. I think with the addition of Jordan Addison and Lincoln Riley to the team, USC will certainly be better than last year’s team and bring a new spark to the Coliseum for years to come.
2. Spencer Rattler (Oklahoma -> South Carolina)
Spencer Rattler was a 2021 Heisman favorite coming in, and he fell short of that. He had a decent season, playing in 9 games for the Sooners throwing for 1483 yards with 11 TD’s and 5 INT’s. He also recorded 160 yards on the ground for 6 TD’s. Rattler had some rumors speculating around him after the Texas game, many thinking he would transfer after that. Props to him for keeping a cool head and staying the whole season, as he got some playing time later in the season. He transferred to South Carolina this offseason, joining former OU TE’s coach Shane Beamer. I think with the talent that he brings, SC has a good shot of winning the SEC East if Rattler – like Caleb Williams, can play mistake-free football.
3. Jordan Addison (Pittsburgh -> USC)
Addison had a tremendous season in 2021, winning the Biletnikoff Award for the top WR in College Football (along with being a First Team All-American). He also brought home an ACC Championship for Pittsburgh, beating a talented Wake Forest squad. He caught 100 passes this year for almost 1600 yards and had 17 TD’s. There was some controversy this offseason surrounding Addison, telling Pitt fans he is loyal to Pittsburgh in an interview with Panther-Lair back a few months ago. Seeing how he chased the money, I can’t blame him – how he did it, was just wrong. Pledging loyalty to a school and then going behind their back to figure out an NIL deal at USC before entering the transfer portal, it just doesn’t sit right with me. I think Addison will flourish alongside Caleb Williams and OU transfer Mario Williams in Lincoln Riley’s Air Raid offense. They will have a good shot to win a PAC-12 Championship in 2022.
4. Dillon Gabriel (UCF -> Oklahoma)
Watching Dillon Gabriel grow and mature as a person at UCF has been amazing. Gabriel only played in 3 games in 2021 before breaking his collarbone at Louisville and ending his season. He finished the season with 814 yards and 9 TD’s to 3 INT’s. Dillon finished his Knights career with just over 8000 yards and 70 TD’s with 14 INT’s. The UCF transfer ended up originally going to UCLA, before moving to OU – as he did not officially enroll. Gabriel has had a great career so far, and he looks to improve under new OC Jeff Lebby. Lebby was the OC under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss last year. It was a treat to watch those 2 draw up concepts against some of the best SEC defenses. I think Gabriel will do well at OU and may get a game vs UCF in 2023 or 2024 if he doesn’t declare for the NFL Draft.
5. Quinn Ewers (Ohio State -> Texas)
Quinn Ewers has been an interesting player who took advantage of NIL. Ewers came in as the top ranked 2022 QB prospect, but reclassified to 2021 to enroll early at Ohio State. Ewers had a very action packed season, appearing in the final minute against Michigan State where he gave 2 handoffs. However, he secured an NIL deal for $1.4 million, and then transferring back home to Austin, Texas. Although the Horns have had a rough stretch of QB play, I think Quinn changes that. He has the potential to bring Texas back to glory.
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All stats in this article are provided by sports-reference.com
