College Football: Five transfers set to make an impact in 2023
By Rory Daniels
The freeing up of transfer portal restrictions is one of the greatest changes to ever occur in college football. Over 8,000 players have entered their name into the portal this year and it has allowed programs to dramatically change the makeup of their teams in a single offseason.
Each season the movement of players brings intrigue and I have selected five prospects that I believe will have a significant season in 2023.
Jestin Jacobs, Oregon
The Oregon Ducks worked quickly to find a replacement for middle linebacker Noah Sewell, who left Eugene for the NFL this offseason. Head Coach Dan Lanning will hope that Iowa transfer Jestin Jacobs can immediately become a leader on his defense.
Jacobs got plenty of buzz this time last year after a strong finish to his 2021 season. He was set to pair with Hawkeyes star ‘backer Jack Campbell. A soft tissue injury early in the year put paid to that and Jacobs failed to have the intended impact.
He has displayed excellent tackling ability and should cope if asked to be a downhill enforcer. There will need to be improvement in coverage but the buzz out of spring camp was that Jacobs, sporting a slimmed down physique, looked fast and sticky against the pass.
CJ Dippre, Alabama
You have to go back to the likes of OJ Howard and Irv Smith Jr to find a tight end that had a significant impact, in terms of receiving, for the Crimson Tide. Since then, an unbelievable recruiting streak has seen a multitude of 5 and 4-star wide receivers hog the receptions.
That wasn’t the case in 2022, where there was a drop off in receiver productivity as the new faces struggled to bed in to the offense. That could offer Maryland transfer CJ Dippre a chance to become a regular target. He contributed over 300 yards for the Terps last season and will hope to beat that mark in 2023.
The fact that the QB battle in Tuscaloosa remains undecided could be a plus or a minus. In one sense it suggests there is a bit of turmoil as to who is best to lead the offense. There was always going to be a drop off from Bryce Young, but perhaps the drop is steeper than initially expected.
On the other hand, inexperienced QBs often see big tight ends as a checkdown safety blanket. That’s why I believe Dippre could rise sharply up draft boards.
Anthony Lucas, USC
Defensive lineman Anthony Lucas was a big name in what was a monster recruiting class for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M in 2022. Classed as a 5-star in some rankings, Lucas didn’t have the immediate opportunities he may have hoped for. He was limited to 143 snaps in what was an underwhelming year for the Aggies.
Lucas returns to the West Coast to give life to a USC defense that is currently letting down the highly talented offense. He looks set to fill a multitude of roles in a defensive front whose projected starters are all from the transfer portal.
At 6’5, 295lbs he has enormous upside and versatility. The Trojans have been using him as a 5-tech, 3-tech and from a wide formation, at times even dropping in coverage! Add him to the talented returning players Eric Gentry and Calen Bullock and maybe USC have enough for a title charge.
Walter Rouse, Stanford
Left tackle Walter Rouse hits the prototypical thresholds expected from the position. His 6’6, 318lbs frame will always be difficult to get the better of. Rouse was a two-year starter for the Cardinal and has been a mixed bag. An impressive 2021, followed by a down year that matched the overall fortunes of the team last season.
He will hope for a fresh start at Oklahoma. As it stands he will line up as left tackle for Dillon Gabriel, a left hander, therefore Rouse won’t technically be the blindside protector. That could change considering the Sooners have an exciting freshman, Jackson Arnold waiting in the wings.
The Sooners have a strong pipeline of offensive linemen who made it to the NFL. That includes Lane Johnson, Creed Humphrey and most recently both tackles from 2022, Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris. Rouse will hope to continue that tradition and recapture his early-career form.
Carson Steele, UCLA
Carson Steele is one of the most fun stories in college football. A big, thumping back, with long flowing blonde hair and a pet alligator! Steele had a crazily productive season for Ball State racking up 1,528 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns at 5.3 yards per attempt.
Now, he wants to test himself at the Power 5 level and heads to UCLA to take over from Zach Charbonnet in Chip Kelly’s offense. His path to a starting spot is not guaranteed, sophomore TJ Harden was impressive last year and that could mean Steele won’t reach the gaudy statlines he is used to.
That said, he will want to show the NFL what he can bring to the table. Steele possesses a powerful running style and excellent contact balance. The big question will be if he has the speed for the NFL. His two previous shots at big-time competition, playing against Penn State and Tennessee have been underwhelming. Can Steele enjoy sustained success in sunny California?
