Ranking College Football’s Top 50 Impact Transfer Quarterbacks for 2022 – AthlonSports.com
College football’s new transfer rules and the increased movement in the portal has made it easier for quarterbacks to move around and find playing time and for coaches to fill an immediate need. Including walk-ons and FCS to FBS transfers, more than 200 quarterbacks opted to hit the portal prior to 2022. Caleb Williams (USC), Spencer Rattler (South Carolina), Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma), and Quinn Ewers (Texas) top the list of the signal-callers poised to make the biggest impact this fall. Also, Washington State’s Cameron Ward, West Virginia’s JT Daniels and Pitt’s Kedon Slovis are three other high-profile names changing homes in ’22. Outside of the Power 5 conferences, Cincinnati’s Ben Bryant, San Jose State’s Chevan Cordeiro, WKU’s Jarret Doege and USF’s Gerry Bohanon are the names to watch.
Which transfer quarterbacks will make the biggest impact on the 2022 college football season? Athlon Sports breaks down the key players on the move for this fall:
Tier I – Elite Impact Additions
1. Caleb Williams, USC (from Oklahoma
The combination of Williams and receiver Jordan Addison in new coach Lincoln Riley’s offense is going to produce plenty of fireworks for USC this fall.
2. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina (from Oklahoma)
Rattler should get back on track after an up-and-down season (and an eventual benching) at Oklahoma last fall. He’s arguably the most talented quarterback to ever play at South Carolina.
Related: Ranking All 131 College Football Teams for 2022
3. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma (from UCF)
Gabriel’s 2021 season ended after just three games due to injury, but he still threw for 8,037 yards and 70 touchdowns from 2019-21 with the Knights. A reunion with former play-caller Jeff Lebby (2019 at UCF) should provide a quick transition at Oklahoma.
4. Quinn Ewers, Texas (from Ohio State)
Ewers is battling Hudson Card for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart, but it would be a major shock if he doesn’t start for the bulk of 2022. The Texas native played two snaps at Ohio State last year, so there’s some seasoning needed. However, he has all of the tools to rank as one of the Big 12’s top quarterbacks.
Related: College Football’s Biggest QB Battles for 2022
5. Cameron Ward, Washington State (from Incarnate Word)
Ward is one of the biggest x-factors in the Pac-12 this season. He posted huge numbers at FCS Incarnate Word in 2021 (4,648 yards and 47 TDs) and his former head coach at UIW (Eric Morris) now calls the plays at Washington State. Transitioning to a tougher level of competition is a question mark, but Ward has the skill set to thrive in Pullman this fall.
Tier II – The Next Tier…Could Finish in the Elite Category
6. JT Daniels, West Virginia (from Georgia)
Untapped potential might be the best way to sum up Daniels. After throwing for 2,672 yards and 14 touchdowns at USC in 2018, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the ’19 opener. Daniels transferred to Georgia in ’20 but was limited to four games due to injury and just five in ’21. With a familiar face calling plays (Graham Harrell was at USC in ’19) and a good supporting cast, Daniels has a chance to capitalize on that potential in Morgantown.
7. Adrian Martinez, Kansas State (from Nebraska)
A fresh start at Kansas State should help Martinez close out his career on a high note. The California native accounted for 10,792 total yards and 80 overall scores in four years at Nebraska. However, interceptions (30) and fumbles were a problem, and Martinez can be more consistent as a passer. Martinez and running back Deuce Vaughn will be a real problem for Big 12 defenses on the ground.
Related: College Football Bowl Projections for 2022-23
8. Jayden de Laura, Arizona (from Washington State)
De Laura quietly led all Pac-12 quarterbacks in conference-only games in yards per attempt (8.0), touchdown passes (19) and quarterback rating (149.9) last year. It may take the Hawaii native a few games to settle into the pro-style attack after playing in the Air Raid at Washington State, but he’s a significant upgrade over Arizona’s 2021 depth chart.
9. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (from USC)
Matt Corral left big shoes to fill in Oxford, but if Dart quickly settles into the starting job, the former four-star prospect can keep the Ole Miss offense near the top of the SEC. Dart threw for 1,353 yards and nine touchdowns and added 43 yards on the ground in his first year on campus at USC last fall. Dart left spring practice locked into a close battle with Luke Altmyer.
Tier III – Potential to be a High-Impact Starter
10. Kedon Slovis, Pitt (from USC)
Replacing Kenny Pickett (4,319 yards and 42 TDs) is a tall – if not impossible – task for Pitt in 2022. Slovis had a brilliant freshman year in 2019 at USC (3,502 yards and 30 TDs) but dealt with injuries and regressed a bit in overall play over the last two seasons. He needs to beat Nick Patti for the starting job this fall. The Panthers do return all five starters up front and a solid collection of playmakers at running back and receiver, so the winner of the quarterback battle won’t lack support.
Related: Ranking All 131 College Football Teams for 2022
11. Casey Thompson, Nebraska (from Texas)
An offensive reset is on tap for Nebraska after last year’s disappointing 3-9 mark. Veteran Mark Whipple was hired to handle the play-calling duties, and coach Scott Frost added two quarterbacks – Thompson and Chubba Purdy – to the quarterback room. Despite a thumb ailment suffered midway through 2021, Thompson led the Big 12 with 24 touchdown passes last year and connected on 63.2 percent of his passes. Barring a major setback in the fall, Thompson should take the first snap in ’22.
12. Bo Nix, Oregon (from Auburn)
Nix was on track for his best season at Auburn in 2021 but an ankle injury sidelined him for the final three contests. Although the Alabama native has been inconsistent at times, his experience and familiarity with new Oregon play-caller Kenny Dillingham should be a plus. Redshirt freshman Ty Thompson could push Nix for the starting job this fall.
13. Max Johnson, Texas A&M (from LSU)
Texas A&M’s quarterback battle between Johnson, Haynes King and Conner Weigman is one of the more intriguing competitions this spring. Johnson passed for 3,884 yards and 35 touchdowns in two years at LSU and his ability to take care of the ball (seven picks on 523 attempts) could help him edge King. If Johnson is the starter, he should be higher on this list.
Related: Ranking the SEC Quarterbacks for 2022
14. Jayden Daniels, LSU (from Arizona State)
LSU has a wide-open quarterback battle between Daniels, Myles Brennan and Garrett Nussmeier this fall. If Daniels starts all 12 games, he needs to be higher on this list, and his mobility could be an asset for new coach Brian Kelly behind a revamped offensive line.
15. Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State (from Hawaii)
Cordeiro’s arrival as an intraconference transfer is huge for a San Jose State offense looking to improve after averaging only 20 points a game last fall. The Hawaii native accounted for 7,250 yards and scored 58 overall touchdowns in four years with the Rainbow Warriors. He should rank among the Mountain West’s top quarterbacks.
16. Michael Penix Jr., Washington (from Indiana)
Injuries prematurely ended all four of Penix’s seasons at Indiana. He’s reunited with former coordinator Kalen DeBoer (2019 with Indiana), who directed one of the nation’s top offenses at Fresno State and is tasked with turning around Washington. If healthy, Penix has the potential to put up good numbers in DeBoer’s system.
17. Emory Jones, Arizona State (from Florida)
Jones finished fifth in the SEC in total offense (268.6 yards a game) but ranked ninth in the league in quarterback rating and tossed 13 picks. If Jones can cut down on the mistakes, his dual-threat potential could be a handful for Pac-12 defenses.
18. Jarret Doege, WKU (from West Virginia)
Filling the void left under center by Bailey Zappe, as well as replacing coordinator Zach Kittley, is a lot for WKU’s offense in one offseason. However, Doege is experienced (46 appearances) and threw for 10,494 yards combined from stints at Bowling Green and West Virginia. Can he keep the Hilltoppers’ high-powered offense on track?
Related: College Football’s Biggest QB Battles for 2022
19. Layne Hatcher, Texas State (from Arkansas State)
Hatcher was a huge get for coach Jake Spavital. The Arkansas native recorded appearances in 32 games with Sun Belt rival Arkansas State from 2019-21 and tossed 65 touchdowns and 7,427 yards in that span. If Hatcher picks up where he left off in Jonesboro, his arrival should help the Bobcats push for a bowl.
20. Connor Bazelak, Indiana (from Missouri)
A handful of transfer additions were brought in to solidify Indiana’s offense after it averaged only 17.2 points a game in 2021. Bazelak didn’t connect on many big plays at Missouri but thrived in the short-to-medium game and completed 66.3 percent of his throws for 5,058 yards and 23 scores in 24 appearances.
21. Zach Calzada, Auburn (from Texas A&M)
Calzada is locked into a tight battle with T.J. Finley and Robby Ashford for the starting job. He started 10 games for the Aggies last year, including a 41-38 upset (285 yards and three touchdowns) over Alabama. Finley was inconsistent in three starts in 2021, while Ashford had a strong showing in the spring game. Calzada’s arm likely gives him an edge to start over Finley.
Related: Ranking All 131 College Football Teams for 2022
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22. Grant Wells, Virginia Tech (from Marshall)
New coach Brent Pry brought in two transfers (Wells and Jason Brown) to bolster a thin quarterback room in Blacksburg. Wells has good arm talent (64.4 percent completion rate at Marshall) and threw for 5,626 yards and 35 scores over two years. However, Wells needs to cut down on the mistakes (22 INTs at Marshall).
23. Ben Bryant, Cincinnati (from Eastern Michigan)
Bryant is back at Cincinnati after transferring to start at Eastern Michigan last year. Desmond Ridder’s production won’t be easy to replace, but Bryant or sophomore Evan Prater should keep the Bearcats’ offense performing at a high level.
24. Gerry Bohanon, USF (from Baylor)
Bohanon’s steady play (2,200 passing yards and 18 TDs and 323 rushing yards and nine scores) helped lift Baylor to the Big 12 title last year. Although Timmy McClain showed promise last season for USF, an experienced option like Bohanon will be tough to keep out of the lineup.
25. Tommy DeVito, Illinois (from Syracuse)
More production out of a passing game that averaged less than 160 yards a game in 2021 could equal a bowl performance from Illinois. DeVito has a big-time arm but needs to rebound after losing his starting job at Syracuse last fall. In his career with the Orange, DeVito threw for 3,866 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Related: Ranking the Big Ten Quarterbacks for 2022
26. Jack Plummer, California (from Purdue)
With Chase Garbers departing, Plummer’s arrival in Berkeley is crucial for the Golden Bears’ hopes of a winning season. The Purdue transfer brings experience (17 games) and is a proven arm (3,405 yards and 26 scores). However, Plummer is working behind a revamped line and supporting cast.
Tier IV – Potential to be a Solid Starter
27. Charlie Brewer, Liberty (from Utah)
Brewer struggled as Utah’s starter in the first three games of 2021, but he could be the front-runner to replace Malik Willis at Liberty.
28. Braxton Burmeister, San Diego State (from Virginia Tech)
San Diego State is Burmeister’s third stop at the FBS level. He averaged 206.2 total yards a game with the Hokies last season. Look for his mobility to be a good fit for the Aztecs’ offense.
Related: College Football Bowl Projections for 2022-23
29. Clay Millen, Colorado State (from Nevada)
Millen followed coach Jay Norvell from Nevada to Colorado State and capped his first semester in Fort Collins with a strong performance in the spring game. He’s a candidate for breakout honors this year and has one of the best receiving corps in the Mountain West.
30. Todd Centeio, James Madison (from Colorado State)
Replacing Cole Johnson (41 TDs) isn’t going to be easy, but Centeio (38 games) is experienced and arrived in Harrisonburg after a solid ’21 at Colorado State (283.1 total yards a contest).
31. John Rhys Plumlee, UCF (from Ole Miss)
Plumlee’s dynamic rushing ability (1,189 yards in 25 games at Ole Miss) should fit well in coach Gus Malzahn’s attack at UCF. However, Plumlee has room to improve as a passer (53.8 percent completion rate) in order to hold off Mikey Keene in the battle to win the starting job. If Plumlee wins the job, he should be higher on this list.
Related: College Football’s Biggest QB Battles for 2022
32. Grant Gunnell, North Texas (from Memphis)
Gunnell is battling Austin Aune in a close battle for the starting job. The former Memphis and Arizona quarterback could give North Texas’ offense a needed spark through the air.
33. Henry Colombi, Marshall (from Texas Tech)
With Grant Wells transferring to Virginia Tech, Marshall needed a veteran quarterback to bridge the gap to the next wave of options. Colombi is a perfect fit after accounting for more than 3,000 total yards at Utah State and Texas Tech.
34. Carter Bradley, South Alabama (from Toledo)
The Jaguars need more out of their offense after this unit averaged only 24.9 points a game last fall. Bradley (2,377 passing yards at Toledo) is set to battle Desmond Trotter for the starting nod in a toss-up competition this preseason.
35. Harrison Bailey, UNLV (from Tennessee)
Bailey – a former top-100 recruit – will battle Cameron Friel and Doug Brumfield for the top spot in Vegas this fall.
Related: Pac-12 Expansion Candidates
36. Taylor Powell, Eastern Michigan (from Troy)
This is Powell’s third stop at the FBS level after previous stints at Troy and Missouri. Eastern Michigan returns one of the MAC’s top receiving corps, so Powell has the necessary pieces to thrive in Ypsilanti.
37. Shane Illingworth, Nevada (from Oklahoma State)
Nevada’s offense is facing a major overhaul with just two returning starters. Illingworth went 3-0 as the starter at Oklahoma State and threw for 939 yards and seven touchdowns from 2020-21. He will have to edge Nate Cox for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart this fall. And if he does win the job, he should be higher on this list.
38. Gunnar Holmberg, FIU (from Duke)
FIU is rebuilding under first-year coach Mike MacIntyre, but the new staff reinforced the roster through the portal, including adding Holmberg from Duke. In 11 games last year, he threw for 2,358 yards and seven scores and added 167 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
39. Andrew Peasley, Wyoming (from Utah State)
The Cowboys lost two quarterbacks (Sean Chambers and Levi Williams) to transfer, but the arrival of Peasley should mitigate their departures. The former Utah State signal-caller threw for 830 yards and ran for 515 during 18 games with the Aggies.
40. Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern (from Buffalo)
New coach Clay Helton is expected to shift the offense away from the option to more of a spread attack in 2022. Vantrease (4,755 yards and 25 TDs) spent the last five seasons and Buffalo and gives Georgia Southern an experienced signal-caller to lead the new-look offense.
Tier V – Some Work to Do In Order to Win the Job
41. Matthew Downing, Louisiana Tech (from TCU)
Downing’s previous experience at TCU under coach Sonny Cumbie could help him win the job in Ruston this fall.
42. Ta’Quan Roberson, UConn (from Penn State)
The Huskies have two transfers – Roberson and Cale Millen – battling for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart.
43. Miles Kendrick, New Mexico (from Kansas)
The Lobos desperately need to find answers on offense after this unit averaged 12.2 points a game in 2021. Kendrick could be part of the solution after throwing for 853 yards and nine touchdowns at Kansas from 2018-21.
44. Cammon Cooper, Hawaii (from Washington State)
Cooper is battling Pitt transfer Joey Yellen and Brayden Schager for the starting job this fall.
45 Peter Costelli, Troy (from Utah)
If Costelli – a former four-star prospect – wins the job, he should be higher on this list. However, he’s likely behind Gunnar Watson on the depth chart.
46. Zach Gibson, Georgia Tech (from Akron)
Jeff Sims should be Georgia Tech’s starter, but Gibson was a valuable addition for depth.
47. Robby Ashford, Auburn (from Oregon)
48. Cale Millen, UConn (from Northern Arizona)
49. Cole Snyder, Buffalo (from Rutgers)
50. Jeff Undercuffler, Akron (from Albany)
Other Transfer QBs to Watch
Austin Reed, WKU (from West Florida)
Chubba Purdy, Nebraska (from Florida State)
Parker McNeil, Louisiana Tech (from Texas Tech)
Stone Hollenbach, Western Michigan (from Alabama)
Brendon Clark, Old Dominion (from Notre Dame)
Jack Miller, Florida (from Ohio State)
Levi Williams, Utah State (from Wyoming)
Paul Tyson, Arizona State (from Alabama)
Jack Abraham, Missouri (from Mississippi State)
Jason Brown, Virginia Tech (from South Carolina)
Joey Yellen, Hawaii (from Pitt)
CJ Rogers, Texas State (from Baylor)
Quincy Patterson, Temple (from North Dakota State)
Hunter Johnson, Clemson (from Northwestern)
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Syracuse (from Florida)
Deuce Hogan, Kentucky (from Iowa)
Jack Kristofek, Arkansas State (from Mississippi State)
Brady McBride, Appalachian State (from Texas State)
Jacob Zeno, UAB (from Baylor)
JD Head, North Texas (from Louisiana Tech)
Maddox Kopp, Colorado (from Houston)
Taisun Phommachanh, Georgia Tech (from Clemson)
Cade Fortin, Arkansas (from USF)
Parker Navarro, Ohio (from UCF)
Dillon Markiewicz, Texas State (from Syracuse)
Luke Anthony, Baylor (from Louisiana Tech)
Dan Villari, Syracuse (from Michigan)
Camden Orth, Bowling Green (from Long Island)
Stone Earle, North Texas (from Abilene Christian)
Lucas Coley, Houston (from Arkansas)
Justin Lynch, Northern Illinois (from Temple)
Davis Beville, Oklahoma (from Pitt)
Steven Krajewski, Georgia State (from UConn)
Cam’Ron McCoy, Eastern Michigan (from Cincinnati)
A.J. Mayer, Arkansas State (from Miami (Ohio)
Matt Robinson, Fresno State (from Illinois)
Jack Chambers, NC State (from Charleston Southern)
Cade Fennegan, BYU (from Boise State)
Sam Vidlak, Boise State (from Oregon State)
Navy Shuler, Tennessee (from Appalachian State)