Big 12 Football: Every Team's Most Important Transfer Portal Additions on Offense and Defense for 2024

Author:
Steven Lassan
Mar 19, 2024 10:41 AM EDT

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College football's transfer portal is quiet in March with spring practice underway, but the action will significantly pick up in the next month with another window opening in late April. It's a critical part of the offseason with teams looking to land key commitments to shape rosters for the 2024 season.

All 16 of the Big 12 teams were active in the first portal window, as every team landed at last four transfers. Some teams - Colorado and Arizona State - were among the largest hauls of transfers in power conferences for '24. Although more movement is coming, it's never too early to take a look at the additions on offense and defense to determine which transfers could make the biggest impact next year. Most teams have no shortage of options here, so multiple players could fit for the most important transfer designation.

Which players are slated to make the biggest impact for their new team in 2024? Athlon Sports takes a look at all 16 teams in the Big 12 and picks the biggest impact transfer on offense and defense:

Big 12 Football: Every Team's Most Important Transfer Portal Additions on Offense and Defense for 2024

Arizona

Best Offensive Addition: RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (from New Mexico)
The Wildcats lost their top three running backs from '23, so Croskey-Merritt (and San Jose State transfer Quali Conley) will be needed right away. Croskey-Merritt ran for 1,190 yards at New Mexico last season.

Best Defensive Addition: DL Tre Smith (from San Jose State)
Smith is one of three transfers the Wildcats brought in to add reinforcements in the trenches. The Arizona native recorded 6.5 sacks at San Jose State last year.

Arizona State

Best Offensive Addition: RB Raleek Brown (from USC)
The Sun Devils added four transfers to boost the offensive line, but it's hard to ignore the potential of Brown in coach Kenny Dillingham's offense. The former four-star prospect could be a dynamic playmaker in '24.

Best Defensive Addition: DB Cole Martin (from Oregon)
Martin returns to his home state of Arizona after a year with the Ducks. With four starters departing the secondary, he should be able to find a starting job right away at nickel or corner.

Baylor

Best Offensive Addition: QB Dequan Finn (from Toledo)
Finn (247.7 total yards a game at Toledo in '23) should be a dynamic addition for an offense that desperately needs a spark (23.1 points a game last year).

Best Defensive Addition: DB Kendrick Simpkins (from Western Kentucky)
The Bears bring back some promising talent in the secondary, but Simpkins should push for a starting job after a standout '23 campaign (50 tackles, 10 TFL, and 6.5 sacks) at Western Kentucky.

BYU

Best Offensive Addition: QB Gerry Bohanon (from South Florida)
Bohanon has a previous stint in the Big 12 from a stop at Baylor and is slated to push Jake Retzlaff for the starting job this offseason. The USF transfer has passed for 3,464 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed for 1,005 yards and 15 scores in his collegiate career.

Best Defensive Addition: LB Jack Kelly (Weber State)
BYU had the fewest sacks (11) of any team in the Big 12 last year. Kelly should help boost that total, as the Weber State transfer accumulated 16.5 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss in 28 games at the FCS level.

Cincinnati

Best Offensive Addition: QB Brendan Sorsby (from Indiana)
Sorsby transferred to Cincinnati after throwing for 1,587 yards and 15 touchdowns at Indiana last year. He should replace Emory Jones as the starter in '24.

Best Defensive Addition: S Kye Stokes (Ohio State)/CB Derrick Canteen (Va. Tech)
With six defensive backs coming to Cincinnati from the portal, it's obvious this is a position of need for new coordinator Tyson Veidt.

Colorado

Best Offensive Addition: Offensive Line
Let's group the entire position of additions here. Colorado is bringing in six transfers up front, which is desperately needed after this unit surrendered 56 sacks in '23.

Best Defensive Addition: DL Samuel Okunlola (from Pitt)
Defensive back Preston Hodge is a name to watch here as well, but Okunlola (five sacks in 11 games) has potential to be a big-time difference maker on a Colorado front in transition with a couple of starters departing from the '23 version.

Houston

Best Offensive Addition: OL Dakota White (La. Tech)/Cedric Melton (Ole Miss), Jake Wiley (UCLA)
White, Melton, and Wiley will provide instant help for an offensive line that returns only one starter in '24.

Best Defensive Addition: LB Corey Platt (from Tulane)
Platt recorded 15 tackles in Tulane's '23 season opener but missed the rest of the year with a torn Achilles. Assuming he's 100 percent, Platt will be an instant starter at linebacker.

Iowa State

Best Offensive Addition: OL Jalen Travis (from Princeton)
The Cyclones bring back five starters up front, but Travis will provide extra competition and depth after transferring in from Princeton.

Best Defensive Addition: DL Kenard Snyder (from ULM)
Snyder is a solid addition for Iowa State's standout defense after recording 14.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks at ULM last year.

Kansas

Best Offensive Addition: OL Darrell Simmons (Iowa State)/Shane Bumgardner (Tiffin)
With three open jobs on the offensive line, Simmons and Bumgardner add competition and potential starters to the mix this spring.

Best Defensive Addition: DL Javier Derritt (from North Dakota State)
With the Jayhawks losing Devin Phillips and Gage Keys, help is needed on the interior of the defensive line. Derritt was a key cog on North Dakota State's front the last couple of years, registering 31 tackles (3.5 for a loss) and 2.5 sacks in '23.

Kansas State

Best Offensive Addition: OL Easton Kilty (from North Dakota)
With three starters gone, Kilty - a multi-year starter for North Dakota - should step into the starting lineup right away.

Best Defensive Addition: S Jordan Riley (from Ball State)
Riley could help K-State fill the void left behind by Kobe Savage (transfer to Oregon). The Maryland native recorded 61 tackles and eight pass breakups at Ball State last year.

Oklahoma State

Best Offensive Addition: TE Tyler Foster (from Ohio)
With 10 starters returning, Oklahoma State's offense doesn't have many glaring needs for '24. Foster (20 catches at Ohio last year) should fill the void left by Josiah Johnson at tight end.

Best Defensive Addition: DL Obi Ezeigbo (from Gannon)
Ezeigbo will have to adapt to the FBS level after playing at Gannon. However, the California native has experience in the scheme after playing under current Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo at Gannon in '22. Ezeigbo recorded 10.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks last season.

TCU

Best Offensive Addition: OL Bless Harris (Florida State), Carson Bruno (La. Tech), Cade Bennett (San Diego State)
The Horned Frogs have a couple of intriguing pickups at the skill spots with receivers Eric McAlister (Boise State) and Braylon James (Notre Dame), along with tight end Drake Dabney (Baylor). However, with four starters leaving up front, Harris, Bruno, and Bennett fill a bigger need in the trenches.

Best Defensive Addition: LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr (from California)
A defensive back also makes sense here considering TCU landed seven out of the portal. However, Elarms-Orr is the pick after a standout sophomore campaign at California. In 11 contests, the California native recorded 92 tackles (3.5 for a loss) and five pass breakups.

Texas Tech

Best Offensive Addition: WR Josh Kelly/TE Jalin Conyers/OL Vinny Sciury (Toledo)
We will cheat here and list three players poised to make a big impact for the Red Raiders in '24. Sciury fills an immediate need for starting linemen after the offense lost four from last season. Also, a receiving corps depleted by departures will get a boost with Kelly (Washington State) and Conyers (Arizona State) catching passes.

Best Defensive Addition: DL De'Braylon Carroll (from Rice)
With Jaylon Hutchings and Tony Bradford Jr. departing the interior of the line, the Red Raiders needed proven options like Carroll to restock this group for '24. Carroll recorded 101 tackles (19 for a loss) and seven sacks in 42 games at Rice.

UCF

Best Offensive Addition: QB KJ Jefferson (from Arkansas)
Jefferson should be one of the Big 12's top quarterbacks and a strong fit for coach Gus Malzahn's scheme.

Best Defensive Addition: DB Bryon Threats (from Cincinnati)
Adding depth and competition to the linebacker and defensive back units was a priority for UCF's staff in the portal. Threats should be a versatile piece in the secondary after playing in all 12 games and recording 57 tackles and two picks for Cincinnati last year.

Utah

Best Offensive Addition: WR Dorian Singer (from USC)
Singer didn't quite reach preseason expectations last season after transferring to USC from Arizona (66 catches for 1,105 yards in '22). However, Utah offers an opportunity to rebound with the Utes losing two key receivers in Devaughn Vele and Mikey Matthews.

Best Defensive Addition: DB Kenan Johnson (from Georgia Tech)
Zemaiah Vaughn is locked in at one cornerback spot for coach Kyle Whittingham. Johnson could win the spot opposite of him after transferring in from Georgia Tech. The Florida native recorded one interception and three pass breakups with the Yellow Jackets last fall.

West Virginia

Best Offensive Addition: WR Jaden Bray (from Oklahoma State)
Jacksonville State transfer Xavier Bausley deserves a mention here as a potential key cog in West Virginia's offensive line. But the pick is Bray after he grabbed 30 passes for 382 yards and two scores at Oklahoma State last season. His arrival adds another key weapon for quarterback Garrett Greene.

Best Defensive Addition: DL T.J. Jackson (from Troy)
Jackson was a force off the edge at Troy, recording 22 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks over the last two seasons. He should factor into the mix off the edge for the Mountaineers in '24.