I don't always agree with their analysis or conclusion but the list is interesting none the less. I've extracted the highlights for our "neighborhood" which includes CUSA and G5s in our geography. I was surprised that Arkansas State showed so prominently. Looks like 18 of the 100 are in our neighborhood with Tech, WKU and A.State each having 4, UTSA with 2 and 1 each for Marshall, UTEP, MTSU and NT.
Full list: http://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-footballs-top-100-impact-transfers-2016
95. TE Steve Donatell, WKU (from Wake Forest)
A WKU tight end has caught at least 30 passes in back-to-back seasons, and with Tyler Higbee out of eligibility, Donatell will have an opportunity to earn a starting spot.
84. OL Jevonte Domond, UTSA (from LSU)
Domond joins former LSU assistant Frank Wilson at UTSA this fall. The Arizona native played in four games in two years with the Tigers after spending two seasons at Glendale Community College. Domond should push for a starting job on an offensive line that returns three starters.
83. LB Davon Durant, Marshall (from Arizona State)
Durant was regarded as one of the top junior college recruits in the 2015 signing class but was dismissed before playing a down with the Sun Devils. The South Carolina native sat out last year after transferring to Marshall and is expected to push for a starting job in the linebacking corps this fall.
77. QB Zack Greenlee, UTEP (from Fresno State)
With Mack Leftwich sidelined for the 2016 season, Greenlee was a key pickup late in the spring for the Miners. In two years at Fresno State, Greenlee threw for 1,079 yards and 14 touchdowns to six interceptions. The California native did not transfer in time for spring practice but is expected to be locked into a tight battle with sophomores Ryan Metz and Kavika Johnson for the starting nod this fall.
74/75. CB Jarrell Jackson (Hawaii)/Ronald Lewis (Arizona State) to Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech’s defense could have four FBS transfers in the starting lineup this season. In addition to linebackers Dalton Santos and Jordan Harris, Jackson and Lewis will push for starting jobs in the secondary. Lewis played in 11 games at Arizona State in 2014, while Jackson participated in three contests with the Rainbow Warriors.
72. DL Nick Dawson-Brents, WKU (from Louisville)
With the departure of Gavin Rocker, Bryan Shorter and Jontavius Morris, WKU’s defensive line is in need of a few reinforcements this year. Dawson-Brents played in 37 games with Louisville and recorded 23 tackles over the last three seasons. Dawson-Brents was a four-star recruit out of high school and should make an instant impact for the Hilltoppers’ defense in 2016.
68. QB Chad Voytik, Arkansas State (from Pitt)
Fredi Knighten departs after a successful two-year stint as Arkansas State’s starter, but coach Blake Anderson has two promising options vying for the starting job. Junior college transfer (and former Oklahoma signal-caller) Justice Hansen and Pitt transfer Chad Voytik are set to battle for the No. 1 spot in the fall. Voytik started all 13 games for Pitt in 2014 and threw for 2,223 yards and 16 touchdowns and added 466 yards and three scores on the ground. Voytik lost the starting job at Pitt to Nathan Peterman in 2015 but is a key pickup for Anderson and the potent Arkansas State offense for 2016.
61/62. WR Kendall Sanders (Texas)/Cameron Echols-Luper (TCU) to Arkansas State
The Red Wolves could have three Big 12 transfers starting on offense this fall, as Sanders (Texas), Echols-Luper (TCU) and quarterback Justice Hansen (Oklahoma/junior college recruit) were key pickups on the recruiting trail for coach Blake Anderson. Sanders and Echols-Luper bring dynamic play-making ability and speed for a receiving corps that must replace Tres Houston, J.D. McKissic and tight end Darion Griswold.
59. RB I'Tavius Mathers, MTSU (from Ole Miss)
With quarterback Brent Stockstill and receiver Richie James back in 2016, MTSU’s offense should be among the best in Conference USA once again. Mathers rushed for 1,061 yards and seven scores in three years at Ole Miss and is slated to take over the No. 1 job in the backfield for the Blue Raiders.
55/56. LB Jordan Harris (Iowa State)/Dalton Santos (Texas) to Louisiana Tech
All three starters at linebacker must be replaced for Louisiana Tech’s defense, but this unit received a boost with the post-spring additions of Harris and Santos. Harris ranked third on Iowa State’s defense with 70 stops last season, while Santos played in 36 games during his Texas career.
40. LB Keith Brown, WKU (from Louisville)
Brown is the second Louisville defender transferring to WKU to make this list. The Miami native was active around the line of scrimmage in his career with the Cardinals, recording 113 tackles in 37 appearances. Brown has the talent to be one of Conference USA’s top defenders this season.
32. QB Jared Johnson, UTSA (from Sam Houston State)
UTSA ranked 11th in Conference USA in passing offense last season, but new coach Frank Wilson hopes to generate improvement with the addition of Johnson through the graduate transfer rank and the hire of veteran assistant Frank Scelfo to call the plays. Johnson was the Southland Offensive Player of the Year after accounting for 2,686 total yards and 23 overall scores in 2015. Johnson should provide a spark for UTSA’s offense and will be an impact transfer for Wilson.
27. QB Alec Morris, North Texas (from Alabama)
New coach Seth Littrell has a lot of work to do in his first season in Denton. North Texas finished 1-11 and averaged only 15.2 points a game last year. Littrell is one of the nation’s top offensive minds and should get this program back on track over the next couple of seasons, and there’s immediate help on the way in the form of Morris – a graduate transfer from Alabama. In three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Morris attempted only one pass and played in eight games. However, the Texas native should be a good fit for Littrell’s offense, and the former three-star recruit should provide a spark for the Mean Green attack.
12. QB Mike White, WKU (from South Florida)
Brandon Doughty closed out a prolific career at WKU with a standout senior season as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks. Doughty torched opposing defenses for 5,055 yards and 48 touchdowns in 2015 and earned third-team All-America honors by Athlon Sports. Replacing Doughty’s production won’t be easy, but Jeff Brohm is one of the nation’s top offensive minds and should keep the WKU offense on track. White showed promise in a two-year stint at USF, throwing for 2,722 yards and 11 scores from 2013-14. The junior is the frontrunner to replace Doughty as WKU’s starter for 2016.
10. DL Dee Liner, Arkansas State (from Alabama)
Arkansas State already has one of the top Group of 5 defensive linemen in Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, and the Red Wolves should have another standout in the mix with Liner joining the team after transferring from Alabama. Liner ranked as the No. 46 overall recruit by the 247Sports Composite in the 2015 signing class and recorded three tackles in limited action. Liner should be the Sun Belt’s top newcomer for 2016.
Full list: http://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-footballs-top-100-impact-transfers-2016
95. TE Steve Donatell, WKU (from Wake Forest)
A WKU tight end has caught at least 30 passes in back-to-back seasons, and with Tyler Higbee out of eligibility, Donatell will have an opportunity to earn a starting spot.
84. OL Jevonte Domond, UTSA (from LSU)
Domond joins former LSU assistant Frank Wilson at UTSA this fall. The Arizona native played in four games in two years with the Tigers after spending two seasons at Glendale Community College. Domond should push for a starting job on an offensive line that returns three starters.
83. LB Davon Durant, Marshall (from Arizona State)
Durant was regarded as one of the top junior college recruits in the 2015 signing class but was dismissed before playing a down with the Sun Devils. The South Carolina native sat out last year after transferring to Marshall and is expected to push for a starting job in the linebacking corps this fall.
77. QB Zack Greenlee, UTEP (from Fresno State)
With Mack Leftwich sidelined for the 2016 season, Greenlee was a key pickup late in the spring for the Miners. In two years at Fresno State, Greenlee threw for 1,079 yards and 14 touchdowns to six interceptions. The California native did not transfer in time for spring practice but is expected to be locked into a tight battle with sophomores Ryan Metz and Kavika Johnson for the starting nod this fall.
74/75. CB Jarrell Jackson (Hawaii)/Ronald Lewis (Arizona State) to Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech’s defense could have four FBS transfers in the starting lineup this season. In addition to linebackers Dalton Santos and Jordan Harris, Jackson and Lewis will push for starting jobs in the secondary. Lewis played in 11 games at Arizona State in 2014, while Jackson participated in three contests with the Rainbow Warriors.
72. DL Nick Dawson-Brents, WKU (from Louisville)
With the departure of Gavin Rocker, Bryan Shorter and Jontavius Morris, WKU’s defensive line is in need of a few reinforcements this year. Dawson-Brents played in 37 games with Louisville and recorded 23 tackles over the last three seasons. Dawson-Brents was a four-star recruit out of high school and should make an instant impact for the Hilltoppers’ defense in 2016.
68. QB Chad Voytik, Arkansas State (from Pitt)
Fredi Knighten departs after a successful two-year stint as Arkansas State’s starter, but coach Blake Anderson has two promising options vying for the starting job. Junior college transfer (and former Oklahoma signal-caller) Justice Hansen and Pitt transfer Chad Voytik are set to battle for the No. 1 spot in the fall. Voytik started all 13 games for Pitt in 2014 and threw for 2,223 yards and 16 touchdowns and added 466 yards and three scores on the ground. Voytik lost the starting job at Pitt to Nathan Peterman in 2015 but is a key pickup for Anderson and the potent Arkansas State offense for 2016.
61/62. WR Kendall Sanders (Texas)/Cameron Echols-Luper (TCU) to Arkansas State
The Red Wolves could have three Big 12 transfers starting on offense this fall, as Sanders (Texas), Echols-Luper (TCU) and quarterback Justice Hansen (Oklahoma/junior college recruit) were key pickups on the recruiting trail for coach Blake Anderson. Sanders and Echols-Luper bring dynamic play-making ability and speed for a receiving corps that must replace Tres Houston, J.D. McKissic and tight end Darion Griswold.
59. RB I'Tavius Mathers, MTSU (from Ole Miss)
With quarterback Brent Stockstill and receiver Richie James back in 2016, MTSU’s offense should be among the best in Conference USA once again. Mathers rushed for 1,061 yards and seven scores in three years at Ole Miss and is slated to take over the No. 1 job in the backfield for the Blue Raiders.
55/56. LB Jordan Harris (Iowa State)/Dalton Santos (Texas) to Louisiana Tech
All three starters at linebacker must be replaced for Louisiana Tech’s defense, but this unit received a boost with the post-spring additions of Harris and Santos. Harris ranked third on Iowa State’s defense with 70 stops last season, while Santos played in 36 games during his Texas career.
40. LB Keith Brown, WKU (from Louisville)
Brown is the second Louisville defender transferring to WKU to make this list. The Miami native was active around the line of scrimmage in his career with the Cardinals, recording 113 tackles in 37 appearances. Brown has the talent to be one of Conference USA’s top defenders this season.
32. QB Jared Johnson, UTSA (from Sam Houston State)
UTSA ranked 11th in Conference USA in passing offense last season, but new coach Frank Wilson hopes to generate improvement with the addition of Johnson through the graduate transfer rank and the hire of veteran assistant Frank Scelfo to call the plays. Johnson was the Southland Offensive Player of the Year after accounting for 2,686 total yards and 23 overall scores in 2015. Johnson should provide a spark for UTSA’s offense and will be an impact transfer for Wilson.
27. QB Alec Morris, North Texas (from Alabama)
New coach Seth Littrell has a lot of work to do in his first season in Denton. North Texas finished 1-11 and averaged only 15.2 points a game last year. Littrell is one of the nation’s top offensive minds and should get this program back on track over the next couple of seasons, and there’s immediate help on the way in the form of Morris – a graduate transfer from Alabama. In three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Morris attempted only one pass and played in eight games. However, the Texas native should be a good fit for Littrell’s offense, and the former three-star recruit should provide a spark for the Mean Green attack.
12. QB Mike White, WKU (from South Florida)
Brandon Doughty closed out a prolific career at WKU with a standout senior season as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks. Doughty torched opposing defenses for 5,055 yards and 48 touchdowns in 2015 and earned third-team All-America honors by Athlon Sports. Replacing Doughty’s production won’t be easy, but Jeff Brohm is one of the nation’s top offensive minds and should keep the WKU offense on track. White showed promise in a two-year stint at USF, throwing for 2,722 yards and 11 scores from 2013-14. The junior is the frontrunner to replace Doughty as WKU’s starter for 2016.
10. DL Dee Liner, Arkansas State (from Alabama)
Arkansas State already has one of the top Group of 5 defensive linemen in Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, and the Red Wolves should have another standout in the mix with Liner joining the team after transferring from Alabama. Liner ranked as the No. 46 overall recruit by the 247Sports Composite in the 2015 signing class and recorded three tackles in limited action. Liner should be the Sun Belt’s top newcomer for 2016.
