Diving into the portal: Key transfers for Group of 5 and independent schools

There will be another spate of transfers after spring practices are over, but for now the transfer portal is relatively quiet, which gives us an opportunity to look at key transfers for the 2022 season.

Today, it’s eight key transfers for Group of 5 and independent schools. “Key” is a relative term, but you can expect each of these players to make an appreciable impact this fall for their new teams.

Earlier this week, we looked at transfers into the Big Ten, the Big 12, the SEC, the ACC and the Pac-12. Next week, we’ll look at 10 transfers from the FCS ranks who should make some noise for Power 5 schools in 2022.

BYU RB Chris Brooks

The buzz: BYU needs to replace 1,600-yard rusher Tyler Allgeier, and Brooks should be a good fit. He’s a big (6 feet 1, 235 pounds), physical back who twice led Cal in rushing and finished his four-season career in Berkeley with 1,734 yards and 14 TDs. Brooks rushed for a team-high 607 yards in 2021 and also led the Golden Bears in rushing in 2019 with 914 yards. (In three of his four seasons at Cal, he was Chris Brown Jr. To honor his mom, he changed his name to Chris Brooks after the 2020 season.) Brooks also is a solid receiver, and Allgeier had 28 receptions last season. Brooks originally was headed to Purdue but changed his mind and enrolled at BYU.

Cincinnati QB Ben Bryant

The buzz: Bryant started 11 games for Eastern Michigan in 2021 after transferring from Cincinnati; now he is back at Cincy and is expected to step in for departed starter Desmond Ridder. Bryant was Cincinnati’s backup in 2019 and ’20, then transferred and won the starting job at EMU in 2021. He threw for 3,121 yards and 14 touchdowns as the Eagles finished 7-6. While Cincinnati has changed offensive coordinators, the new play-caller is Gino Guidugli, who had been quarterback coach. Thus, he and Bryant have worked together already and the offense isn’t likely to change. The Bearcats need a new feature back and for some receivers to emerge, but at least the new quarterback won’t have to adjust to a new offense.

Memphis RB Jay Ducker

The buzz: Ducker rushed for 1,184 yards and was the MAC freshman of the year in 2021 at Northern Illinois. Ducker played a significant role in helping the Huskies win the MAC title. He finished the season with seven 100-yard games in his final eight outings after beginning the season as a reserve. He rushed for 146 yards in NIU’s Cure Bowl loss to Coastal Carolina. Memphis returns Brandon Thomas, who rushed for 669 yards, at running back. But Thomas had 494 of those yards in the first four games of the season, and Ducker’s addition is a big one even if Memphis relies on a share-the-carries approach.

Colorado State OT Jacob Gardner

The buzz: Gardner moves over from Mountain West rival Nevada. He followed coach Jay Norvell from Reno to Fort Collins. Gardner also will play for the same line coach (Bill Best) and the same coordinator (Matt Mumme). He was a two-year starter for the Wolf Pack at left tackle. Gardner won the starting job as a true freshman in 2020 and kept it in 2021 season, protecting star QB Carson Strong. Gardner was the first true freshman to start at left tackle in a Nevada season opener since the school moved to Division I in 1992. He was a two-time All-Mountain West honorable mention selection. And on a personal note: His great uncles were pro wrestlers Jack and Jerry Brisco.

Notre Dame K Blake Grupe

The buzz: Grupe is a one-time walk-on at Arkansas State who was a second-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2021 and a first-teamer in 2019. He was 20-of-25 on field goals in 2021, with a long of 50; he was 6-of-9 from 40 and beyond. For his Arkansas State career, Grupe was 64-of-86 on field goals; he was 19-of-22 in 2019, including 6-of-9 from 40 and beyond, to earn all-league honors.

Notre Dame S Brandon Joseph

The buzz: It’s not often you can add an All-American through the portal, but the Irish have done just that. Thus, they’ve replaced one All-American with another. Joseph was a first-team All-American as a redshirt freshman at Northwestern in 2020, when he had 52 tackles, six interceptions and two pass breakups. In 2021, he had 80 tackles, three picks and four pass breakups in earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. Notre Dame has lost safety Kyle Hamilton, who was an All-American in 2021, to the NFL draft. No, we’re not saying Joseph is another Hamilton. But Joseph is a talented ballhawk who should fit nicely in the Irish defensive scheme.

SMU WR Joshua Moore

The buzz: Moore had 61 catches in 25 career games at Texas, but 13 went for TDs. In addition, he showed an ability to be a legit deep threat in 2020, when he averaged 15.7 yards per catch and scored nine TDs on 30 receptions. Moore, a former national top-100 recruit in the On3 Consensus for the 2018 class, had some off-field issues at Texas and left the Longhorns nine games into the 2021 season. Originally, he was going to transfer to Texas Tech, but he reversed field and ended up at SMU. New Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee figures to want to throw it around, and Moore gives QB Tanner Mordecai a potential go-to receiver. At the least, Moore and holdover Rashee Rice figure to be a nice 1-2 punch.

UCF OT Ryan Swoboda

The buzz: Swoboda was a two-year starter at right tackle for Virginia and the Orlando-area native has returned home to play for the Knights. Swoboda, who is 6 feet 10 and 325 pounds, was a key reserve for the Cavs in 2018 and ’19, making a combined four starts, before earning a starting job in 2020. He kept his starting job in 2021. UCF lost two senior starters off the ’21 line, so Swoboda’s addition was big (literally and figuratively) for coach Gus Malzahn.