JD PicKell: Top Impact Transfers in the College Football Playoff race

Building a title contender in college athletics no longer requires success solely from the high schools ranks. The transfer portal has given programs a new avenue to acquire experienced talent for their rosters. The best of the best have seen major dividends as players want to join contenders, specifically in the College Football Playoff race.

Among the list of key transfers, On3’s JD PicKell highlighted three players that will impact who’s among the playoff selections.

The race to the CFP goes through the transfer portal

Here’s why:@On3Recruits /@On3sports pic.twitter.com/c0EHqVmZsQ

— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) June 17, 2022

First on his list is former Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs. He totaled 1,211 yards from scrimmage as sophomore and finished with 13 career touchdowns as a Yellow Jacket. As a dual threat in the backfield, PicKell sees him as a key weapon that will alleviate some of the pressure on Alabama’s reigning-Heisman winner.

“(He’s) going to be an asset for them in the run game, but also be an option for them in the pass game. Ultimately, (he’ll) just take a ton off of Bryce Young’s plate.”

Next on his list is former UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel. After three seasons in Orlando, he now finds himself leading the way for the new-look Oklahoma Sooners. Gabriel’s previous connection with offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby will give him a necessary sense of comfort. From there, all they’ll need to do in PicKell’s eyes is come out on top of a chaotic Big-12.

“Gabriel (is) playing with his former offensive coordinator,” he said. “There are a lot of transitions going on within the Big-12 to where the Sooners can win that conference with one loss and find themselves in the College Football Playoff.”

Finally, he included new Ohio State safety Tanner McCalister. With four seasons at Oklahoma State under his belt, he’s arrived in Columbus to shore up the Buckeye’s secondary. Once that’s done, PicKell doesn’t see any other flaws in Ryan Day’s way.

“The back end of Ohio State’s defense was not very good last year. (It was) 97th in the country in terms of yards given up per game. If they can be any better in the secondary, I don’t see any other weaknesses on this Ohio State team,” said PicKell. “They can really run the table and find themselves in the College Football Playoff once again.”

Playoff hopefuls will do anything they can to get their team into that final four. The portal has provided an efficient way to do so by adding veterans at positions of need. Between Gibbs, Gabriel and McCalister, they’ll all play key roles in getting Alabama, Oklahoma, and Ohio State to Los Angeles.

In general, PicKell said it best: “It’s safe to say the race for the CFP goes through the transfer portal.”