Halfway through the season, 10 transfers who have exceeded expectations

We’re at the season’s halfway point, which makes it a good time to look at transfers who have exceeded expectations. Well, our expectations, at least.

James Madison QB Todd Centeio

Transferred from: Colorado State
The buzz: Todd Centeio originally signed with Temple in 2017, transferred to Colorado State following the 2019 season, then transferred again this past offseason to JMU. (He is one of six JMU starters who is a transfer.) He and the Dukes have done quite well. In its first season in the FBS ranks, James Madison (5-0) is ranked 25^th in the AP poll this week. As for Centeio, he is 11^th nationally in total offense at 320.2 yards per game. In 39 career games entering this season (13 starts), Centeio had thrown for 23 TDs. This season, he already has 15 TD passes; he’s also had one 300-yard game after having just two in the first five seasons of his career. Centeio also has two rushing TDs, one off his career total entering the season.

Kansas State S Drake Cheatum

Transferred from: Prairie View
The buzz: Drake Cheatum was a four-year starter at Prairie View and earned All-SWAC notice as a cornerback, but he entered the transfer portal late and didn’t get to K-State until June. On top of that, he moved to safety. No problem. He and fellow transfer Josh Hayes (North Dakota State, then Virginia) have solidified the back end of K-State’s defense. Cheatum (listed at 5 feet 10, 191 pounds) has 22 tackles and two pass breakups. He has helped K-State be the only team in the Big 12 that has more interceptions (six) than TD passes allowed (five).

UCF LB Jason Johnson

Transferred from: Eastern Illinois
The buzz: UCF coaches knew they needed linebacker help, so they brought in four from the portal. Thing is, the two “name” linebackers among that quartet – Branden Jennings and Terrence Lewis – haven’t done anything. Instead, Jason Johnson and Walter Yates III (from Savannah State) have been productive. Johnson leads the Knights with 41 tackles (13 more than anyone else) and has been a big presence against the run. Lewis, a former five-star recruit, never played a down and intends to transfer; Jennings was a reserve who played in four games and now will redshirt.

Purdue WR Charlie Jones

Transferred from: Iowa
The buzz: This is a matter of degrees in that Charlie Jones was considered an important complementary transfer but not one who evidently is going to flirt with the 100-catch plateau. He began his career at Buffalo, then moved on to Iowa, where he had 21 receptions in two seasons. Realizing that if he wanted to catch passes he needed to transfer, Jones hit the portal again. He has been extremely productive for the Boilermakers, who needed a go-to guy. He is second nationally with 50 receptions, for 603 yards and seven TDs (fourth nationally). Jones is on pace to become just the third Purdue receiver with 100 receptions in a season and the sixth with 1,200 yards.

Marshall RB Khalan Laborn

Transferred from: Florida State
The buzz: Khalan Laborn was an On3 Consensus five-star recruit in the 2017 signing class and signed with Florida State. But a series of injuries, including a torn ACL, seemingly derailed his career, to the point that he didn’t play anywhere last season. He signed with Marshall out of the transfer portal in the offseason to be a backup to returning 1,400-yard rusher Rasheen Ali. But with Ali out for undisclosed reasons, Laborn has seized the opportunity. He is second nationally with 851 yards and is tied for third with 10 rushing TDs. He has rushed for 100 yards in all six outings, including 163 in an upset of Notre Dame.

UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu

Transferred from: Washington
The buzz: As a true freshman at Washington in 2019, Laiatu Latu flashed some big-time pass-rush potential. But a neck injury in 2020 kept him out of action that fall, and it was announced in April 2021 that he was giving up football. But he has given it another go after transferring to UCLA and has 6.5 sacks, which is tied for second nationally. UCLA brought in the edge-rushing Murphy twins (Gabriel and Grayson) from North Texas via the portal, and conventional wisdom was that they would be the main pass rushers. They’ve been solid (a combined seven tackles for loss), but Latu has been a standout.

Arizona TE Tanner McLachlan

Transferred from: Southern Utah
The buzz: In three seasons at Southern Utah, Tanner McLachlan – a native of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada – caught 15 passes; he has 19 receptions for the Wildcats, for 242 yards and a TD, in their new-look offense. He arrived at Arizona as a walk-on this spring and earned a scholarship during preseason camp. He also arrived at Arizona off ACL surgery and watched YouTube videos to help with his rehab.

Nebraska WR Trey Palmer

Transferred from: LSU
The buzz: Nebraska didn’t have much returning at receiver, so Trey Palmer was an important pickup from the portal. Still, it’s doubtful coaches thought he would be this productive. Palmer has 40 receptions for 544 yards (13.6 per catch) and three TDs. The receptions total is second in the Big Ten and the yardage total is third. He had 41 catches in three seasons at LSU. He’s on pace for 80 catches and 1,088 yards; both would be school single-season records.

Western Kentucky QB Austin Reed

Transferred from: West Florida
The buzz: Austin Reed had success at the Division II level – he was the quarterback on UWF’s national title team in 2019 – and that success has carried over to Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers lost a bunch from last season’s team, including record-setting QB Bailey Zappe (now with the New England Patriots), their top two receivers and OC Zach Kittley (now in that role at Texas Tech). Reed was one of two quarterbacks who transferred to WKU: West Virginia starter Jarret Doege became a Hilltopper in January and Reed arrived in March. Doege re-entered the portal in August and now is at Troy (his fourth school). Reed has thrown for 2,036 yards (third nationally) and 19 TDs (fourth); he also is completing 71.8 of his attempts (248, sixth nationally).

Washington RB Wayne Taulapapa

Transferred from: Virginia
The buzz: Wayne Taulapapa was steady but certainly not a standout at Virginia; in three seasons with the Cavaliers, he rushed for 1,192 yards and often was used as the Cavs’ short-yardage back. He transferred to Washington and joined a crowded backfield that included four returning players, including presumptive starter Cameron Davis, as well as fellow transfer Aaron Dumas, who rushed for 658 yards at New Mexico last season. But Taulapapa has emerged as the key figure and leads the Huskies with 406 yards; that’s more than he gained in two of his three seasons at UVa, where his single-season high was 473. He also has 11 receptions; he had 28 in his Cavaliers career.