Transfer portal breakdown: 10 less-hyped transfers you should know in the Big 12

Let’s dive back into the transfer portal. We’ve already looked at the key incoming and outgoing transfers for each team in the Big 12; today, we’re going to highlight 10 Big 12 transfers who have been overlooked.

Fan of these teams know about these players. Chances are, everyone else will know more about them at the end of the season.

Iowa State WR Dimitri Stanley

The particulars: Transfer from Colorado
The buzz: Iowa State features one of the best receivers in the Big 12 in Xavier Hutchinson and has rising-star Jaylin Noel in the slot. Dimitri Stanley could fill the third starting spot. Stanley started the past three seasons for Colorado and was the Buffs’ fourth-leading receiver in 2021. He led Colorado in receptions in 2020. In four seasons with the Buffs, Stanley had 70 catches and four TDs. If he doesn’t start, he’ll still be an important rotation piece for the Cyclones.

Kansas EDGE Lonnie Phelps

The particulars: Transfer from Miami (Ohio)
The buzz: Kansas had just 15 sacks last season, tied for third-fewest among Power 5 teams (only Vanderbilt and Colorado had less). Lonnie Phelps should help in that regard. He was third in the MAC with 9.5 sacks and was a second-team all-league selection. Phelps also was sixth in the league with 13.5 tackles for loss and had six quarterback hurries. He had 15 sacks in three seasons with the RedHawks (Miami played just three games in 2020). Phelps should be KU’s best pass rusher.

Kansas State DB Josh Hayes

The particulars: Transfer from Virginia
The buzz: Josh Hayes was a three-year starter at cornerback for FCS powerhouse North Dakota State before moving to Virginia last season, where he appeared in just three games. He hit the transfer portal again after the season and now is reunited with some of the same staff that recruited him to North Dakota State as part of the 2017 class. While Hayes has been a corner, he saw much of his time at safety in the spring because K-State is depth-shy at that position. K-State is fine at corner, so Hayes seems likely to remain at safety – and potentially even start.

Oklahoma CB C.J. Coldon

The particulars: Transfer from Wyoming
The buzz: C.J. Coldon is one of two key transfer portal additions in the secondary; the other is Trey Morrison from North Carolina. Coldon was a second-team All-Mountain West Conference pick last season, when he had 67 tackles and 10 pass breakups. Coldon also started in 2020 and began the season as a starter in 2019 before being injured. He seems likely to be one of OU’s top three corners, along with holdovers D.J. Graham and Woodi Washington. Morrison looks to be the starting nickelback.

Oklahoma DT Jeffery Johnson

The particulars: Transfer from Tulane
The buzz: Jeffery Johnson was a fulltime starter at nose tackle for three seasons and a part-time starter another season for the Green Wave. He had 44 tackles last season, along with five tackles for loss. Johnson had 33 tackles and six TFL in 2020. In short, he gives the Sooners a ready-made plug-and-play interior lineman for new coach Brent Venables. Johnson could end up starting next to holdover Jalen Redmond; if he doesn’t start, he’ll be an important part of the rotation.

Texas LB Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey

The particulars: Transfer from James Madison
The buzz: The Longhorns’ defense reeked last season, against the run and against the pass, and Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey is expected to help. Tucker-Dorsey earned some FCS All-America acclaim last season, finishing with 116 tackles, nine tackles for loss and four interceptions for a JMU team that lost in the semifinals of the FCS playoffs. Tucker-Dorsey, who will be a sixth-year senior this season, was a productive two-year starter for the Dukes, and has the ability to stuff the run, rush the passer and drop into coverage. But he’s also just 5 feet 10 and 214 pounds. Will his quickness, instincts and toughness overcome his lack of size at the Power 5 level? He is expected to line up next to holdover DeMarvion Overshown in Texas’ two-linebacker scheme.

Texas CB Ryan Watts

The particulars: Transfer from Ohio State
The buzz: Texas had two players transfer in from Ohio State; Ryan Watts is the other guy who had been with the Buckeyes. QB Quinn Ewers, of course, was one of the biggest names to hit the transfer portal and almost certainly will start for the Longhorns. But Watts, a 6-3, 210-pound Dallas-area native, could end up starting, too. Indeed, he had a strong spring and seems likely to start at corner along with holdover D’Shawn Jamison, who will be starting for his fourth season. Watts played in 19 games in two seasons, with one start, at Ohio State.

TCU DT Lwal Uguak

The particulars: Transfer from UConn
The buzz: Lwal Uguak lined up next to NFL second-round pick Travis Jones for the Huskies last season. Uguak, who went to high school in Canada, had 34 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and seven quarterback hurries in 2021; he was a key reserve in 2019 and a fulltime starter in 2018 (UConn did not play in the 2020 season). Uguak had 69 tackles in his Huskies career, with nine tackles for loss. TCU is rebuilding its defensive front, and Uguak’s size (6-4, 280) and experience will be a helpful depth piece for new defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie.

Texas Tech OT Monroe Mills

The particulars: Transfer from Oklahoma State
The buzz: Monroe Mills played in just two games in the past two seasons at Oklahoma State, but adjusted quickly to Texas Tech’s scheme under new coordinator Zach Kittley. So quickly, in fact, that he emerged from spring ball as the presumptive starter. USC OT transfer Ty Buchanan, a Texas native, also fits in this category, and he will vie with Mills for the starting job on the right side. That job is open because Caleb Rogers, last season’s starter on that side, now is at left tackle. Regardless of who wins the starting job, Mills’ spring performance means he will play this season. Texas Tech brought in five offensive linemen from the transfer portal for a quick makeover up front.

West Virginia DB Marcis Floyd

The particulars: Transfer from Murray State
The buzz: Marcis Floyd was a three-season starter at cornerback for Murray State and a two-time All-Ohio Valley selection; he also received some All-America mention in 2020 and ’21. He had seven interceptions and 20 pass breakups in his three seasons as a starter. While Floyd was a corner for the Racers, he could end up at safety for WVU; he played both positions in spring ball. WVU runs a 3-3-5 set and lost four starting defensive backs. The hope is holdover Charles Woods, who took over a starting role down the stretch last season, continues his strong play at one corner spot. If that happens, Floyd very well could play safety. Another under-the-radar transfer to watch is Jasir Cox, a two-year starter at linebacker for FCS power North Dakota State. The hope is Cox (6-1, 205) fits in WVU’s “Spear” role, which is a hybrid safety/linebacker spot. His brother, Jabril, transferred from North Dakota State to LSU for the 2020 season and now is in the NFL.