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

Let’s dive back into the transfer portal. We’ve already looked at the key incoming and outgoing transfers in the Big Ten; today, we’re going to highlight 10 Big Ten 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.

Illinois DT Raashaan Wilkins

The particulars: Transfer from Vanderbilt
The buzz: Raashaan Wilkins is a Chicago native who has taken a circuitous route to Illinois. He was a tight end as a freshman at Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2018. Wilkins transferred to Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, Calif., and moved to the defensive line in 2019. He then moved on to Vandy, where he was a two-year starter for the Commodores. Wilkins (6 feet 3, 310 pounds) is a space-eater who made 23 tackles in two seasons. He and Northwestern transfer TeRah Edwards should be important rotation pieces up front for the Illini.

Maryland K Chad Ryland

The particulars: Transfer from Eastern Michigan
The buzz: Chad Ryland, a two-time second-team All-MAC selection, is Eastern Michigan’s leading career scorer. Ryland began his college career as a walk-on. He was 19-of-22 on field goals last season, with a long of 55, when he earned second-team All-MAC honors; he finished the season with 17 consecutive makes. In four seasons with the Eagles, he was 56-of-74 on field goals. The Terps have made 20 field goals total the past three seasons.

Michigan DT Cam Goode

The particulars: Transfer from UCF
The buzz: Experienced interior defensive linemen are valuable in the transfer portal. An experienced interior defensive lineman who has shown the ability to be disruptive? They’re even more valuable. Cam Goode (6-2, 315) has shown the ability to be disruptive, albeit in a lesser league. Goode began his career at Virginia Tech before moving to UCF in 2019. In three seasons as a Knight, he made five starts and had 12 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles. He figures to be an important depth piece for the Wolverines.

Michigan State TE Daniel Barker

The particulars: Transfer from Illinois
The buzz: Daniel Barker was a fulltime starter for two seasons (2019-20) with the Illini and a part-time starter last season; he tied for the team lead with five touchdowns (four receiving, one rushing) in 2021. Barker (6-4, 250) had 64 receptions in his Illinois career, with 11 going for touchdowns; that’s a school record for tight ends. He should be an immediate starter for the Spartans; Michigan State’s returning tight ends combined for eight receptions last season.

Minnesota G Chuck Filiaga

The particulars: Transfer from Michigan
The buzz: While Chuck Filiaga started 10 games the past two seasons for the Wolverines, he would’ve been a backup this season for them. That won’t be the case with the Golden Gophers. Minnesota is looking for four new starters up front, and Filiaga (6-6, 330) seems all but certain to grab a starting spot at guard. Filiaga, who was an On3 Consensus national top-150 recruit in the 2017 class, started all six games in 2020, then started four games for the Wolverines in 2021.

Nebraska P Brian Buschini

The particulars: Transfer from Montana
The buzz: Brian Buschini was a first-team FCS All-American last season at Montana, when he averaged a school-record 46.0 yards per punt. He punted 69 times in 2021, with 30 punts downed inside the 20 and 28 going at least 50 yards. As a team, Nebraska has averaged more than 43 yards per punt just once in the past decade – and that was 43.6 in 2015.

Penn State OL Hunter Nourzad

The particulars: Transfer from Cornell
The buzz: Penn State’s offensive line was a weakness last season. At the least, it should be adequate this fall. Hunter Nourzad’s arrival from the transfer portal should help in that regard. Nourzad (6-3, 310) was a two-time All-Ivy selection for the Big Red and the Ivy League’s offensive lineman of the year in 2021; he also received some FCS All-America mention in ’21. He played right tackle for Cornell but likely will play guard for the Nittany Lions. At the least, he provides experienced depth; if everything goes right for him, he’ll start at guard. Nourzad graduated in May with an engineering degree; he was a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, the so-called “Academic Heisman,” in 2021.

Purdue CB Reese Taylor

The particulars: Transfer from Indiana
The buzz: Reese Taylor played quarterback in high school (he played it well enough to be Indiana’s “Mr. Football” in 2017) and as a freshman at Indiana in 2018. But he has been a corner the past three seasons and was a part-time starter the past two years for the Hoosiers; he had 54 tackles, an interception and nine pass breakups in that span. Taylor (5-11, 190) also handled some return duties. Purdue is looking for a corner to start next to the underrated Cory Trice, and Taylor could end up being that guy. Taylor, who went through spring ball with the Boilermakers, is one of three former IU players on Purdue’s roster.

Rutgers OT Willie Tyler III

The particulars: Transfer from ULM
The buzz: Willie Tyler III started nine games at ULM last season, his first with the Warhawks. Tyler, a Wisconsin native, began his college career at Iowa Western CC, then spent two years at Texas before moving on to ULM last season. The Scarlet Knights need a left tackle with the transfer departure of Raiqwon O’Neal to UCLA, and Tyler (6-6, 325) would seem to be the guy. Rutgers brought in three other offensive linemen from the transfer portal in G Mike Ciaffoni (from Colorado State), T J.D. DiRenzo (who earned some All-America notice at FCS member Sacred Heart) and G Curtis Dunlap (Minnesota); DiRenzo is versatile enough to play guard or tackle, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if all four transfers start.

Wisconsin S Kamo’i Latu

The particulars: Transfer from Utah
The buzz: Kamo’i Latu was a key backup for the Utes last season, though did make one start. He would’ve been an important part of the Utes’ safety rotation this season. As it stands, he will be a vital part of Wisconsin’s safety rotation. Presumptive starter Travian Blaylock suffered a severe knee injury in spring practice that could sideline him all season, so Latu’s arrival from the transfer portal after spring practice was big. He could end up sliding into Blaylock’s vacated starting spot. If Latu (6-0, 195) doesn’t start, he still will play a lot. He is one of four defensive back transfers (the other three are corners) who will see a ton of time for the Badgers this season.