Transfer portal breakdown: The 10 most impactful linebacker transfers of 2022

Here’s a projection of the 10 most impactful linebackers to emerge from the transfer portal this offseason. (The list does not include edge rushers.) This is not a measure just of sheer talent. Instead, it’s a mix of a player’s importance, his potential and, most important, his expected production.

This is part 7 of our transfer portal impact series; we already have looked at quarterbacks , running backs, wide receivers, offensive linemen, edge rushers and defensive linemen.

10. Cam Bright, Washington

The particulars: Transfer from Pitt
The skinny: Cam Bright’s addition became more important because of the injury status of starting LB Edefuan Ulofoshio; Ulofoshio missed the final six games last season with an arm injury, then suffered another injury during winter conditioning and is going to miss at least the early part of the 2022 season. In addition, LB Jackson Sirmon – last season’s leading tackler – transferred to California. Bright started (and was a captain) last season for the ACC-champion Panthers; he had 58 tackles and six tackles for loss playing Pitt’s “star” linebacker spot, a hybrid linebacker/safety role. He will start at inside ’backer for Washington; though his size (6 feet, 220 pounds) isn’t ideal, his speed and coverage ability will make up for it.

9. Eric Gentry, USC

The particulars: Transfer from Arizona State
The skinny: Eric Gentry may not be a star this season for USC, but his ceiling is high and he has the look of a future pro. Gentry (6-6, 215) played in 12 games, made four starts and had 45 tackles last season as a true freshman at Arizona State. He didn’t go through spring practice at USC and thus has some work to do in preseason camp. But he has the talent, athleticism and versatility (he can play inside and come off the edge) to be, at the least, an important rotation piece, and it seems likely he works his way into the starting lineup at some point this season.

8. Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri

The particulars: Transfer from Florida
The skinny: Missouri’s defense wasn’t good last season, especially against the run, and the arrival of Ty’Ron Hopper (6-2, 228) and a handful of other defenders from the transfer portal is expected to help in that regard. Hopper joined his cousin, OLB Tyrone Hopper (from North Carolina), in transferring to Mizzou. Ty’Ron played in 13 games, making four starts, for Florida last season, and finished with 65 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. Hopper has good quickness and flows well from sideline to sideline, but is a little on the lean side and can be overpowered. Still, his athleticism and big-play ability should be a boon for the Tigers; expect him to finish first or second on the Tigers in tackles. Of note: The best game of his career (12 tackles, two TFL) came in the Gators’ loss to Mizzou last season.

7. Johnny Hodges, TCU

The particulars: Transfer from Navy
The skinny: Johnny Hodges, who starred in football and lacrosse in high school in the Baltimore area, will start alongside potential All-Big 12 LB Dee Winters in TCU’s reconfigured defense. With a new coaching staff, the Horned Frogs are scrapping a 4-2-5 alignment and moving to a 3-3-5 set, with one of the linebackers an edge rusher. Hodges (6-2, 210) lacks bulk, but is quick and instinctive on the inside. He had 50 tackles last season at Navy, when he started seven games before entering the transfer portal. He also had three tackles for loss, four pass breakups and three quarterback hurries.

6. Daiyan Henley, Washington State

The particulars: Transfer from Nevada
The skinny: Washington State runs a base 4-2-5 defense and lost both starting linebackers from last season, including leading tackler Jahad Woods. Daiyan Henley (6-1, 228) will fill one of the starting roles. He was Nevada’s leading tackler in 2021, when his 103 stops were sixth-most in the Mountain West; he earned second-team all-conference honors for his performance. Henley played wide receiver in his first two seasons at Nevada before switching to linebacker in 2019. Henley was third on the team with 49 tackles in 2020. He followed Brian Ward, who was defensive coordinator at Nevada last season and now oversees Washington State’s defense. Henley should pair with Travion Brown as the Cougars’ starting linebackers.

5. Caleb Johnson, Miami

The particulars: Transfer from UCLA
The skinny: Miami’s linebackers underwhelmed last season, so Caleb Johnson (6-1, 230) – one of six transfer portal pickups who figures to see appreciable time for the Hurricanes’ defense this fall – is an important addition. UM was inconsistent against the run last season. In its seven wins in 2021, Miami allowed 108.4 rushing yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry; in its five losses, it was 181.8 and 4.3. The linebackers also didn’t make many big plays. The hope is Johnson can help change that. Miami is his fourth school; he signed with Fullerton (Calif.) College out of high school, then spent a season at Texas before transferring to UCLA in 2020. He was a two-year starter with the Bruins who had 89 tackles and eight tackles for loss in his two seasons.

4. Troy Brown, Ole Miss

The particulars: Transfer from Central Michigan
The skinny: Troy Brown was a three-time first-team All-MAC selection at Central Michigan. He had 199 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, 11 pass breakups and two forced fumbles in the past three seasons. Brown (6-1, 220) will slide into a starting role for a defense that lost both starting linebackers from a 4-2-5 set. Ole Miss hit it big with two transfer linebackers in 2021 – Maryland transfer Chance Campbell and Southeast Missouri transfer Mark Robinson, both now in the NFL – and the Rebels hope it happens again. Campbell led Ole Miss with 109 tackles, while Robinson was second with 92.

3. Mohamoud Diabate, Utah

The particulars: Transfer from Florida
The skinny: LB Mohamoud Diabate was Florida’s No. 2 tackler in 2021 with 89 stops. He was a part-time starter in 2020, when he made 68 tackles. Diabate (6-4, 220) missed spring practice with the Utes while recovering from shoulder surgery, and he needs to get up to speed quick in summer camp. Utah runs a 4-2-5 set and lost both starting linebackers: All-American Devin Lloyd and Nephi Sewell. Diabate is an almost-certain starter, and his first game with the Utes is September 3 at Florida.

2. Darius Muasau, UCLA

The particulars: Transfer from Hawaii
The skinny: Darius Muasau was a highly productive two-time first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection at Hawaii and will start for UCLA, which needed linebackers. Muasau (6-1, 230) was a spot starter as a true freshman in 2019, then a fulltime starter for the Rainbow Warriors the past two seasons. He was fifth in the league with 109 tackles in 2021 and led the conference with 104 tackles (in nine games) in 2020. Muasau also had 23.5 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries and five forced fumbles the past two seasons. He tied for fourth nationally last season with five forced fumbles.

1. Shane Lee, USC

The particulars: Transfer from Alabama
The skinny: Shane Lee (6-0, 245) certainly isn’t the most athletic linebacker on this list, but he’s an old-school thumper and his importance as a defensive leader cannot be overstated. All of the transfer attention for USC has been focused on the offense, but Lee’s addition comes at a position of need and his winning ways are important as the Trojans look to become nationally relevant again. Because of injuries, Lee was pressed into immediate action at Alabama as a true freshman in 2019; he was second on the team with 86 tackles in 13 games. But over the past two seasons, he dealt with injuries, was bypassed on the depth chart and made just nine tackles in 15 games. He had a good spring for the Trojans and is one of six transfers expected to provide a boost for a defense that was woeful last season.