Transfer portal breakdown: The 10 most impactful offensive line transfers of 2022

Here’s a projection of the 10 most impactful offensive linemen to emerge from the transfer portal this offseason. 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 impact on the team’s production.

This is part 4 of our transfer portal impact series: We already have looked at quarterback transfers, running back transfers and wide receiver transfers.

10. T Bobby Haskins, USC

The particulars: Transfer from Virginia
The skinny: Bobby Haskins was a seven-game starter at left tackle for Virginia in 2021 and a fulltime starter in 2019. He was a reserve during an injury-plagued 2020 season. His experience, especially in an offense that threw the heck out of the ball last season, should be a boon to a USC unit that has struggled the past few seasons. Four starting linemen return, but the only standouts are G Andrew Vorhees and C Brett Neilon. Haskins (6 feet 7, 295 pounds) missed spring ball rehabbing after ankle surgery. He is expected to be 100 percent for preseason camp and should nail down a starting job at one of the tackle spots.

9. G Tre’Mond Shorts, LSU

The particulars: Transfer from East Tennessee State
The skinny: After redshirting in 2017 as a true freshman, Tre’Mond Shorts became a four-year starter at guard for East Tennessee State. He earned some FSC All-America acclaim in each of the past two seasons and was a two-time first-team All-Southern Conference selection. ETSU has a run-oriented offense, and Shorts (6-4, 326) is a road-grader in the running game. Shorts is expected to start at guard for a Tigers team rebuilding its offensive line. LSU’s run-blocking has been spotty the past two seasons.

8. T Cade Beresford, Boise State

The particulars: Transfer from Washington State
The skinny: Boise State struggled to consistently run the ball last season, and a lack of push from the offensive line was one of the reasons. The line also struggled in pass protection, and Cade Beresford’s versatility should help the Broncos. He started nine games last season at guard for Washington State after playing in five games as a reserve tackle earlier in his career. Beresford (6-7, 300), whose dad played at Boise State, seems likely to start at right tackle for the Broncos after a strong spring performance.

7. T Mason Brooks, Ole Miss

The particulars: Transfer from Western Kentucky
The skinny: Mason Brooks was a two-year starter at right tackle for Western Kentucky and a first-team All-Conference USA selection in 2021; he was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2020. Ole Miss lost both starters off the right side of the offensive line, so Brooks (6-6, 315) slid in at right tackle in the spring. Given Western Kentucky’s offensive emphasis, Brooks has spent a heck of a lot of time in pass protection, but he’s a solid run-blocker, as well.

6. T Raiqwon O’Neal, UCLA

The particulars: Transfer from Rutgers
The skinny: Raiqwon O’Neal would’ve been a third-year starter at left tackle for Rutgers this season; instead, he’ll be starting on the left side for the Bruins. He’ll replace Sean Rhyan, a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft who was the Bruins’ best lineman last season. O’Neal (6-4, 305) did not go through spring practice and will be one of three new starters up front for the Bruins, so how quick the line comes together bears watching in preseason camp. Still, the early-season schedule is such (Bowling Green, Alabama State and South Alabama) that the group will be able to ease into the season. O’Neal is a talented pass protector but needs to upgrade his run blocking.

5. G/T Cole Spencer, Texas Tech

The particulars: Transfer from Western Kentucky
The skinny: Cole Spencer arrived from Western Kentucky, where he was a 2021 first-team All-Conference USA selection, along with new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. Spencer (6-4, 306) started 46 career games for the Hilltoppers and was a full-time starter at left tackle for the past three seasons. But he also can play guard and that seems to be his likely position with the Red Raiders. Spencer started the final five games at right tackle as a true freshman in 2017, then the first three games of the 2018 season on the left side before suffering a season-ending injury. Spencer also was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2020. He is a high-level pass protector, and his experience, talent and versatility will be important for Kittley as he re-shapes the Red Raiders’ offense.

4. G McKade Mettauer, Oklahoma

The particulars: Transfer from California
The skinny: McKade Mettauer was a three-year starter for Cal before he entered the transfer portal. Mettauer, who is from the Houston area, played in 27 games at Cal and started the final 26 of them. Mettauer (6-4, 303) was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection in 2021 and had a strong spring in OU’s revamped offense. Oklahoma had some issues running inside last season, and the hope is that Mettauer can help in that regard.

3. T Tyler Steen, Alabama

The particulars: Transfer from Vanderbilt
The skinny: Alabama made ultra-splashy pick-ups from the transfer portal in RB Jahmyr Gibbs and WR Jermaine Burton. But the addition of Tyler Steen, a three-year starter at left tackle for Vanderbilt, was big, too. Alabama is looking for two new starting tackles, and it’s likely Steen (6-5, 315) handles the left side. He was a three-year starter for the Commodores. While he’ll be blocking against the same SEC defenses he saw at Vandy, he’ll be blocking for vastly better talent.

2. G O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida

The particulars: Transfer from Louisiana
The skinny: O’Cyrus Torrence came with new coach Billy Napier from Louisiana, and he provides an upgrade on the interior for Florida, whose line play was inconsistent under the former staff. Torrence (6-5, 335) was a three-year starter for the Ragin’ Cajuns who was an All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2021 and a second-team pick in 2020 before entering the transfer portal. Torrence obviously is familiar with Napier’s offense, and his road-grading ways should make running between the tackles an easier proposition this season. He will combine with G Ethan White and C Kingsley Eguakun to form what should be a formidable interior trio.

1. C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan

The particulars: Transfer from Virginia
The skinny: Not only did Michigan get a plug-and-play replacement for graduated C Andrew Vastardis, it got a guy who will be one of the best centers in the nation. Olusegun Oluwatimi should slide in nicely in Vastardis’ old spot and give the Wolverines one of the best lines in the nation. He began his career at Air Force, then transferred and became a three-year starter for the Cavaliers. Oluwatimi (6-3, 310) was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2021, when he was one of three finalists for the Rimington Trophy, which goes to the nation’s best center. He and linemates Zak Zinter, a guard, and Ryan Hayes, a tackle, will vie for All-Big Ten and even All-America honors.