Transfer portal breakdown: The 10 most impactful wide receiver transfers of 2022

Here’s a projection of the 10 most impactful receivers 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 production. (We looked at impactful quarterback transfers last Thursday and impactful running back transfers Friday.)

10. Tyler Harrell, Alabama

The particulars: Transfer from Louisville
The skinny: Tyler Harrell didn’t make much of an impact at Louisville, with just 20 receptions in four seasons. But he has tantalizing potential as a high-end deep threat – he has legit track speed (10.37 in the 100 meters) and took a big step last season in his development. He had 18 catches in 2021, but they went for 523 yards (an eye-popping 29.1 yards per catch) and six touchdowns. Half of his catches went for 30-plus yards and two went for at least 70 yards. Harrell is not going to be the Tide’s go-to receiver (we’ll talk about that guy a bit later in this story), but his speed means that as a vertical threat, he will have to be respected by opposing defenses. And history is on his side, too: Harrell is a Miami native, and south Florida wide receivers have had success at Alabama in the past decade (Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Calvin Ridley).

9. Jake Bobo, UCLA

The particulars: Transfer from Duke
The skinny: UCLA’s leading returning receivers are Kazmeir Allen and Kam Brown, who had 17 catches apiece. Michael Ezeike, who had three receptions, is the only tight end on the roster who had a catch last season. Thus, Bruins QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson needs a go-to receiver – and it almost certainly will be Jake Bobo. He had 74 receptions for the Blue Devils last season, and while UCLA’s offense hasn’t been conducive to one receiver getting that many catches, Bobo could get into the 60s. Still, he is most decidedly not a deep threat, as his catches last season went for 774 yards and one TD. Bobo had a strong spring in Chip Kelly’s offense; hey, after having played for David Cutcliffe, Bobo should have zero problems grasping any offense.

8. Mitchell Tinsley, Penn State

The particulars: Transfer from Western Kentucky
The skinny: Mitchell Tinsley was one of the most productive receivers in the nation last season in Western Kentucky’s pass-happy attack, with 87 receptions for 1,402 yards and 14 TDs. The receptions total was 16th nationally, while he was eighth in receiving yards and fifth in TD receptions; he did all that as Western’s No. 2 receiver. He’s likely to be the Nittany Lions’ No. 2 guy, too, behind holdover Parker Washington. Tinsley, Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith form a potent trio.

7. Antwane Wells Jr., South Carolina

The particulars: Transfer from James Madison
The skinny: Antwane Wells Jr. (6-1, 204) played two seasons at James Madison and was a fulltime starter for one, but he still left JMU as one of the most productive receivers in school history. In his two seasons, Wells had 116 receptions (ninth in school history) for 1,853 yards (ninth) and 21 TDs (third). Wells received some FCS All-America notice last season, when he had 83 catches, 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has a chance to be the go-to guy for QB Spencer Rattler, and at the least, he and leading returning receiver Josh Vann will form a nice 1-2 punch.

6. Tyler Hudson, Louisville

The particulars: Transfer from Central Arkansas
The skinny: With Louisville losing WRs Tyler Harrell (to Alabama) and Jordan Watkins (to Ole Miss), Tyler Hudson looks to be the guy who will be Louisville’s go-to receiver this season. The Cardinals lacked a difference-maker at wide receiver in 2021 (TE Marshon Ford was the leading receiver), and Hudson was an established standout at the FCS level before he entered the transfer portal. He was a three-year starter in a prolific passing attack for Central Arkansas, with 167 receptions for 3,062 yards and 27 TDs. That’s 18.3 yards per catch. If Hudson provides Louisville with a consistent deep threat, QB Malik Cunningham becomes even more dangerous.

5. Isaiah Neyor, Texas

The particulars: Transfer from Wyoming
The skinny: Isaiah Neyor originally said he was going to Tennessee, then reversed field and ended up at Texas. He was a second-team All-Mountain West selection in 2021 after catching 44 passes for 878 yards (19.95 yards per reception) and 12 TDs. The TD total was tied for seventh nationally. The yardage total is notable not just for the big-play aspect but that it was 42 percent of Wyoming’s team total. Neyor was the only true receiving threat in a run-heavy offense (the Cowboys ran the ball on 65 percent of their plays from scrimmage), yet still managed to produce. He figures to be an important complementary piece to Xavier Worthy for new QB Quinn Ewers.

4. Tayvion Robinson, Kentucky

The particulars: Transfer from Virginia Tech
The skinny: Tavion Robinson figures to be the second consecutive wide receiver named “Robinson” grabbed from the transfer portal to lead Kentucky in receptions. Last season, Nebraska transfer Wan’Dale Robinson led UK with a school-single-season record 104 catches. Tayvion isn’t as good as Wan’Dale, but he was the Hokies’ leading receiver last season with 44 and figures to be the go-to guy for QB Will Levis. UK’s leading returning receiver had just 14 receptions, so there is a lot of pressure on Robinson. He also is an excellent punt returner, averaging 12.6 yards on 26 attempts last season.

3. Jermaine Burton, Alabama

The particulars: Transfer from Georgia
The skinny: Jermaine Burton was underutilized at Georgia in his first two seasons, with just 53 total receptions. But he still was a dangerous deep threat for the Bulldogs last season, averaging 19.1 yards on his 26 receptions. His five TD catches averaged 42.0 yards. That stat bodes well when considering what he can do in an offense that values the pass far more than Georgia’s. Alabama’s leading returning receiver is TE Cameron Latu, who had 26 catches last season; the leading returning wide receiver is Traeshon Holden, who had 21 receptions. Burton will be the Tide’s No. 1 receiver, with fellow transfer Tyler Harrell (from Louisville) and holdovers Holden, JoJo Earle and Ja’Corey Brooks, among others, serving as complementary targets.

2. Jacob Cowing, Arizona

The particulars: Transfer from UTEP
The skinny: Jacob Cowing toiled in relative anonymity at UTEP last season, even though his numbers were impressive. He had 69 catches for 1,367 yards and seven touchdowns. His per-catch average was 19.81 yards and his per-catch average on his TDs was 40.1. Cowing had eight 100-yard games and had nine receptions of at least 40 yards, seven of at least 50 and two of at least 70. He was one of the top prospects available in the transfer portal and figures to be one of the most productive receivers in the Pac-12 this season working with new Wildcats QB Jayden de Laura in coach Jedd Fisch’s offense. De Laura, Cowing and touted true freshman WR Tetairoa McMillan should provide a huge jolt to a Wildcats pass offense that averaged just 225.9 yards per game and produced only 12 touchdowns last season.

1. Jordan Addison, USC

The particulars: Transfer from Pitt
The skinny: Jordan Addison was one of the most prolific receivers in the nation last season at Pitt, when he won the Biletnikoff Award. He entered the transfer portal after spring practice at Pitt and now he’s at USC, playing in another high-powered passing attack. Addison had 100 catches for 1,593 yards (15.93 per reception) and 17 TDs; he had eight 100-yard games. He heads what new coach Lincoln Riley has turned into one of the best receiver groups in the nation. Addison should be the unquestioned go-to guy for new QB Caleb Williams. He can line up in the slot or wide, and his big-play ability – he had 10 receptions of at least 40 yards last season, tied for fourth-most in the nation – again will come to the fore. His presence means defenses must focus on him and USC’s other receivers will benefit.