Ranking the Top 25 transfers in the B1G for 2023

Editor’s note: Saturday Tradition’s annual Top 25 preview week continues with a ranking and analysis of the best transfers on B1G rosters this fall.

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The 2023 college football season is almost upon us, and fans are about to get their first glimpse of a number of players in new uniforms.

By now, teams and fans across the country have become accustomed to the use of the transfer portal. Heck, even the Iowa Hawkeyes jumped in on the portal movement with 6 transfer pieces added in the 2023 cycle.

Kirk Ferentz’s program was not alone in that endeavor. Essentially every program is involved in the portal these days, and that includes Tom Allen’s Indiana program that racked up 23 transfer additions this offseason.

With all that movement taking place, here is a look at 25 B1G transfers poised to make an impact at their new home this fall:

25. Tunmise Adeleye, Michigan State DL

Previous school – Texas A&M

Adeleye is on this list for the potential impact he could make on what has been a dreadful MSU defense. Though he underwhelmed in 2 seasons at Texas A&M, Adeleye was a top 50 player in the 2021 recruiting class per 247Sports’ composite rankings. He gets a fresh start in East Lansing.

24. MJ Sherman, Nebraska LB

Former school – Georgia

Nebraska is looking to replace the production of Ochaun Mathis and Garrett Nelson, the team’s top pass rushers a season ago. While Sherman didn’t produce a lot of production at Georgia (14 career tackles in 3 seasons), the former 4-star recruit has the talent to make an impact in Lincoln.

23. Elijah Spencer, Minnesota WR

Former School – Charlotte

Minnesota is moving forward with Athan Kaliakmanis at QB with longtime starter Tanner Morgan now off to the NFL. Spencer — after recording 57 catches for 943 yards and 9 touchdowns last season — should bolster the wide receiver room and help Kaliakmanis transition with the Gophers.

22. Terry Roberts, Michigan State DB

Former school – Iowa

There’s not much that needs to be said about Michigan State’s pass defense. It’s been bad 2 years running. Roberts brings with him 33 career appearances at Iowa, including 3 starts during the 2022 season.

21. DeQuece Carter, Indiana WR

Previous school – Fordham

Carter arrives in Bloomington after 38 career games for Fordham, where he finished 4th in the program’s history for TD catches (31). Indiana returns playmaker Jaylin Lucas but needs help in a number of areas entering the fall. Carter could be a key piece as a veteran receiver.

20. Tayven Jackson, Indiana QB

Previous school – Tennessee

Jackson was not given much of a chance to play at Tennessee with Hendon Hooker developing into a Heisman candidate. Instead, he transfers to Indiana, where he was a 4-star prospect and the state’s No. 7 player in the 2022 recruiting class. With Dexter Williams still rehabbing from a knee injury, Jackson has as good a shot as any Hoosier to land the starting job.

19. Arik Gilbert, Nebraska TE/WR

Previous school – Georgia

It is not yet determined if Arik Gilbert will be immediately eligible this season, but he could be a major weapon for the Huskers if cleared. Listed at 6-5 and 275 pounds, Gilbert posted 35 catches for 368 yards as a true freshman in 2020. After bouncing around — including last season at Georgia with just 2 catches — Gilbert has a chance to re-establish himself as a legit playmaker in Lincoln.

18. Josh Simmons, Ohio State OL

Previous school – San Diego State

Ohio State had some openings on the offensive line this season after tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones and center Luke Wypler left for the NFL. Simmons arrives in Columbus after 2 years — including 13 starts in 2022 — with the Aztecs. He provides a plug-and-play option for the o-line, a unit tasked with protecting a new starting QB this fall.

17. Josaiah Stewart, Michigan Edge

Previous school – Coastal Carolina

Edge has been a position of strength for the Wolverines in recent seasons with Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo and Mike Morris producing major results at the position. Morris’ departure opened the need, so enter Stewart from Coastal Carolina, a player with 26 TFL and 16.5 sacks over 2 seasons.

16. Ja’Had Carter, Ohio State safety

Former School – Syracuse

Jim Knowles’ defense relies on the usage of safeties. After bringing in veteran safety Tanner McCalister a season ago, the Buckeyes are doubling down on the idea by bringing in Carter. Carter produced 136 total tackles and 5 career interceptions with the Orange and should immediately help the defense.

15. LaDarius Henderson, Michigan OL

Previous school – Arizona State

The offensive line was hardly a position of need for Michigan, but Sherrone Moore’s unit still landed one of the best players in the portal. Henderson has extensive experience, with starts at guard and tackle during his Sun Devils career.

14. Erick All, Iowa TE

Previous school – Michigan

All had high expectations entering 2022, but an early-season injury took the wind out of that campaign. Still, he joins an Iowa program hungry for offense and offers a lot of proven chemistry with new Hawkeyes QB Cade McNamara (more on McNamara later). With over 20 games in his career and 54 catches, All could be in store for a big season in Iowa City.

13. AJ Barner, Michigan TE

Previous school – Indiana

Some might try to point to Barner’s disappointing 2022 numbers (28 catches for 199 yards), but it’s worth pointing out he played in a particularly anemic Indiana offense. In Michigan’s system, the 6-foot-6 tight end has a chance to shine, even with Colston Loveland coming on strong to finish last season.

12. Kaden Prather, Maryland WR

Previous school – West Virginia

Maryland was in need of some depth at wide receiver after Rakim Jarrett, Jacob Copeland and Dontay Demus all departed. To fill that need, the Terps added Prather, a 6-foot-4 target with 52 catches and 501 yards at West Virginia last season. As a bonus, Prather hails from Maryland as the state’s 13th overall player in the 2021 recruiting class.

11. CJ Williams, Wisconsin WR

Previous school – USC

Williams was a 4-star recruit for USC in the 2022 recruiting class and recorded 4 catches for 34 yards as a true freshman. With a move to Phil Longo’s offense, the 6-2, 193-pound Williams will get a chance to develop into a true threat for the Badgers.

10. Luke Altmyer, Illinois QB

Previous school – Ole Miss

A lot is still unknown about Altmyer, but his importance for Illinois cannot be overstated. If he has the ability to make enough throws to complement the run game, Bret Bielema could have Illinois playing for a B1G West title. Fortunately, the offensive line should be a strength in front of Altmyer.

9. Hudson Card, Purdue QB

Previous school – Texas

When it came to his time in the transfer portal, Card indicated the offense of Graham Harrell is the style he was looking for after his time at Texas. Card played well as a Longhorn with an 11-2 TD-to-INT ratio as a backup from 2021-22. He was blocked from playing time by Quinn Ewers and the 2023 arrival of Arch Manning, but now he gets a chance to shine in West Lafayette.

8. Ernest Hausmann, Michigan LB

Previous school – Nebraska

Hausmann burst onto the scene with 54 tackles as a true freshman for Nebraska. After a season of turmoil for the Huskers, Hausmann landed at Michigan via the transfer portal. He adds to what is arguably the most talented defense in the B1G.

7. Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State CB

Previous school –  Ole Miss

Ohio State’s defense was improved during the 2022 season but is looking to make another jump into the realm of the elite. Igbinosun should help that as a former 4-star prospect who had 37 tackles and 5 pass breakups as a true freshman in the SEC.

6. Drake Nugent, Michigan C

Previous school – Stanford

Last season, Olusegun Oluwatimi was the transfer center for Michigan who became the winner of the Outland and Rimington trophies. Nugent has the experience and ability to follow Oluwatimi, and Nugent’s arrival is a big one for the Wolverines. The offensive line as a whole should be the strength yet again, and Nugent should be an anchor for the unit.

5. Dante Cephas, Penn State WR

Previous school – Kent State

Receiver was arguably the biggest hole for Penn State this offseason with the team’s top 2 receivers (and its top TE) all off to the NFL. Cephas provides a veteran safety blanket for new starting QB Drew Allar and a serious downfield threat with a career average of 14.8 yards per catch and 12 TDs across 2021-22.

4. Nick Jackson, Iowa LB

Previous school – Virginia

It’s not often Iowa enters a season without an experienced player in the middle of the defense. After Jack Campbell left for the NFL, the Hawkeyes had a void, and they plugged it via the transfer portal with Jackson. With 3 straight seasons of 100+ tackles, Jackson is a plug-and-play defender who could be one of the B1G’s best in 2023.

3. Jeff Sims, Nebraska QB

Previous school – Georgia Tech

The good news for Nebraska is that Sims has looked like the eventual starter throughout the offseason. He was also one of the top QBs in the transfer portal with 41 career TDs at Georgia Tech. The concern for Sims is 23 career interceptions, but if he remains healthy and keeps turnovers low, he will give the Huskers a shot to remain competitive week in and week out this fall.

2. Cade McNamara, Iowa QB

Previous school – Michigan

McNamara’s numbers from 3 games a season ago were a step back from what he put together in 2021. Was it pressure from trying to fend off JJ McCarthy or simply early-season jitters? Either way, McNamara is a step up for the QB position at Iowa. If he’s able to come close to his 2021 numbers (64% completion rate, 16 total touchdowns), the Hawkeyes will be a tough out all season long.

1. Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin QB

Previous school – SMU

Luke Fickell steps into his first season at Wisconsin with high expectations, and the addition of Mordecai is a large reason why. Combine Mordecai (over 7,000 yards passing with 72 TDs the past 2 seasons) with OC Phil Longo and returning RB Braelon Allen, and it’s easy to see why the Badgers were the preseason pick in the B1G West. If Mordecai provides even a portion of what he produced at SMU, Fickell should enjoy a great debut season in Madison.