Transfer Numbers High Across Big 12 Football

If it seems like there have been more players entering the transfer portal than usual this offseason, that is because there have been. West Virginia football alone has had 18 players enter the portal since the start of the 2020 season.

With the NCAA giving all players a free year of eligibility for the 2020 season, that has created a log jam of players for a lot of teams. In either situation of an older player not leaving when originally expected or a younger player who will be able to play for longer, roster management this offseason is putting a lot of coaches, and players into a bind.

From the players’ perspective, they now have a way to get out of this roster crunch, with the NCAA expected to pass a new one-time transfer eligibility rule that would let student-athletes play for a new team without having to sit out a year first. Being able to transfer and play right away is especially appealing for backup players, who think they can go to another team and start right away.

A number of players that have transferred from WVU were not buried way down the depth chart. Instead, several were primary backups. Players Austin Kendall, Junior Uzebu, Quay Mays, Ali Jennings, Alec Sinkfield, Briason Mays and Noah Guzman were all contributing backups for WVU this season.

Players to transfer out of WVU since the start of the 2020 season, in order of transfer:

• Keion Wakefield – WR
• Tavion Mayo – CB
• Zack Dobson – WR
• Junior Uzebu – OL
• Tacorey Turner – CB
• Trent Jackson – QB
• Jackson Knipper FB/TE
• Quay Mays – DL
• Austin Kendall – QB
• Charlie Benton – LB
• Bryce Brand – DE
• Ali Jennings – WR
• Lorenzo Dorr – RB
• Alec Sinkfield – RB
• Briason Mays – OL
• Blaine Scott – OL
• Noah Guzman – S
• Dreshun Miller – CB

As staggering a number as WVU’s 18 transfer may seem, the Mountaineers are not alone in this trend. Per the 247Sports database, seven of the 10 Big 12 teams have had double-digit players leave the program. The three lowest are Baylor, Iowa State and Oklahoma State, each with seven. The highest is Kansas with 21. Even a team like Oklahoma, with an abundance of recent success and an established coach in Lincoln Riley, has had 15 players enter the portal.

Now, the transfer portal is of course a two-way street and WVU can bring in virtually any player in the portal that they would want. WVU coach Neal Brown has already brought in West Virginia native Doug Nestor from Virginia Tech to sure up the offensive line.