Defensive Transfers That Could Have the Biggest Impact in 2022

There has never been as much movement of players (and coaches) in college football as what we've seen following the 2021 season.

The transfer portal is like a vortex, sucking in anything that comes near it.

It doesn't matter if you're a starter, a team cornerstone or a talented player sitting behind somebody just a bit better. Players are utilizing the portal and taking advantage of the one-time transfer without penalty. It's become a free-for-all, and in many cases, the richest teams are getting richer.

Still, with free rein across college football for coaches, why shouldn't it be the case for players? So many guys will have new homes in 2022 that you'll need a Rolodex to keep up.

Most of the high-profile moves are on offense, led by elite quarterbacks like Caleb Williams, Quinn Ewers and Jaxson Dart. But the defensive side has potential stars too.

The following transfers could not only turn into massive contributors for their new coaches but also flash onto the national radar as high-impact players.

For those who've played at a lower level, the transfer portal is the perfect opportunity to prove they belonged in the highest tier of the sport all along.

Three-time All-MAC linebacker Troy Brown is one of those players. The Central Michigan standout has been a tackling machine for the Chippewas and decided he wanted to go where the spotlight was brighter and to see if his skill set translated to the next level, according to 247Sports' Brian Dohn.

That search took him to Ole Miss, where Lane Kiffin can use the help on defense. With former coordinator D.J. Durkin off to Texas A&M, Kiffin's brother, Chris, takes over on that side of the ball as co-coordinator alongside Chris Partridge, and the Rebels have outfitted the roster nicely for the new regime.

The headlines will belong to Kiffin's huge haul on the other side of the ball, getting quarterback Jaxson Dart, running back Zach Evans and tight end Michael Trigg, but Brown can provide that type of impact on the other side.

Brown was a big-time player in 2021 for the Chippewas, finishing with 66 total tackles and forcing and recovering one fumble. He has 215 total career tackles with 158 of them solo. The way Chance Campbell came to Oxford last year and led a defensive resurgence, Brown hopes to do the same.

That would be a big deal for a team that will always score points under Kiffin.

While many prospects and players covet playing in the SEC, a few are looking for a way out, whether they found out they couldn't fit in or wanted a change of scenery.

Mohamoud Diabate falls into the latter category.

The linebacker was a playmaker for the Gators and was expected to be a big part of the defense again in 2022. When Florida fired Dan Mullen, Diabate decided to leave, and he can fill a huge need for the Utes by bringing a lot of speed and experience to the table.

After transferring out west, he's poised to light up the Pac-12.

With Devin Lloyd off to the NFL, the Utes need players on the second level of the defense who can impact games, and Diabate is a prime candidate.

The 6'3", 227-pound defender has a couple of seasons of eligibility remaining and proved to be a sideline-to-sideline player for the Gators. He was the team's second-leading tackler a season ago. Now, he will play for Kyle Whittingham and the Pac-12 champions.

A funny aside about Diabate's transfer is he will get to see his old buddies Sept. 3 when the Utes travel across the country to play new coach Billy Napier's Gators in the Swamp.

With the way Dan Lanning has helped churn out elite defenders the past few seasons at Georgia, it isn't a surprise to see players flock to become Ducks now that the energetic, young coach has his own program at Oregon.

Lanning will land elite talent, and a good example is former Colorado defensive back Christian Gonzalez, who left Boulder to play for the conference rival Ducks.

Though Lanning landed former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix from the portal too, Gonzalez may be just as big of a pickup for a defense that has a lot of young talent but needs shutdown guys on the back end. Gonzalez followed his position coach at CU, Demetrice Martin, to Eugene.

Gonzalez isn't the only starter the Ducks landed from the portal, but he may be the best defender. The 6'2", 200-pound defensive back was a safety coming out of high school, but he proved quick and rangy enough to play cornerback for the Buffs.

No matter where he lines up for Oregon, he can make an impact. There is a lot to love about a defensive back who has shown he not only is strong in coverage but also is a sure tackler. Last year, he finished with 53 tackles, and 42 of those were solo.

He added 5.5 tackles for loss and had 10 pass breakups in two seasons. Whether he comes in on a DB blitz or goes out in coverage, Gonzalez can be a playmaker.

Former Maryland linebacker Branden Jennings hasn't proved much yet but has a bright future ahead of him.

He was one of Mike Locksley's three defensive cornerstones of a quality 2021 class alongside Terrence Lewis and Demeioun Robinson, and two of those (Lewis and Jennings) are already gone. Jennings' new home is in the "Little Apple," as he's heading to Manhattan, Kansas, to play for the Kansas State Wildcats.

While that may seem like an odd destination, Jennings could be an instant-impact player for a team that needs game-changers on defense.

In limited playing time for the Terrapins a season ago, Jennings had 23 tackles and one forced fumble. The 6'3", 235-pound player will have three seasons of eligibility remaining, and he played in seven games in College Park.

When Locksley convinced Jennings to eschew the Sunshine State's "Big Three" and the SEC to head to the Big Ten, it was a big deal, but the linebacker is on the move a short time later. He probably would have made an even bigger impact a year ago but injured his leg against Kent State in September, limiting him the rest of the season.

The Wildcats have hit the portal hard as Chris Klieman looks to take the Wildcats up a notch and contend for the Big 12 title.

One of the most perfect fits and one of the best players to change homes this offseason is former Northwestern All-American defensive back Brandon Joseph.

The redshirt junior safety is heading to South Bend to play for coach Marcus Freeman, where he seems like a perfect replacement for Kyle Hamilton, who will make an NFL team very happy.

Joseph is a star in the making who likely wasn't happy with finishing 3-9 a season ago. While he probably didn't have any issue playing for the Wildcats and noted players coach Pat Fitzgerald, the Fighting Irish offer the opportunity to play big-time football and compete for championships.

Joseph is from College Station, Texas, and had an offer to play for the Aggies but chose Notre Dame over programs including A&M and Ohio State. He could have gone virtually anywhere in the nation.

"I believe they can take my game to the next place I envision it can be," Joseph told SI.com's Bryan Driskell. "I am going to be surrounded by dogs on the defense. They can help me excel my game and take it where I want it to be. To join a team like this, being a Fighting Irish is a perfect fit."

As a redshirt freshman in 2019, Joseph finished with 52 tackles and intercepted six passes in earning All-American honors. He has the chance to be that kind of player again learning under Freeman, who has helped develop elite defensive backs like Ahmad Gardner and Coby Bryant.

This is the perfect fit.

The way Ohio State has developed defensive backs throughout the past decade-plus, you'd think getting the opportunity to play for the Buckeyes would be a golden opportunity.

But as bad as they were on the back end a year ago, it's the Buckeyes who pursued elite defensive backs to fill gaps this offseason. On top of some recruiting wins, perhaps the biggest get of the cycle was Oklahoma State's Tanner McCalister.

The cornerback was a big part of the Cowboys' Big 12-leading defense and one of the best units in the country. He played under coordinator Jim Knowles, who was plucked from Mike Gundy to join coach Ryan Day's staff in Columbus this offseason.

McCalister followed him, and he could wind up the perfect fit for a team that needs impact players. He was a two-year starter and has one season of eligibility remaining.

The 5'11", 195-pound veteran will play opposite Josh Procter and, hopefully for the Buckeyes, give them a formidable duo again. He started 23 games during the past two seasons for Oklahoma State, registering 78 tackles, 10 pass breakups, three tackles for loss and an interception.

Those may not seem like outstanding numbers, but if McCalister gets his forced turnovers up, he could do it all. He's also versatile enough to play nickel or corner, and he should help Day and Knowles with a stellar and steadying force while the Buckeyes bring along the new guys.

Players transfer for various reasons, even when they are happy at their schools. For former Tulsa defensive lineman Jaxon Player, the reason was likely twofold.

Not only did he probably want to try his hand with a Power Five program after starring for the Golden Hurricane, but his decision to play for the Baylor Bears also offers him a chance to return home.

Player is a native of Waco, Texas. The Bears are playing a great brand of football and won the Big 12 in coach Dave Aranda's second year, so the opportunity to perform on a bigger stage at home and compete for championships had to be awesome.

It so happens the senior-laden Bears can use him too as they look to reload.

Player played in 38 games at Tulsa and started 29 of them. He finished his career there with 138 tackles, 31 for loss and eight sacks. The defensive tackle is a plug-and-play guy for Aranda.

The 6'0", 290-pounder finished his fourth season at Tulsa in 2021 with 15 tackles for loss (good for second in the AAC) and five sacks.

While Player doesn't have top-of-the-draft measurements, if he comes in and dominates at Baylor the way he did for coach Philip Montgomery, he will see his NFL stock improve.

The highest-rated defender in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings and the only one to have 5-star status is former LSU defensive back Eli Ricks.

He'll continue his college career for rival Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

It's been a wild journey for the elite defender. The California native finished his high school career at Florida's IMG Academy before heading to LSU and then transferring to play for defensive backs guru Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

No matter where he's been, Ricks has flashed. Though he was inconsistent in Baton Rouge as a freshman, he was an immediate starter and showed his immense potential. In 2020, he had four interceptions and 20 tackles in a COVID-shortened season, and while he had some cringe-worthy moments, he showed he had super ability.

A shoulder injury limited him to six games a season ago under Ed Orgeron, but with the COVID season, the 6'2", 195-pound defender has three years of eligibility remaining. He's the type of back Saban can turn into an early first-round pick.

Ricks has that kind of skill set, and he previously teamed with uber-talented Derek Stingley Jr. as the starting cornerbacks for the Bayou Bengals. Things didn't pan out there as he'd likely hoped, but there is still a lot to love about Ricks' upside. He was probably the most talented defender in the portal.

The rich get richer in Title Town.

The portal giveth, and it taketh away.

Not often do high-impact players leave Alabama, but it does happen. The Crimson Tide saw several guys leave this offseason who could become vital stars for other teams, like Marcus Banks, Camar Wheaton and a certain linebacker who's heading to Arkansas.

That would be Drew Sanders, who got some important snaps for the national runner-up as a sophomore in 2021 and looked to have a bright future in Tuscaloosa.

The native of Denton, Texas, was the No. 22 overall player and a 5-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class and was committed to Oklahoma before flipping to Alabama. The 6'5", 244-pound second-level defender definitely looks the part, and he had some great opportunities for the Tide in his first real playing time.

In 2021, he finished the year with 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, four quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups. He played a lot in the early season before suffering an injury against Ole Miss that set him back.

He is heading to Fayetteville rather than play for the Sooners or the home-state Longhorns, who tried to get him the second time around. Sanders is a huge win on the recruiting trail for coach Sam Pittman and defensive coordinator Barry Odom and has three years to play for the Hogs.

He may become one of the best defenders in the SEC West with a clearer path to playing time, and he'll get to face Saban and the Tide every year.

Jay Shaw enjoyed a terrific career at UCLA, a bedrock for the Bruins during a tumultuous time while coach Chip Kelly built his program in Westwood.

The end of it was rockier than expected, though, and that's one of the downsides of the portal.

Shaw announced he was returning to Los Angeles for a sixth season of eligibility, giving Kelly a huge "win" with the return of a veteran on a team that looks like it can do big things in the Pac-12 in 2022. He seemed all set to anchor the back end of the defense, but then he changed his mind.

Rather than return, he is transferring to Wisconsin to play his final season for the Badgers. A big blow for the Bruins is a major pickup for coach Paul Chryst and the Badgers.

Defensive coordinator Jerry Azzinaro's resignation probably didn't help matters at UCLA. Now Shaw gets to play for a defense that is normally very strong and among the best not only in the Big Ten but in the nation as well.

Shaw played in all 43 games during his time at UCLA, including starting much of the last three seasons. He registered 87 tackles and five interceptions with the Bruins, and the 5'11", 190-pound cornerback gives the Badgers a lot of experience on the back end.

With graduate transfer Justin Clark from Toledo coming in as well, the Badgers are restocking the pantry in a pass defense that finished fourth nationally a year ago. They look poised to do big things again in '22.

Maybe the most intriguing prospect in the transfer portal was edge-rusher Jared Verse, who decided to continue his promising college career for longtime defensive line coach Odell Haggins at Florida State.

The Albany defender was the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021. When he decided he was good enough to play major college football, plenty of programs agreed. He chose the Seminoles over Tennessee and defensive line coach Rodney Garner, and the 'Noles potentially got a good one.

The 6'4", 250-pound pass-rusher is a big guy and super fast coming off the edge. He has the ability to get after quarterbacks and make things tough on opposing offenses. The best thing is he has three seasons of eligibility remaining in Tallahassee.

Verse finished his 2021 season for the Great Danes with 52 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks at the FCS level. He told SI.com's John Garcia Jr. that Seminoles defenders Jermaine Johnson II and Keir Thomas did a good job of helping to recruit him.

Despite Florida State's on-field struggles, he can make a big difference right away.

"Obviously, I am a different player than every other player they have had," Verse told Garcia. "Not because I am special or anything, but just because every player is a bit different. The importance of [Haggins] being able to have all of these guys to the NFL and see me and help because I am different and need to develop is very important."

No program considered elite needed to revamp its roster the way the LSU Tigers needed to, especially after playing their bowl game with fewer than 60 scholarship players.

Few coaches did better than new head coach Brian Kelly at mastering the portal.

The Tigers have the third-ranked portal class, according to 247Sports, and their group of 13 transfers looks pretty awesome. Kelly landed seven defenders who played elsewhere a season ago.

Most of those guys should make an impact, but perhaps the one with the most upside is former Missouri defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo. As a freshman in 2021, Wingo starred for the Tigers as an undersized, 6'1", 275-pound defensive lineman. At times, he was unblockable.

Wingo finished the season with 27 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. Despite coming from St. Louis and growing up wanting to play for Mizzou, he decided he wanted a change of scenery after one year.

Why did Wingo leave a program that recruited so well (especially locally) under second-year coach Eli Drinkwitz despite a struggle-filled 2021 season?

"Some more stability, I'd say," Wingo told KSDK's Ahmad Hicks. "And a culture that's going to be demanding of every player and is going to demand greatness from everybody."

With three seasons of eligibility remaining, Wingo has a bright future and could team with Maason Smith to form a formidable duo up front for LSU.

All stats courtesy of CFBStats and Sports Reference. Player and recruiting class rankings courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.