One transfer ready to make an immediate impact at each MAC school

Syndication: The Tennessean — George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Which transfer portal additions can become instant stars in the MAC this season?

It seems like each college football offseason is the most eventful one ever, and that’s due to the increasing utilization of the transfer portal with each passing year.

The Mid-American Conference hasn’t exactly been a benefactor of the portal’s emergence, as dozens of notable stars from last season pursued opportunities outside of the MAC, including nine reigning First Team All-MAC selections:

Dequan Finn (Toledo to Baylor)
Peny Boone (Toledo to UCF)
Vinny Sciury (Toledo to Texas Tech)
Corey Stewart (Ball State to Purdue)
Caiden Woullard (Miami (OH) to Oklahoma)
Keye Thompson (Ohio to Pitt)
Jalen Huskey (Bowling Green to Maryland)
Devin Grant (Buffalo to Syracuse)
Graham Nicholson (Miami (OH) to Alabama)

But while the transfer portal takes, the transfer portal also gives. The portal produced several of the MAC’s greatest stars in 2023, ranging from Akron defensive end CJ Nunnally to Western Michigan wide receiver Kenneth Womack. History suggests there will be portal additions who morph into immediate impact players in the MAC.

So who should we keep an eye on to make that sudden leap? Here is one transfer to watch for each team:

Akron Zips

Ben Finley, QB (California)

Akron craves stability at the quarterback position more than any school in the country. The Zips enjoyed a semblance of stability last season with DJ Irons until Irons suffered a season-ending ACL injury five games in. Due to that unfortunate circumstance, no Akron quarterback has started more than 10 games in a year since 2018. But perhaps the Zips found their year-long starter this offseason in the transfer portal. Ben Finley started a combined four games in 2022 and 2023 at NC State and California, and the bulk of his playing time transpired in significant contests. He led the Wolfpack to an upset over a ranked North Carolina squad in 2022 and then started the Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. Maryland. He also started against Auburn and Washington last fall in his lone campaign with the Golden Bears. With 246 career attempts, 1,484 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions, he’s the most experienced quarterback on Akron’s roster. After the departures of Irons and Jeff Undercuffler Jr. — Akron’s primary starters in 2023 — Finley will challenge incumbent backup Tahj Bullock for the No. 1 spot.

Ball State Cardinals

George Udo, CB/S (Cincinnati)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 23 Oklahoma at Cincinnati

Ball State is George Udo’s third collegiate destination. The defensive back spent four years at BYU (2019-22) before a brief stint at Cincinnati in 2023. Overall, Udo logged four starts, 45 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, and two pass breakups. The sixth-year senior arrives with a wealth of experience that he’s ready to add to a relatively unexperienced Ball State secondary. The Cardinals lost five of their top six tacklers from the defensive backfield this offseason, and they require new faces to step up and replace the likes of Jordan Riley-Scott and Red Potts, among others. Udo could emerge as an immediate starter and sustain the quality caliber of Ball State’s defense from 2023 — which held half of its opponents to 17 points or fewer.

Bowling Green Falcons

RJ Garcia II, WR (Kansas State)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 09 Troy at Kansas State

In 2023, three wide receivers on Bowling Green’s roster snagged at least 20 receptions. Odieu Hiliare corralled a team-high 45, Austin Osborne caught 29, and Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim landed 20. Not a single one of those receivers remains on the Falcons in 2024. Finn Hogan — who secured arguably the catch of the year in the win at Georgia Tech — is the team’s returning leader at wide receiver with 11 catches and 163 yards. Enter RJ Garcia II. Garcia was a steady contributor on a Kansas State offense which finished 10th nationally in points per game, collecting 14 receptions for 184 yards, and he kicked off the season with a 100-yard showing. The 6’0”, 175 pound Tampa native comes with No. 1 receiver potential in his new home and could be a favorite target of veteran quarterback Connor Bazelak.

Buffalo Bulls

Kobe Stewart, DE (Samford)

Only one Buffalo defensive end who registered a sack in 2023 returns to the roster, and that’s C.J. Bazile, who recorded 12 starts in 12 games. Bazile needs a partner-in-crime after the graduation of longtime defensive staple Max Michel, and the next man up likely hails from the transfer portal. Of the transfers Buffalo brought in to serve on the edge of the defensive line, Kobe Stewart is most poised to be a day one starter. Stewart only tallied 19 tackles during his stint in the FCS, but the Samford transfer impressed in spring ball. He logged five tackles and a tackle for loss in the spring game. With defensive tackles George Wolo and Daishon Folsom commanding substantial attention in the middle, Stewart (or any defensive end to line up opposite side of Bazile) should be in prime position to flourish.

Central Michigan Chippewas

Joe Labas, QB (Iowa)

NCAA Football: Music City Bowl-Iowa at Kentucky

Central Michigan retains a significant contingent of its starters from 2023, but it acquired one intriguing transfer, however, which could sneak into a starting role at the game’s most important position. The Chippewas’ 2023 starting quarterback Jase Bauer transferred to second-year FBS program Sam Houston this offseason, leaving a vacancy under center. Central Michigan returns Bert Emanuel Jr., a mobile guru who once rushed for 293 yards in a single game. Emanuel started three contests last year and one in 2022, but he might have to compete with incoming Iowa transfer Joe Labas for the quarterback spot. Labas’ playing time at Iowa was essentially limited to one game, albeit, a very significant one. He started the 2022 Music City Bowl where the Hawkeyes shut out Kentucky, 21-0, behind his 139 passing yards and one touchdown on a 14-of-24 showing. Regardless of who wins the quarterback battle, Emanuel should see plenty of action due to his mobility alone, but Labas could see the field quickly if his arm impresses in fall camp.

Eastern Michigan Eagles

Cole Snyder, QB (Buffalo)

Cole Snyder is already a familiar name in MAC circles. Snyder started all 25 games for Buffalo in 2022 and 2023, winning the Camellia Bowl for the Bulls in the former of the two seasons. Originating from Rutgers, Snyder is now at his third collegiate stop as a new member on Eastern Michigan’s roster. Similar to his Buffalo tenure, the quarterback is expected to be a day one starter, especially after the Eagles’ 2023 starter Austin Smith transferred to Austin Peay of the FCS. After a disappointing 2023 at Buffalo, Snyder is ready to revert to his 2022 self and prove he belongs in the conversation of the MAC’s best quarterbacks. In 2022, the now-sixth-year senior became one of three quarterbacks in Buffalo history to eclipse 3,000 yards, and he’ll hope to become the fifth Eastern Michigan quarterback with that same designation.

Kent State Golden Flashes

Dallas Branch, CB (San Diego State)

NCAA Football: San Diego State at Air Force

Kent State essentially started at ground zero last year, operating with a depth chart completely nuked by the transfer portal. As the only FBS team to finish 1-11, there were a myriad of weaknesses exhibited by the Golden Flashes which must be rectified in 2024. But the team exhibited one area of promise, and that was pass coverage. Kent State allowed just 215 passing yards per game on a 58.4 completion clip in 2023, spearheaded by cornerback Capone Blue. Blue registered 30 tackles and a team-high 11 pass breakups, but his transfer to Wake Forest left a void at one cornerback slot. A candidate to fill Blue’s vacancy is Dallas Branch. Branch thrived at San Diego State, earning All-Mountain West honorable mention in 2022 with 34 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three interceptions. He even won a Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week, earning national recognition for an all-around standout performance against UNLV that season — four tackles, one sack, one interception, and one fumble recovery in a 14-10 victory.

Miami (OH) RedHawks

Dylan Downing, RB (Purdue)

Miami continues to strike gold at the skill positions in the transfer portal, recently bringing in the likes of Mac Hippenhammer, Keyon Mozee, Gage Larvadain, and Rashad Amos. Amos was one of the bright spots of the 2023 RedHawks’ MAC championship run, rushing for 1,075 yards and averaging 109 yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game after a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Brett Gabbert. The former South Carolina transfer fled to Ole Miss after his one-year stint in Oxford, and now Dylan Downing comes in to keep the train rolling. Downing spent the past three seasons as a secondary or tertiary running back at Purdue, and now he can serve as Amos’ replacement in the backfield. The RedHawks are deep at running back, wielding experienced talents like Kenny Tracy, Keyon Mozee, and Kevin Davis. But there should be enough carries to go around for Downing to shine after 562 yards in his last two go-arounds with the Boilermakers.

Northern Illinois Huskies

Christian Fuhrman, ILB (Southeast Missouri State)

Northern Illinois’ defense is in search of an All-MAC caliber linebacker to grace the unit this season. The Huskies were devoid of all-conference selection at this position in 2023, but perhaps an established Southeast Missouri transfer could buck that trend. Christian Fuhrman’s entire college career has been an upward trajectory, moving from the community college level to the FCS and now to the FBS. Fuhrman started two years at Southeast Missouri and logged 65 tackles in both seasons. In addition to serving as a key run stopper, he’s demonstrated ability to play a role in the pass rush department as well. Come Week 1, he could be thrust into the starting lineup after the departure of 2023 inside linebacker DaRon Gilbert.

Ohio Bobcats

Blake Leake, OLB (Bucknell)

The 2023 Ohio defense was a force to be reckoned with. Sixth in scoring defense. Fourth in total defense — 8th against the run and 14th against the pass. Only one opponent broke more than 23 points on the Bobcats. Ohio’s defense didn’t exhibit a single weakness, but perhaps the greatest strength was the linebacking corps guided by First Team All-MAC selections Bryce Houston and Keye Thompson. Houston went pro after 127 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss, while Thompson transferred to Pitt after posting similar numbers. With the entire starting linebacking corps gutted this offseason, a new face needs to emerge. Blake Leake is the experienced replacement Ohio desires in the unit, serving as a captain on Bucknell’s defense at the FCS level last year. Leake’s résumé consists of 208 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups over 31 games. With a significant amount of 2023 production absent from the unit, the former FCS standout has legitimate potential to be the Bobcats’ brightest star on defense.

Toledo Rockets

Jakob James, G (Ohio State)

There are zero returning starters on Toledo’s offensive line. That is a tough pill to swallow for the MAC’s most consistent contender, which fielded one of college football’s most formidable units in 2023. The Toledo o-line ranked fourth in the country in fewest sacks allowed at 0.8, which is especially impressive given Dequan Finn’s scrambling tendencies at quarterback. The unit also paved the way for a 1,400-yard rusher in Jacquez Stuart, manufacturing the nation’s 16th strongest rushing attack. With no remnants of the main five, Jakob James is a candidate to step up and lead that group in 2024. The former Buckeye gained vast experience in Columbus from 2020 to 2023, suiting up 31 times as a staple on special teams. James’ offensive experience may be limited to 87 snaps, but his wealth of knowledge and technique accumulated over the past four years at Ohio State could land him a starting spot from day one.

Western Michigan Broncos

Bugs Mortimer, WR (ULM)

Remember earlier in the decade when Western Michigan’s offense was bolstered by 5’9” to 5’10” speedy receiving talents? D’Wayne Eskridge and Skyy Moore are the electric playmakers that come to mind, and the Broncos may have found a viable successor to those NFL Draft selections in Devaughn “Bugs” Mortimer. Mortimer spent the last two seasons at ULM, enjoying a breakout 2023 campaign with the Warhawks which saw 15 receptions for 291 yards — with his electrifying speed allowing enough separation for 19.4 yards per reception. Western Michigan’s passing offense needs a spark, and the explosive home run threat Mortimer provides is the perfect foil to short-yardage specialist Kenneth Womack — the only player on the roster to accrue 400 yards receiving last year.