College football’s more important transfers for the 2019 season

College football players with new addresses should make a big splash this fall.

Oklahoma grad transfer Jalen Hurts, brings leadership and big game experience with him from Alabama. He is already a 2019 Heisman candidate. Hurts threw for 48 touchdowns while completing 63% of his throws for the Tide. Kyler Murray, who preceded him at Oklahoma, completed 67% of his throws with 50 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as a one-year wonder who vaulted to the 2019 top overall NFL pick. Baker Mayfield completed 68.5% of his tosses as a Sooners star QB with 131 touchdowns and 30 interceptions before he was the previous year’s first pick in the draft. Hurts will have every chance to follow in their footsteps but the expectations are clearly very high in Norman.

Every program wanted Justin Fields (6-3, 225) before he headed to Georgia. His controversial transfer to Ohio State should work out for both sides. He appears to be an ideal fit with the Buckeyes to replace first round draft pick Dwayne Haskins.

Kelly Bryant (6-4, 220) was very solid at Clemson before he was overtaken by freshman sensation Trevor Lawrence in 2018. An experienced starter behind center, Bryant has progressed well in the Missouri offense as a grad transfer.

Hunter Johnson (6-2, 210) has three years remaining to play at Northwestern after beginning his journey at Clemson where he was a 5 star signee in 2017 as a pure pocket passer and Mr. Indiana football in 2016. After deciding to leave Clemson where he backed up Bryant, he looked at Purdue and Indiana before choosing the Big Ten’s Wildcats. He is similar to former Northwestern starter Clayton Thorson.

Jalen McCleskey (5-10, 180) went from Oklahoma State to Tulane where his father, former NFL defensive back JJ McCleskey, works on the coaching staff. Jalen had 167 catches for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns during his days in Stillwater as a superb route runner with great burst off the line and reliable hands. His arrival has made a big difference in a run-heavy Green Wave offense looking for more balance.

Brandon Wimbush (6-2, 222) went from a starter to backup at Notre Dame to a new start at UCF. With the Irish he had 2,589 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions his last two seasons in South Bend but lost out atop the depth chart to the a more efficient passer in Ian Book. Wimbush is now battling sophomore Darriel Mack for the starter’s gig in Orlando.

Jacob Eason (6-6, 227), like the aforementioned Fields, was a 5 star signee by Georgia. He has sought greener pastures at the University of Washington, where the quarterback job is open for him with the graduation of Jake Browning. The Huskies staff expects more than the 26.4 points per game the offense in Seattle produced last season when they install Eason at the helm.

Nebraska defensive tackle Darrion Daniels (6-3, 310) made 64 tackles with two sacks at Oklahoma State prior to his grad transfer. He was the talk of the Cornhuskers spring drills. Head coach Scott Frost called Daniels “a leader on the field” who “brought a spark to (the) defense.”

Strong safety Bubba Bolden (6-3, 201) was a Parade All American signee at USC in 2017 but after two seasons, he decided to take his act to Miami after off campus issues. With new Hurricane head coach Manny Diaz in charge, Bolden hopes to make the most of it with three years of eligibility left. He’s a physical tackler.

The ‘Canes lost both starting safeties, Jaquan Jackson and Sheldrick Redwine, to the NFL.