Whether it's due to playing time, past indiscretions, fresh starts or simply to attend an institution with an art program, every year a number of players will transfer to a new school.
A good number will move to a FCS program, community college or a junior college. Yet others will transfer to another FBS program. And most times you are looking at player will be stepping down in competition. It is easy to forget about these players as they normally have to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules.
This season is not a year to forget about these players. I can't recall a year where so many players that have switched schools could make a difference,and a big one at that. I could see a dozen players making a big impact for their new teams in 2010. Below are my top five impact transfers along with rest that have changed addresses.
Top Five Impact Transfers
Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn from Florida - This was supposed to the be the spring that Newton and John Brantley faced off for the right to take over for Tim Tebow. Instead the former five-star recruit is looking for a fresh start with Auburn. Newton was brought in for one reason and it wasn't to sit the bench.
Sam McGuffie, RB, Rice from Michigan - We were high on McGuffie in 2008, but we were also worried that his running style getting him in trouble in the Big Ten. Unfortunately our concerns came to fruition as McGuffie fell victim to injuries and some suspect coaching decisions, namely putting McGuffie on kick off return his first week back from suffering a concussion. The past is behind him, and he will now get a chance to run away from Conference USA defenses. Much like Shawnbrey McNeal last year, Sam is going to an offense that is not known for producing top running backs, but that should change with McGuffie in the backfield.
Ben Axon, RB, Eastern Michigan from South Carolina - Eastern Michigan has been a dead zone for fantasy prospects, but not this year. Axon was a high-profile recruit for South Carolina in 2009 before getting busted for the ganja. Let's do the math...former four-star prospect + MAC defenses = fantasy production...at least in theory. Let's see how he does in spring and fall camp before we see a run on Ben Axon on draft day.
Vidal Hazelton, WR, Cincinnati from USC - Hazelton has lost a bit of his luster with Brian Kelly moving to Notre Dame and the emergence of Armon Binns, who is also a big receiver. But don't discount Hazelton just yet. Butch Jones' offense is not a big departure from Kelly's, and they have a capable quarterback in Zach Collaros.
Chris Harper, QB, Kansas St. from Oregon - A pure wildcard for 2010. Home sickness and his desire to play quarterback have landed him in Manhattan. Coach Bill Snyder loves dual-threat quarterbacks (Michael Bishop) and Harper fits the mold. He'll compete with Carson Coffman this spring, but Coffman doesn't have the running ability that Harper has.
Other 2010 Eligible FBS Transfers
Phil Bates, QB, Ohio from Iowa State
Clay Belton, QB, Miami (Oh) from Maryland
Wesley Carroll, QB, Florida International from Miss State
Taylor Cook, QB, Rice from Miami (Fl) - Will push Nick Fanuzzi
L.D. Crow, QB, Central Florida from Stanford
Dominique Davis, QB, East Carolina from Boston College - Will compete for the starting job
Willy Korn, QB, Marshall from Clemson - Will compete for the starting job
Peter Lalich, QB, Oregon State from Virginia - Will compete for the starting job
Corbin Louks, QB, Nevada from Utah
Robert Marve, QB, Purdue from Miami - Front runner for the starting job
J.J. McDermott, QB, SMU from New Mexico St
M.J. McPeek, QB, Colorado St. from Kansas St.
Chris Smelley, QB, Alabama from South Carolina - Transferred to play baseball, but may play football as well
Cannon Smith, QB, Memphis from Miami (Fl) - Will push Tyler Bass
Steven Threet, QB, Arizona State from Michigan - Will compete for the starting job
Giovanni Vizza, QB, Texas A&M from North Texas
Spencer Whipple, QB, Miami from UMass
Cameron Bell, RB, Northern Illinois from Iowa St.
Raymond Carter, RB, Colorado St from UCLA - Will compete for the starting job
Lennon Creer, RB, Louisiana Tech from Tennessee - Will compete for the starting job
Aundre Dean, RB, TCU from UCLA - A former top recruit, but TCU has two good young back in waiting and Dean will get a look at safety
Jeremy Francis, RB, Central Florida from Oregon State - Could be a thorn in the side of Brynn Harvey owners
Jeremiah Harden, RB, Florida International
Andrew Devlin, TE, Pittsburgh from Virginia
Joseph Fauria, TE, UCLA from Notre Dame
Jamal Mosley, TE, Tennessee from Oklahoma St
Ryan Wallace, TE, Kentucky from Colorado
Will Yeatman, TE, Maryland from Notre Dame - Transferred to play LaCrosse, but could play football as well
Toney Clemons, WR, Colorado from Michigan
Ryan Ellis, WR, Southern Miss. from Arizona
Tray Herndon, WR, Vanderbilt from Minnesota
Jermaine McKenzie, WR, Memphis from Miami
Tim Molton, WR, Louisiana Tech from LSU
Ahmad Paige, WR, Louisiana Tech from Tennessee - Will compete for a starting role
Aaron Pflugrad, WR, Arizona State from Oregon - Will compete for a starting role
Josh Smith, WR, UCLA from Colorado - Will compete for a starting role
Brodrick Smith, WR, Kansas St. from Minnesota
Ralph Spry, WR, Auburn from Minnesota
Tyler Stradford, WR, North Texas from Oklahoma - Will compete for a starting role
LaVorick Williams, WR, UTEP from New Mexico St - Will compete for a starting role
Other non-FBS 2009 Transfers
Matt Ballenger, QB, TBD from Colorado
K.J. Black, QB, Prarie Veiw A&M from Western Kentucky
B.J. Coleman, QB, Chattanooga from Tennessee
Blaine Dalton, QB, TBD from Missouri
Pat Devlin, QB, Delware from Penn St.
Nathan Dick, QB, Central Arkansas from Arkansas
Jack Elway, QB, no longer playing football from Arizona St
Stefan Loucks, QB, North Alabma from Texas Tech
Chris Paul-Etienne, QB, URI from Rutgers
Justin Roper, QB, Montana from Oregon
Justin Siller, QB, TBD from Purdue
Matt Simms, QB, El Camino CC from Tennessee
Chris Stutzriem, QB, Indiana State from Wyoming
Patrick Witt, QB, Yale from Nebraska
Tyler Wolfe, QB, TBD from Louisville
Emmanuel Yeager, QB, Bowie State from New Mexico
Quentin Castille, RB, Northwestern State from TBD
Tony Jackson, RB, TBD from Duke
Terence Kerns, RB, Lackawann JC from West Virginia
Hasan Lipscomb, RB, Blinn JC from Minnesota
Jayme Murphy, RB, TBD from Iowa
Brandon Ross, RB, TBD from Memphis
Marcus Sims, RB, North Alabma from Florida State
Tracy Slocum, RB, TBD from California
David Duran, TE, Coastal Carolina from Michigan State
Chaz Cervino, WR, Hofstra from Syracuse
Damian Davis, WR, TBD from Oklahoma St
Sam Dibrell, WR, TBD from North Texas
Ricky Dixon, WR, Texas Southern from LSU
Willie Downs, WR, Pearl River Community College from Florida State
Chris Forcier, WR, Furman from UCLA
Vincent Hill, WR, TBD from Minnesota
Tyler Maples, WR, TBD from Tennessee
Chris Slaughter, WR, Copiah-Lincoln CC from Auburn
Crosby Tuck, WR, no longer playing football from Arkansas
Montre Webber, WR, TBD from Texas
2011 Eligible Transfers (FCS transfers eligible in 2010)
Mike Bowlin, PK, Oregon - Left team
Taylor Bean, QB, Washington - Left team
Alex Cate, QB, Oklahoma St - Transferring
Aaron Corp, QB, USC - Transferring
Ronnie Fouch, QB, Washington - Transferring
Zach Maynard, QB, Buffalo - Transferring to California
Reid McCollum, QB, South Carolina - Transferring
Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, SMU - Transferring
Mike Paulus, QB, North Carolina - Transferring to William & Mary
Tyrik Rollison, QB, Auburn - Transferring
Jaybo Shaw, QB, Georgia Tech - Transferring to Georgia Southern
Justin Tuggle, QB, Boston College - Transferring
Andre Anderson, RB, Michigan St - Left team
Ryan Bass, RB, Arizona St - Transferring to Idaho
Jeff Brinson, RB, Iowa - Transferring
Jourdan Brooks, RB, Rutgers - Transferring
Marquell Colston, RB, New Mexico St - Dismissed from team
Mike Ford, RB, South Florida - Dismissed from team
Willie Griffin, RB, Washington - Transferring
Josh Haden, RB, Boston College - Transferring
Ashton Leggett, RB, Michigan St - Transferring
Caulton Ray, RB, Michigan St - Left team
Darrell Scott, RB, Colorado - Left team
Curtis Shaw, RB, Washington - Transferring
Erik Smith, RB, Wisconsin - Transferring
Demetrius Sumler, RB, Colorado - Transferring
Lamaar Thomas, RB, Ohio State - Transferring New Mexico
Kevin Whaley, RB, Minnesota - Transferring
Glenn Winston, RB, Michigan St - Dismissed from team
Jamal Womble, RB, North Carolina - Transfering
Hubie Graham, TE, Illinois - Transferring to Pittsburgh
Donald Bowens, WR, NC State - Transferring to USF
Dan Buckner, WR, Texas - Transferring to Arizona
Matt Clements, WR, South Carolina - Transferring
Brandon Collins, WR, Texas - Dismissed from team
A.J. Dugat, WR, Houston - Dismissed from team
Garrett Embry, WR, Oregon - Transferring
Andrew Harris, WR, Ole Miss - Left team
Rashad Hawk, WR, Texas Tech - Left team
Tim Hawthorne, WR, Auburn - Left team
Jamere Holland, WR, Oregon - Dismissed from team
Adrian Linwood, WR, Lousiana Tech - Transfering
Rashad Mason, WR, North Carolina - Transferring
Jameel Owens, WR, Tulsa - Transferring to Tulsa
Nu'Keese Richardson, WR, Tennessee - Dismissed from team
Cordale Scott, WR, Illinois - Transferring to Toledo
Brent Vinson, WR, Tennessee - Dismissed from team