The Big Ten has seen its fair share of successful transfer stories over the years. Who will be the success this season?
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Last year, Ryan Ramczyk was an All-Conference selection and a first round NFL Draft pick after transferring to Wisconsin from Division 3 UW Stevens Point. In 2015 Jordan Howard gave Indiana more than 1,200 rushing yards after transferring from UAB, and then he became a breakout rookie in the NFL. And we all know how successful Russell Wilson was for the Badgers in his lone season at Wisconsin after transferring from NC State.
So who will step up as a transfer this season? Here's a few players who are good bets:
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QB Tanner Lee (Jr.) — Nebraska
Transferred from: Tulane
Already named the starter at Nebraska for the upcoming season, Tanner Lee spent 2013-2015 at Tulane before sitting out last year per transfer rules. After redshirting in 2013, Lee passed for 3,601 yards, 23 touchdowns and 21 interceptions over his two seasons as the starter for the Green Wave.
The Cornhuskers will want him to cut down on those interceptions, but he will give Nebraska an experienced arm to turn to after the graduation of Tommy Armstrong Jr.
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RB Chris James (Jr.) — Wisconsin
Transferred from: Pitt
Chris James followed Badgers head coach Paul Chryst from the Panthers to the Badgers and will likely be a part of a one-two punch at running back alongside Bradrick Shaw in 2017.
James rushed for 437 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman backup for Pittsburgh under Chryst, and followed it up with 253 yards on 56 carries his sophomore year as the new coaching staff turned elsewhere for running back production.
He sat out last season and is expected to be a significant contributor this fall.
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QB Kyle Bolin (Sr.) – Rutgers
Transferred from: Louisville
Bolin heads to Rutgers as a graduate transfer as it's pretty clear he won't see much playing time ahead of Lamar Jackson this season. Bolin started five games for the Cardinals in 2015 before Jackson took over the job, which he's held since.
At Louisville, Bolin threw for 2,104 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions over three seasons. He'll have the chance to start for Rutgers this season, but will need to win the job from Giovanni Rescigno, who started several games last season.
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WR Jalen Brown (Jr.) — Northwestern
Transferred from: Oregon
Brown has already earned his degree and transfers to Northwestern with two years of eligibility remaining after hauling in 17 receptions for 318 yards and three touchdowns in his sophomore year at Oregon.
The Wildcats have an experienced quarterback — Clayton Thorson — at the helm of the offense and adding the talented and athletic Brown is a big-time transfer for Northwestern. He should immediately step in to the wide receiver roatation.
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DB Kendall Sheffield (So.) — Ohio State
Transferred from: Alabama (and Blinn College)
Alabama does such a good job identifying talent that it should come as no surprise big things are expected from Sheffield, who has yet to play an FBS snap. He redshirted for the Crimson Tide in 2015 before transferring to Blinn College in 2016 (the same Blinn College that took in Cam Newton and Dede Westbrook).
Now he's at Ohio State, and will be an important piece for the Buckeyes after the 2017 NFL Draft saw Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley all drafted out of the defensive backfield.
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CB Nick Nelson (Jr.) — Wisconsin
Transferred from: Hawaii
Already projected to be a starter for the Badgers this fall, Nelson will be tasked with filling the void left behind by four-year starter Sojourn Shelton, who graduated this spring.
Nelson started eight games as a freshman at Hawaii and 13 as a sophomore before transferring. He totaled 87 tackles (67 solo), defended 20 passes and forced a fumble in his two years with the Rainbow Warriors.
He's also not a stranger to Camp Randall — Nelson and the Rainbow Warriors played the Badgers in Madison in 2015, and he showed out with 8 tackles and a defended pass in Hawaii's 28-3 loss.
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RB Gus Edwards (Sr.) — Rutgers
Transferred from: Miami
Edwards heads to Rutgers as a graduate transfer after totaling 977 yards and 12 touchdowns in 35 career games for the Hurricanes. A fullback to start his collegiate career, Edwards — who is 6-foot-1, 230 pounds — is a bruising runner who brings physicality to his game.
Rutgers lost second-leading rusher Justin Goodwin to graduation, but returns Robert Martin, who led the team with 625 yards and two scores last year. With Josh Hicks (157 yards last year) back as well, Edwards figures to join the two as the main backs for the Scarlet Knights this fall.
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QB Caleb Henderson (Jr.) — Maryland
Transferred from: North Carolina
While he's not yet earned the starting job, Maryland's Caleb Henderson was once the No. 10 high school quarterback prospect in the country, the No. 5 high school player in Virginia, and a North Carolina Tar Heel.
After a redshirt season and some late cleanup action for the Tar Heels in 2014 and 2015, Henderson transferred to Maryland and sat out a year. Now he'll have the chance to earn the starting job as the Terrapins look to replace the graduated Perry Hills.
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Other Notable Transfers
Purdue DB Josh Okonye, WR Corey Holmes, LB T.J. McCollum
Wisconsin OLB Andrew Van Ginkel (JUCO)
