I’m not sure if the offseason is as intriguing as the fall is for the MAC. The league is arguably the most entertaining among the Group of Five because of its parity.
And while it may not live up to the regular season, MACtion is still in full swing throughout the spring and summer. This includes, of course, players transferring in and out. Some of those guys coming in should have a noticeable impact on their new teams.
Here are some of them:
RB Marquez Cooper, Kent State to Ball State
Nov. 18 is probably marked on Cooper’s calendar. That’ll be the day he faces his old squad. Transferring in-conference means Cooper shouldn’t have much trouble maintaining his production. The 2022 All-MAC First Team selection rushed for 1,331 yards and 13 scores last season. He remains one of the top players in the conference after three years:
S Demetrius Harris, Cornell to Buffalo
The graduate transfer’s best season in the Ivy League came in 2022 when he recorded 43 tackles, an interception, and four pass breakups to go with two forced fumbles. According to 247Sports, Buffalo had the top recruiting class in the league, and Harris was the top-rated recruit.
QB Hayden Wolff, ODU to WMU
It’s not a guarantee that Wolff will be the starter here, but it’s likely. In a group of quarterbacks battling for the top spot, Wolff has the most experience. He passed for 2,908 yards and 18 TDs last season for a Monarchs offense that ranked last in the Sun Belt at 19.5 PPG. He joins a WMU team that ranked last in the same category in the MAC.
LB Joe Andreessen, Bryant to Buffalo
Coming from the FCS, Andreessen was named First Team All-Conference in the Big South after setting the school record with 116 total tackles. He added 18.5 TFLs and four sacks. Andreessen should fill in nicely next to Shaun Dolac for the Bulls.
QB Connor Bazelak, Indiana to Bowling Green
A starter for two years at Missouri and one season at Indiana, Bazelak brings a solid amount of Power 5 experience to the Eagles offense. The senior started 10 games for the Hoosiers last season, passing for 2,312 yards and 13 TDs. He was voted the SEC Co-Freshman Of The Year in 2020.
WR Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, Alabama A&M to Bowling Green
Ibrahim will reunite with Odieu Hilaire on the Falcons, who played together at A&M. The duo complemented each other well and should continue to do so. Ibrahim is a former HERO Sports All-American and was tabbed First Team All-SWAC three times. He’s had two 1,000-yard seasons.
RB Ky Thomas, Kansas to Kent State
The Golden Flashes will need to replace Cooper’s production somehow. Thomas may not fill in those shoes completely, but he should provide a nice spark behind a veteran offensive line. His opportunities dipped for the Jayhawks last year, only rushing for 162 yards and two scores compared to 824 yards and six TDs in 2021.
S Walter Reynolds, Holy Cross to Ohio
Reynolds’ experience showed late in the season when he was making big plays in the postseason. He finished his final campaign as a Crusader with 64 total tackles, five picks, and nine pass breakups. The fifth-year transfer should fit in nicely with the Bobcats’ secondary.
RB Keshawn King, Virginia Tech to WMU
There wasn’t much to write home about for the Hokies’ rushing production in 2022, which ranked second to last in the AAC. King was the biggest piece in that, rushing for 443 yards and three scores. He also added 20 receptions for 137 yards. He’ll look to boost a WMU offense that also struggled rushing the ball last year.
RB Lorenzo Lingard, Florida to Akron
A five-star prospect out of high school, Lingard’s career has failed to pan out to this point due to injuries and struggling to make it to the top of the depth chart. After sitting behind SEC talent, Lingard has the potential to create a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield with Clyde Price III.
