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Isaiah Bond and Riley Leonard have new roles

Posted on by angelo
Isaiah Bond and Riley Leonard have new roles

As the transfer portal becomes more of a factor in college football, here’s a look at some of the top transfers entering the season:

WR Isaiah Bond

New School: Texas

Former school: Alabama

Alabama’s second-leading receiver joins Texas’ potent passing attack. The speedy Bond, who caught 48 passes for 688 yards and four touchdowns last year, could become a top target for quarterback Quinn Ewers, who lost top receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell to the pro ranks.

S Caleb Downs

New School: Ohio State

Former school: Alabama

Downs became the first freshman to lead Alabama in tackles, with 107 last fall, and added two interceptions and 3.5 tackles for loss. Downs was the top defensive player to enter the transfer portal last offseason and gives Ohio State a game-changing piece in its defensive backfield.

Isaiah Bond to Frank Dennis Fields on August 4, 2024 in Austin, Texas. University images via Getty Images
Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) recovers a fumble during a football camp drill at Woody Hayes Sports Complex. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK

QB Dillon Gabriel

New School: Oregon

Former school: Oklahoma

The veteran point guard had the best season of his college career last fall for Oklahoma (he threw for 3,660 yards, completed 69.3 percent of his passes and scored 42 total touchdowns) and Gabriel will now be surrounded by even more talent at Oregon. Bookmakers have him as the slight preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.

RB Quinshon Judkins

New School: Ohio State

Former school: Ole Miss

There won’t be a better running back duo nationally than Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. Judkins is coming off back-to-back seasons with 1,000-plus yards at Ole Miss, and Henderson has already established himself as one of the best all-around running backs with 32 rushing touchdowns and a 6.2 yards per carry average in three seasons.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws a pass during practice with the Oregon Ducks on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

QB Riley Leonard

New school: Notre Dame

Former school: Duke

A year ago, ankle injuries limited Leonard to seven games, but he’s healthy now and remains the same talented player who produced 31 total touchdowns, threw for 2,794 yards and ran for another 636 in 2022. Notre Dame’s playoff hopes likely rest on Leonard returning to the form of two years ago.

DL Walter Nolen

New School: Ole Miss

Former school: Texas A&M

The Rebels are considered a surprise championship team, in part because of their improvement up front on both sides of the ball. The 300-pound Nolen is a big part of that. He’s a disruptive force and was a first-team All-SEC selection before the season.

Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne, left, is sacked by then-Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen, right, and linebacker Chris Russell Jr., bottom, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in College Station, Texas. AP

BY Nic Scourton

New School: Texas A&M

Former school: Purdue

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound junior is a heavyweight to handle and will be a key part of the Aggies’ defense. As a sophomore, he had 10 sacks and 42 quarterback pressures for Purdue, leading the Big Ten, the kind of impact Texas A&M hopes to continue to have in College Station.

WR Evan Stewart

New School: Oregon

Former school: Texas A&M

Stewart gives the Ducks a dynamic receiving duo alongside returning star Tez Johnson. Despite some shaky quarterback play at A&M, Stewart caught 38 passes for 514 yards and four touchdowns in eight games last year. Now he’ll be playing with a Heisman Trophy contender.

OT Kadyn Proctor

New School: Alabama

Former school: Iowa

Technically, Proctor didn’t change teams, as he starred for Alabama last year, playing 13 games as a starter at left tackle and earning All-SEC freshman honors. It was an eventful offseason for the massive 6-foot-1, 350-pound sophomore. He transferred to his home state of Iowa in January — he originally committed to the Hawkeyes as a five-star high school recruit before transferring to Alabama — and then returned to Alabama a few months later.

Quarterback Cam Ward

New School: Miami

Former School: Washington State

Ward is part of an offensive overhaul via the transfer portal — coach Mario Cristobal also added running back Damien Martinez (Oregon State) and receiver Sam Brown (Houston) — that Miami hopes will lead to a bounce-back season. Ward brings 95 career touchdown passes with him to Coral Gables.