These ten players are going to be difference-makers for their new teams next season:
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1. Tanner Mordecai (Quarterback): SMU to Wisconsin: The Badgers needed a starting quarterback, with Graham Mertz transferring to Florida. They get a solid, veteran quarterback, and Mordecai is an upgrade over Mertz. Mordecai has a 3.5 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio, while Mertz is about 1.5 to 1.
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2. Devin Leary (Quarterback): North Carolina State to Kentucky: Devin Leary to Kentucky is a great scheme fit. Leary moves from a run-based system that wants to play defense to a run-based system that wants to play defense. Leary was a first-round pick in the eyes of many scouts before his injury and gives the Wildcats a veteran winner to replace Will Levis.
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3. L.J. Johnson (Running Back): Texas A&M to SMU: Johnson gives the Mustangs another big-time prospect at running back. Alabama transfer Camar Wheaton came in last season and was solid. Johnson gives the Mustangs a high-end four-star with four years of eligibility. Head coach Rhett Lashlee now has a potentially dominant one-two punch at running back.
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4. Ray Davis (Running Back): Vanderbilt to Kentucky: The Wildcats get Vanderbilt’s leading rusher from last season. Davis is the type of running back head coach Mark Stoops and his staff love. He’s low to the ground, 5 – 9, with size at 215 pounds. Davis runs physically between the tackles and can cut back on inside zone runs. This signing might not be flashy, but neither are the Wildcats.
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5. Myles Hinton (Offensive Line): Stanford to Michigan: The Wolverines signed Olusegun Oluwatimi from the portal last season, and now they got another solid offensive lineman in Myles Hinton from Stanford. Michigan loses Oluwatimi and Ryan Hayes, and Hinton can come in and play either position.
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6. Junior Angilau (Offensive Line): Texas to Oregon: Angilau was arguably the best offensive lineman for the Longhorns at the beginning of the season, but he was lost for the year during summer practice. Angilau gives the Ducks another solid, athletic offensive lineman.
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7. Jaheim Bell (Tight End): South Carolina to Florida State: The Seminoles had great fortune from the portal this season. Johnny Wilson and Mycah Pittman were key contributors in the passing game. Jaheim Bell gives the Seminoles an athletic specimen at tight end. Mike Norvell can use Bell like Deebo Samuel, another former Gamecock.
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8. Dante Cephas (Wide Receiver): Kent State to Penn State: The Kent State transfer gives James Franklin and the Nittany Lions a productive receiver to go along with a young, athletic receiving room. Cephas missed some time because of injury but should add productivity if healthy next season.
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9. Josiah Stewart (EDGE): Coastal Carolina to Michigan: Stewart is one of many players transitioning from the Group of Five to the Power Five. Stewart also transitioned from the defensive line to linebacker. His continued development will be something to watch at Michigan.
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10. Braden Fiske (Defensive Tackle): Western Michigan to Florida State: Much like Jared Verse, Braden Fiske came to Western Michigan undersized and grew while on campus. At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, Fiske can play either on the outside as an end or inside at tackle.
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