There are several key players on this list from Richard Cirminiello from CFBNews.com. A few QB's, including 2002 #1 Ben Olson. A few RB's, including Brian Calhoun at Colorado, who could have a big chance with today's suspension of Booker Stanley (see Police Blotter thread), and Barrington Edwards, who briefly had tOSU on his original list. And 3 defensive players for LSU.
By Richard Cirminiello
If this year’s crop of the best four-year transfers is any indication, Thomas Wolfe was wrong; you can go home again. Ben Olson, Brian Calhoun, Barrington Edwards, Sammy Joseph, Chase Pittman and Darius Ingram—each expected to make contributions in new digs—will resume their collegiate careers on campuses located much closer to friends, family and first girlfriends.
Every year, a few dozen dissatisfied college athletes pack up their personal belongings, bid farewell to old teammates, and set sail for a new institution of higher learning in the hopes of getting a fresh start. Their reasons for transferring from one school to another are as varied as their final destinations. Troy Aikman jetted from Oklahoma seeking a better fit for his skill set, and landed safely at UCLA. Terrell Davis was left with no choice, but to transfer to Georgia once Long Beach State announced it was dropping its football program. And Randy Moss had a cup of Joe in Tallahassee before becoming an icon as a member of Marshall’s herd.
Yet beyond all the rhetoric and carefully couched explanations, the majority of these transient teens are looking for just two things—more playing time and a better path to the big leagues. Maybe they’ve been misread. Maybe they’ve been miscast. Or maybe they simply resided in the wrong place at the wrong time. They’re just willing to gamble that Destination B is a better fit than Destination A for scaling a depth chart. That signed letter-of-intent from a few years ago? Uhh, can we get a do-over on that one?
For the schools that court and land these expats, it’s often a windfall that can provide an immediate payoff. They’re older, motivated by a second chance and a new setting and, unlike incoming freshmen, unfazed by the daily demands of college life. This year’s representatives of the most gifted four-year transfers have completed their penance. They’ve toiled in anonymity on the scout team, adapted to completely new surroundings and sat out the NCAA-mandated one year for having the temerity to transfer to another I-A program. For them, the time has finally arrived to release the pause button on their athletic careers and begin a fresh chapter, wearing new colors and humming a new fight song.
QB Ben Olson, UCLA via BYU – For the second time in three years, Olson was the subject of an intense recruiting war. In 2002, he was the nation’s top-rated prep signal-caller. After returning from his Mormon mission last year, he created another stir by expressing a desire to transfer from BYU. Physically, Olson’s as close to a can’t-miss quarterback as the NCAA has seen in years, however, this past spring showed that two years in Alberta, Canada will cause rust to form on even the most gifted athlete.
RB Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin via Colorado – Calhoun proved this spring to be every bit the back the Badgers thought he’d be when he bolted the drama at Colorado for the stability of his home state. He’s a complete back, who’s got sprinter speed, terrific hands and big game experience courtesy of his two seasons in Boulder. As a sophomore with the Buffs, he ran for a team-leading 810 yards and hauled in 32 passes. In this Badger offense, he could surpass both numbers in 2005.
RB Tyler Ebell, UTEP via UCLA – Ebell helps fills a glaring need on an otherwise stacked Miner offense. He and Matt Austin are being counted on to replace Howard Jackson as the school prepares for its debut in the new-look C-USA. Ebell darted to 994 yards and 10 scores as a freshman at Westwood, but grew discontented when his carries declined markedly the following year.
RB Barrington Edwards, North Carolina via LSU – In Edwards, the Heels have a Nick Saban recruit wearing Carolina blue. Coming out of high school, he was considered by many to be one of the Top 5 backs in the nation, but got lost in a crowded LSU backfield. He distinguished himself this spring as one John Bunting’s best offensive weapons, and will challenge Ronnie McGill for reps in the fall.
CB Sammy Joseph, LSU via Colorado – The departures of Corey Webster and Travis Daniels left the door wide open for Joseph, and he took full advantage of the opportunity last month. The former prep star from New Orleans used his 15 practices to familiarize himself with his new surroundings and seize control of one of the two secondary spots up for grabs. In 2003, he had 55 tackles and a pair of picks for the Buffs.
DE Chase Pittman, LSU via Texas – Seeking a fresh start to his career, Pittman chose to return to his home state of Louisiana. He had a terrific spring debut for the Tigers, spending much of April in the offensive backfield and showing signs that he’ll help offset the graduation of recent Dallas Cowboy draft pick Marcus Spears.
LB Aaron Wagner, BYU via Washington State –Before leaving on his LDS mission four years ago, Wagner vowed that he’d be a Cougar for life. He was right, but you’ll have to give a pass to the Wazzu fans, who can’t appreciate the irony. Built like some defensive ends, Wagner has already captured the starting job at outside linebacker, and will be an asset to the Cougar run defense.
OL Scott Stephenson, Iowa State via Minnesota – Stephenson really turned heads last fall as a member of the Cyclone scout team, and is already being fitted for a starting assignment at either guard or center. A little-used defensive lineman with the Gophers, he’s found a permanent home on the offensive side of the ball.
RB Jimtavis Walker, Oregon State via Florida – If legal issues don’t trip him up, Walker could be the feature back in Corvallis this fall; he was arrested Feb. 11 for allegedly assaulting a cab driver and offering to settle a $20 fare with marijuana. Walker did practice this spring, and flashed the speed and between-the-tackles vision that has him in a two-back battle with Yvenson Bernard for the starting job.
S Derron Ware, Arizona State via Michigan State – Ware’s a big, physical safety, who’s tall enough to match up with today’s new breed of rangy receivers. He got playing time as a true freshman and sophomore in East Lansing before electing to transfer closer to his Los Angeles home. Having played for new Sun Devil defensive coordinator Bill Miller in 2002, Ware should have a working knowledge of the team’s defense.
LB Darius Ingram, TCU via LSU – Ingram’s no stranger to TCU, a local program he seriously considered before joining the Tigers’ heralded class of 2003. He possesses above average quickness and athleticism, which will serve him well as he focuses on succeeding Martin Patterson at middle backer. Ingram is currently running No. 2 on the depth chart, but that could change this summer, when he has a better grasp of the Frogs’ 4-2-5 alignment.
QB Matt Moore, Oregon State via UCLA – Moore brings five career starts and a strong arm to Corvallis, where Mike Riley is auditioning quarterbacks to find a replacement for record-setting Beaver Derek Anderson. He’s in a tight race with sophomore Ryan Gunderson, who backed up Anderson last season and has the upper hand in terms of system knowledge.
QB Luke Getsy, Akron via Pittsburgh – Getsy’s the same kid that went toe-to-toe last year with Tyler Palko at Pittsburgh before giving way to his more heralded teammate. With a big chip on his shoulder, he’s in what appears to be a tailor-made situation. The Zips are looking to replace four-year starter Charlie Frye, and if he can beat out Jabari Arthur, Getsy will be running the same system he did at Pittsburgh, where head coach J.D Brookhart served as the Panthers’ offense coordinator.
QB Johnny DuRocher, Washington via Oregon – Once the quarterback of the future in Eugene, DuRocher spent this spring trying to leapfrog three other Huskies, and become Washington’s quarterback of today. Tyrone Willingham has been predictably tight-lipped about the competition, however, DuRocher may have played his way into a depth chart tussle with front-runner Isaiah Stanback that’ll resume this summer.
By Richard Cirminiello
If this year’s crop of the best four-year transfers is any indication, Thomas Wolfe was wrong; you can go home again. Ben Olson, Brian Calhoun, Barrington Edwards, Sammy Joseph, Chase Pittman and Darius Ingram—each expected to make contributions in new digs—will resume their collegiate careers on campuses located much closer to friends, family and first girlfriends.
Every year, a few dozen dissatisfied college athletes pack up their personal belongings, bid farewell to old teammates, and set sail for a new institution of higher learning in the hopes of getting a fresh start. Their reasons for transferring from one school to another are as varied as their final destinations. Troy Aikman jetted from Oklahoma seeking a better fit for his skill set, and landed safely at UCLA. Terrell Davis was left with no choice, but to transfer to Georgia once Long Beach State announced it was dropping its football program. And Randy Moss had a cup of Joe in Tallahassee before becoming an icon as a member of Marshall’s herd.
Yet beyond all the rhetoric and carefully couched explanations, the majority of these transient teens are looking for just two things—more playing time and a better path to the big leagues. Maybe they’ve been misread. Maybe they’ve been miscast. Or maybe they simply resided in the wrong place at the wrong time. They’re just willing to gamble that Destination B is a better fit than Destination A for scaling a depth chart. That signed letter-of-intent from a few years ago? Uhh, can we get a do-over on that one?
For the schools that court and land these expats, it’s often a windfall that can provide an immediate payoff. They’re older, motivated by a second chance and a new setting and, unlike incoming freshmen, unfazed by the daily demands of college life. This year’s representatives of the most gifted four-year transfers have completed their penance. They’ve toiled in anonymity on the scout team, adapted to completely new surroundings and sat out the NCAA-mandated one year for having the temerity to transfer to another I-A program. For them, the time has finally arrived to release the pause button on their athletic careers and begin a fresh chapter, wearing new colors and humming a new fight song.
QB Ben Olson, UCLA via BYU – For the second time in three years, Olson was the subject of an intense recruiting war. In 2002, he was the nation’s top-rated prep signal-caller. After returning from his Mormon mission last year, he created another stir by expressing a desire to transfer from BYU. Physically, Olson’s as close to a can’t-miss quarterback as the NCAA has seen in years, however, this past spring showed that two years in Alberta, Canada will cause rust to form on even the most gifted athlete.
RB Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin via Colorado – Calhoun proved this spring to be every bit the back the Badgers thought he’d be when he bolted the drama at Colorado for the stability of his home state. He’s a complete back, who’s got sprinter speed, terrific hands and big game experience courtesy of his two seasons in Boulder. As a sophomore with the Buffs, he ran for a team-leading 810 yards and hauled in 32 passes. In this Badger offense, he could surpass both numbers in 2005.
RB Tyler Ebell, UTEP via UCLA – Ebell helps fills a glaring need on an otherwise stacked Miner offense. He and Matt Austin are being counted on to replace Howard Jackson as the school prepares for its debut in the new-look C-USA. Ebell darted to 994 yards and 10 scores as a freshman at Westwood, but grew discontented when his carries declined markedly the following year.
RB Barrington Edwards, North Carolina via LSU – In Edwards, the Heels have a Nick Saban recruit wearing Carolina blue. Coming out of high school, he was considered by many to be one of the Top 5 backs in the nation, but got lost in a crowded LSU backfield. He distinguished himself this spring as one John Bunting’s best offensive weapons, and will challenge Ronnie McGill for reps in the fall.
CB Sammy Joseph, LSU via Colorado – The departures of Corey Webster and Travis Daniels left the door wide open for Joseph, and he took full advantage of the opportunity last month. The former prep star from New Orleans used his 15 practices to familiarize himself with his new surroundings and seize control of one of the two secondary spots up for grabs. In 2003, he had 55 tackles and a pair of picks for the Buffs.
DE Chase Pittman, LSU via Texas – Seeking a fresh start to his career, Pittman chose to return to his home state of Louisiana. He had a terrific spring debut for the Tigers, spending much of April in the offensive backfield and showing signs that he’ll help offset the graduation of recent Dallas Cowboy draft pick Marcus Spears.
LB Aaron Wagner, BYU via Washington State –Before leaving on his LDS mission four years ago, Wagner vowed that he’d be a Cougar for life. He was right, but you’ll have to give a pass to the Wazzu fans, who can’t appreciate the irony. Built like some defensive ends, Wagner has already captured the starting job at outside linebacker, and will be an asset to the Cougar run defense.
OL Scott Stephenson, Iowa State via Minnesota – Stephenson really turned heads last fall as a member of the Cyclone scout team, and is already being fitted for a starting assignment at either guard or center. A little-used defensive lineman with the Gophers, he’s found a permanent home on the offensive side of the ball.
RB Jimtavis Walker, Oregon State via Florida – If legal issues don’t trip him up, Walker could be the feature back in Corvallis this fall; he was arrested Feb. 11 for allegedly assaulting a cab driver and offering to settle a $20 fare with marijuana. Walker did practice this spring, and flashed the speed and between-the-tackles vision that has him in a two-back battle with Yvenson Bernard for the starting job.
S Derron Ware, Arizona State via Michigan State – Ware’s a big, physical safety, who’s tall enough to match up with today’s new breed of rangy receivers. He got playing time as a true freshman and sophomore in East Lansing before electing to transfer closer to his Los Angeles home. Having played for new Sun Devil defensive coordinator Bill Miller in 2002, Ware should have a working knowledge of the team’s defense.
LB Darius Ingram, TCU via LSU – Ingram’s no stranger to TCU, a local program he seriously considered before joining the Tigers’ heralded class of 2003. He possesses above average quickness and athleticism, which will serve him well as he focuses on succeeding Martin Patterson at middle backer. Ingram is currently running No. 2 on the depth chart, but that could change this summer, when he has a better grasp of the Frogs’ 4-2-5 alignment.
QB Matt Moore, Oregon State via UCLA – Moore brings five career starts and a strong arm to Corvallis, where Mike Riley is auditioning quarterbacks to find a replacement for record-setting Beaver Derek Anderson. He’s in a tight race with sophomore Ryan Gunderson, who backed up Anderson last season and has the upper hand in terms of system knowledge.
QB Luke Getsy, Akron via Pittsburgh – Getsy’s the same kid that went toe-to-toe last year with Tyler Palko at Pittsburgh before giving way to his more heralded teammate. With a big chip on his shoulder, he’s in what appears to be a tailor-made situation. The Zips are looking to replace four-year starter Charlie Frye, and if he can beat out Jabari Arthur, Getsy will be running the same system he did at Pittsburgh, where head coach J.D Brookhart served as the Panthers’ offense coordinator.
QB Johnny DuRocher, Washington via Oregon – Once the quarterback of the future in Eugene, DuRocher spent this spring trying to leapfrog three other Huskies, and become Washington’s quarterback of today. Tyrone Willingham has been predictably tight-lipped about the competition, however, DuRocher may have played his way into a depth chart tussle with front-runner Isaiah Stanback that’ll resume this summer.