10 non-QB transfers to watch in 2023

Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon (former school: South Carolina)

Oregon added the former five-star recruit in January. He played and started in 13 games for the Gamecocks last season, tallying 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Burch can immediately help a defense that ranked 71st in the nation in yards per game allowed (381.2) and seventh in the Pac-12 with 260.6 passing yards.

Carson Steele, RB, UCLA (former school: Ball State)

In his second year at Ball State, Steele rushed for 1,556 yards, ninth best in the nation. Per BruinsBlitz, his 33 missed tackles forced last season ranked behind only Texas running back Bijan Robinson, the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The shifty back will be a great fit for a UCLA team that finished with 238.2 rushing yards per game last season, the best running attack in the Pac-12.

Bear Alexander, DT, Southern California (former school: Georgia)

Alexander, a former four-star recruit from Terrell, Texas, didn't earn much playing time on a talent-laden Georgia defense last season, finishing with only nine tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks in 12 games. The 6-foot-3-inch defensive lineman should be a solid addition to a revamped USC defensive line that includes transfers Kyon Barrs (Arizona), Anthony Lucas (Texas A&M) and Jack Sullivan (Purdue). Perhaps they all will take the pressure off USC coordinator Alex Grinch, whose defense was shredded in a 46-45 loss to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl last season.

Emmanuel Pregnon, OL, Southern California (former school: Wyoming)

USC didn't just revamp its defense with transfers. In April, Pregnon — who played in 11 games last season for Wyoming — joined a revamped Trojans O-line that also includes transfers Jarrett Kingston (Washington State) and Michael Tarquin (Florida). The Athletic had ranked the 6-foot-6, 312-pound Pregnon as the third-best player in the portal in April.

Patrick McMorris, DB, California (former school: San Diego State)

The 6-foot defensive back, the younger brother of Cal defensive graduate assistant Malik McMorris, committed to the Bears in April. He tied with cornerback Dezjhon Malone at the top of San Diego State's roster with five pass deflections last season and was the co-Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.  

Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado (former school: Jackson State)

Hunter, a celebrated recruit of Deion Sanders at Jackson State last year, joined "Prime Time" in Boulder after he was hired in December. The 6-foot-1-inch defensive back is among a 2023 Colorado recruiting class that features 51 transfers, according to 247Sports. Per Sanders, Hunter turned down "about $1.5 million" from schools "to lure him and buy him out of the transfer portal," Sanders told Carl Reed of 247Sports. "But Travis is not the kind of guy that can be bought. He isn't built like that."

Derrick McLendon II, DE, Colorado (former school: Florida State)

Colorado's defense ranked last in the Pac-12 with 509.8 yards and 44.5 points allowed per game in 2022. Adding McLendon, who played in 13 games and started in 12 for Florida State last season, can only help Hunter and the new-look Colorado defense. Per 247Sports, Colorado has the No. 1 transfer class of 2023. 

Jaheim Bell, TE, Florida State (former school: South Carolina)

Bell, a 6-foot-3, 230-pounder, could boost the Seminoles passing game and perhaps its running game, too. He recorded 231 receiving and 261 rushing yards last season. He should be a reliable target for quarterback Jordan Travis, who threw for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2022. Per Noles247, "South Carolina loved these little screens to the flats that got Bell going with a head of steam and allowed the 230-pounder to accelerate before his athleticism could take over."

Josh DeBerry, defensive back, Texas A&M (former school: Boston College)

DeBerry will join a 2023 class with former Florida State cornerback Sam McCall and North Carolina cornerback Tony Grimes. He will add experience to a defense that finished last in the Southeastern Conference in interceptions with four last season. The 5-foot-11-inch defensive back has four interceptions in his collegiate career.