Transfer tracker: Former Notre Dame OL Rocco Spindler one of the Big Ten's best in Week 6

Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Rocco Spindler has become a valuable part of the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ offense. 

Through five games, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Spindler has posted the team’s highest pass-blocking grade (83.0), a mark that ranks seventh among Big Ten guards. His performance in Week 6 is a key reason why.

Here are more details on Spindler’s showing last week and seven other Notre Dame players who entered the transfer portal within the last year.

QB Steve Angeli (Syracuse … 3-3): Before he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury Sept. 20 vs. Clemson, Angeli threw for 1,317 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 98-256 passes with only 2 interceptions in four games.

OL Ty Chan (Connecticut … 4-2): Started at right guard for the fourth time in six weeks, playing 43 of 73 offensive snaps. According to Pro Football Focus, Chan surrendered a team-high 4 quarterback hurries in a 51-10 win over Florida International (2-3). 

WR Deion Colzie (Miami Ohio … 2-3): Started and played 62 of 80 offensive snaps, catching an 8-yard touchdown pass in a 25-14 victory against Northern Illinois (1-4). RedHawks quarterback Dequan Finn targeted him two other times, but Colzie dropped both passes.

OL Pat Coogan (No. 7 Indiana … 5-0): The Hoosiers had a bye week.

DL Tyson Ford (California … 4-2): Made his season debut in a 45-21 loss to Duke (4-2), logging one snap at defensive tackle. Previously, Ford had been spotted in a boot on the sideline in games earlier in the season.

EDGE Aiden Gobaira (James Madison … 4-1): Played 38 of 61 defensive snaps, recording 2 tackles, including one for loss, in a 14-7 victory over Georgia State (1-4). PFF also awarded him with 2 run stops. In addition to playing defense, Gobaira is a special teams ace, assisting on the kick return, punt coverage and field goal kick and field goal block teams.

CB Jaden Mickey (Boise State … 3-2): Did not play due to a concussion in Boise State’s 28-7 loss to No. 15 Notre Dame (3-2).

OL Sam Pendleton (No. 12 Tennessee … 4-1): The Volunteers had a bye week.

OL Rocco Spindler (Nebraska … 4-1): Started and played all but one offensive snap (56) in a 38-27 win against Michigan State (3-2). Spindler did not allow any pressure in the 34 pass-blocking reps, helping him achieve an 81.8 PFF pass-blocking grade that ranked fourth among Big Ten guards last week. Also, Cornhusker rushers registered 3 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown when running behind the right guard for the game.

WR Jayden Thomas (No. 19 Virginia … 5-1): Played 19 of 64 offensive snaps in a 30-27 overtime victory over Louisville (4-1), but did not get any targets. Thomas helped on the kick return, punt coverage and punt return teams.

LB Kennedy Urlacher (USC … 4-1):  The Trojans had a bye week.

DE Andrew Yanoshak (Dayton … 4-1): Logged 18 of 62 defensive snaps and notched a quarterback hurry in a 35-28 win over Morehead State (2-4). PFF credited him with a quarterback hit.

K Zac Yoakam (Houston … 4-1): Had 3 kickoffs that totaled 191 yards and 1 touchback in a 35-11 loss to Texas Tech (5-0).