Transfer portal breakdown: 10 more-important-than-you-think Big 12 transfers

We’re going to continue our dive into the transfer portal with a look at some underrated Big 12 transfers.

Everyone knows the big-name transfers in the Big 12; just a look at the specific position rankings of those who entered in the portal. Today, though, we’re looking at some lower-ranked players who still will play important (and maybe even vital) roles for their new teams this fall.

The players are listed alphabetically.

TCU WR Jack Bech

Transfer from: LSU
The buzz: Jack Bech (6 feet 2, 213 pounds) was LSU’s leading receiver in 2021 (43 receptions) before a coaching change led to a 16-catch season in 2022. He started 11 games in his two seasons with the Tigers. TCU is losing its top three receivers, so ample playing time is available. While Bech is not a No. 1 receiver, he can be a productive complementary piece for the Horned Frogs.

Oklahoma State WR Arland Bruce IV

Transfer from: Iowa
The buzz: Oklahoma State had five wide receivers with double-digit receptions in 2022. Leading receiver Brennan Presley returns, but the other four are gone, including three via transfer. The Cowboys brought in three receivers from the portal and need immediate help. Arland Bruce IV (5-10, 198) had 44 receptions in two seasons at Iowa but for just 396 yards. Then again, it was at Iowa. He has the talent to be a productive part of the receiving rotation.

West Virginia DB Keyshawn Cobb

Transfer from: Buffalo
The buzz: Keyshawn Cobb (6-0, 200) played a key role in his one season with Buffalo, starting 11 games at nickel (and one at corner) after transferring in from Northeast Mississippi CC. Cobb was third on the team with 67 tackles, and he added six tackles for loss, an interception (a pick-six, actually), eight pass breakups, three forced fumbles and four quarterback hurries. He provides some versatility for WVU’s back end, as he was recruited out of junior college as a safety. WVU calls its nickel back the “spear” and that position would seem to fit Cobb, who can be an in-the-box DB.

Houston WR Joshua Cobbs

Transfer from: Wyoming
The buzz: Don’t go by production when looking at Joshua Cobbs; instead, look at his size (6-4, 204) and potential. Cobbs led run-first Wyoming with 35 receptions for 407 yards and two TDs; remember, though, that Wyoming averaged just 132.2 passing yards per game. Cobbs had 25 receptions as the Cowboys’ No. 2 receiver (to Isaiah Neyor, now at Texas) in 2021. Houston lost No. 1 receiver Tank Dell, as well as deep threat DeSean Carter. While Cobbs may not end up being the go-to guy (that seemingly will be Matthew Golden), he should be a good fit in the upper part of the rotation.

BYU DT Jackson Cravens

Transfer from: Boise State
The buzz: It’s taken a while for Jackson Cravens (6-2, 305) – a native of Provo, Utah, who is returning home – to make his mark. He missed his senior season of high school football in 2017 because of an injury, then played in one game as a true freshman at Utah in 2018. (Cravens is the nephew of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.) Cravens transferred to Boise State after the ’18 season, but in those pre-portal days, he had to sit out the 2019 season. That means he played in one game in three seasons. He was a backup for the Broncos in 2020, then a fulltime starter in 2021. Cravens was a part-time starter in 2022. In his final two seasons at Boise State, Cravens made 50 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. BYU needs big bodies up front as it moves into the Big 12, and Cravens has a legit shot at a starting job.

Kansas State WR Keagan Johnson

Transfer from: Iowa
The buzz: Here’s another former Iowa wide receiver. We’re not saying Johnson or the aforementioned Bruce will duplicate the success of Iowa transfer WR Charlie Jones (23 career catches in two seasons with the Hawkeyes) this past season at Purdue. Jones led the nation in receptions (110), was second in receiving yards (1,361) and tied for fifth in TD receptions (12). But what we are saying is not to take the stats produced by Iowa wide receivers all that seriously. Keagan Johnson (6-1, 194) definitely has the talent to be a productive receiver for the Wildcats. He is a former On3 Consensus four-star prospect in the 2021 class. Johnson had 18 catches and was a legit big-play guy as a true freshman (19.6 yards per catch) for the Hawkeyes, but he played in just two games in 2022 because of a variety of injuries.

Texas Tech DT Quincy Ledet

Transfer from: ULM
The buzz: Quincy Ledet (6-2, 294) was a two-year starter for the Warhawks. He strictly was a run-stuffer in his first two seasons on campus, then blossomed into a more well-rounded interior player in 2022 for ULM. Ledet had 37 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks in ’22. He joins a Texas Tech defensive front that needed an experienced tackle At the least, Ledet becomes an important rotation piece for a defense that needs to get better against the run. The Red Raiders surrendered at least 210 rushing yards to five conference foes in 2022.

Baylor TE Jake Roberts

Transfer from: North Texas
The buzz: Baylor’s passing attack spread the ball around in 2022, and TE Ben Sims, who was third on the team with 31 receptions (two behind the leader), has graduated. TE Drake Dabney returns, but he is coming off a broken leg suffered at midseason. Jake Roberts (6-5, 250) should be able to step right in and provide a receiving threat. He was a two-year starter for North Texas, and had 28 receptions for 394 yards and three TDs in 2022 in an offense that used the tight end extensively.

Oklahoma G Caleb Shaffer

Transfer from: Miami (Ohio)
The buzz: Caleb Shaffer (6-5, 333) was a four-year starter at guard for the RedHawks, earning a starting job early in his true freshman season and never losing it. OU has a vacancy at one guard spot with the departure of Chris Murray, and Shaffer should be considered the leading contender. OU also nabbed Walter Rouse (Stanford) out of the portal, and he figures to start at right tackle.

UCF S Jireh Wilson

Transfer from: East Carolina
The buzz: Jireh Wilson (6-3, 219) was a three-year starter for East Carolina. He has the size and versatility to play a hybrid safety/linebacker role. Wilson had 162 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four interceptions and 10 pass breakups in the past three seasons. UCF lost two of its top four safeties, and Wilson is one of two players at the position nabbed from the portal (DeJordan Mask of Texas State is the other). Wilson’s experience, size and versatility mean he will see a lot of time, even if he doesn’t start.