During this college football season, some top players have transferred by following their former coaches to new schools. This trend emphasizes the strength of coach-player relationships.
Transfers Following Coaches
One standout example is Eric Morris, the former coach of North Texas, who transitioned to Oklahoma State. He brought 21 of his former players, including Drew Mestemaker. Mestemaker led the nation last year with 4,379 passing yards. He expressed his decision to follow Morris by saying, “I knew the whole time, Coach Morris was going to be a huge factor. Wherever he went, that was where I was going.”
John Henry Daley, a former Utah player with 11½ sacks, decided to join coach Kyle Whittingham at Michigan. Similarly, Matt Campbell, now the coach at Penn State, included about two dozen players from Iowa State, such as quarterback Rocco Becht. Becht valued the existing relationships and was drawn to Campbell’s coaching style and the university’s reputation. He brings with him impressive stats, including 9,274 passing yards, 64 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions over three years.
The Impact of Familiar Coaches
This pattern of players following coaches highlights the positive effects of familiarity and established coaching philosophies. Indiana’s recent success underscores this point. Curt Cignetti moved from James Madison to Indiana, bringing 13 former players. This contributed to Indiana’s transformation, which included a College Football Playoff berth and a national championship last season.
Daley shared his admiration for Whittingham, citing discipline and work ethic: “You know that you get discipline. You know that you get hard work. We expect to win games. That’s something I love. He’s got an old-school mindset in that we’re going to come in, we’re going to attack every single day and we’re going to be tough.”
Noteworthy Transfers of the Season
Several other notable transfers are poised to make an impact this season:
- Texas WR Cam Coleman (Auburn): Ranked No. 3 in his high school class, he caught 93 passes for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns at Auburn. Now, he will play at Texas with quarterback Arch Manning.
- Indiana QB Josh Hoover (TCU): Hoover, a three-year starter at TCU, racked up 9,629 yards and 71 touchdowns. He takes over for Fernando Mendoza, a Heisman Trophy winner who now plays in the NFL.
- LSU QB Sam Leavitt (Arizona State): Leavitt’s tenure at Arizona State was marked by a playoff berth and a foot injury. At LSU, he aims to make a significant impact, supported by a solid offensive line.
- Miami QB Darian Mensah (Duke): Mensah led Duke to an ACC title and joins Miami, a national championship contender. Mensah brings consistent performance from previous stints at Tulane and Duke.
- Oregon S Koi Perich (Minnesota): Perich, noted for his versatility, had 82 tackles last year and brings talent in offense and special teams.
- BYU LB Cade Uluave (California): Uluave comes with remarkable statistics, boasting 237 tackles and earning accolades while at California.