On Monday we took a quick tour of how the offseason transfer market had impacted teams in the Big Ten West. Today will look over the fence at the East, where things were a little more active and a little more interesting.
INDIANA
Biggest Addition: 4-star quarterback Jack Tuttle didn't join the Hoosiers out of high school, but if he had he would have been the highest rated QB recruit to ever sign with Indiana. Instead, Tuttle went to Utah for a semester before announcing he was transferring last April. The former Elite 11 quarterback was granted immediate eligibility and Tuttle could be in the mix this season for the Hoosiers.
Biggest Departure: Defensive tackle Brandon Wilson, a Florida native, is playing his final season at UCF. Wilson only started one game last year, but played in all 12. This isn't a top-line loss for Indiana, but does dent the depth a little.
MARYLAND
Biggest Addition: Mike Locksley and the Terps were in the running for Jalen Hurts for a bit this offseason. Instead of the former Alabama quarterback, Maryland ended up with the best freshman quarterback at Virginia Tech since Michael Vick. Josh Jackson is coming off an injury, but he put up big numbers in 2017 as a freshman––2,991 yards passing (59.6%), 20 TDs, 9 INTs––and is the leader to win the Terrapins' job.
Biggest Departure: It's possible he could still come back, but senior defensive tackle Adam McLean entered the transfer portal in May. He was the Terrapins only returning starter on the defensive line.
MICHIGAN
Biggest Addition: None, surprisingly.
Biggest Departure: Nine former 4-star recruits have left (or been dismissed at) Michigan in this cycle. Most of those were players who were struggling to find consistent snaps. Of that group, defensive lineman Aubrey Solomon is the biggest loss based on potential if not production.
MICHIGAN STATE
Biggest Addition: Former Western Michigan wide receiver Jayden Reed joined the program in May. He was a freshman All-American for the Broncos after making 56 catches for 797 yards and eight touchdowns. He'll have to sit a year barring a waiver.
Biggest Departure: A pair of defensive ends portaled this offseason, but nothing the Spartans are losing sleep over.
OHIO STATE
Biggest Addition: In some ways, maybe the way, Ryan Day's first season in Columbus could be tied to just how good Justin Fields can be right away. The former 5-star Georgia quarterback has all the talent but hasn't played a ton of Power 5 football to this point. He was one of three transfers in at QB for Ohio State. The Buckeyes also had two transfer out.
Biggest Departure: Of the standard 4-star filtering at a program like this, linebacker Keandre Jones' departure is probably the biggest, very relatively speaking. Jones was a solid role player, contributing 29 tackles in 32 games.
PENN STATE
Biggest Addition: The transfer portal for Penn State has been a busy place but it was mostly a one-way street, particularly at wide receiver where five left. But there was also an intriguing addition at that position. Weston Carr, a Division II All-American who had more than 3,000 yards receiving at Azusa Pacific, will likely be a key player for the Nittany Lions.
Biggest Departure: The presumed starter at quarterback, Tommy Stevens, up and left. He's headed to Mississippi State to rejoin his former offensive coordinator, Joe Moorhead, at Mississippi State.
RUTGERS
Biggest Addition: The Scarlet Knights have a few guys coming from Power 5 programs that should offer immediate help. Tight ends Kyle Penniston (Wisconsin) and Matt Alaimo (UCLA) should both play right away. Outside linebacker Drew Singleton (Michigan) is less of a slam dunk for immediate playing time, but he is a former 4-star.
Biggest Departure: Jonah Jackson, an offensive lineman capable of playing any spot up front, was a captain at Rutgers. He'll play his senior season at Ohio State. Imagine how maddening that must be if you're a Rutgers fan. You hit on a guy who was a 3-star prospect, he develops and makes great contributions to the program and then a heavyweight gets him for his final season.
The Grab Bag
- Mike Babcock on the retirement of Darin Erstad.
- AD Bill Moos shared his reaction to the Erstad news and a little about what he’ll be looking for in the next head coach.
- Greg Smith looks at how the Huskers can engineer some special teams improvement via recruiting.
Today’s Song of Today
Brandon is the Managing Editor for Hail Varsity and has covered Nebraska athletics for the magazine and web since 2012, Hail Varsity’s first season on the scene. His sports writing has also been featured by Fox Sports, The Guardian and CBS Sports.
