11 JUCO Transfers Who Will Be Instant Starters in 2016
It’s almost here. On Wednesday, fans across the nation will celebrate 2016’s national signing day, which will feature football recruits across the nation putting pen to paper and signing national letters of intent. Much of the focus will be on high school seniors who’ll be making their choices, but they aren’t the only players who’ll be signing Wednesday.
Junior college players are also eligible to sign. They’ve taken a different path than their soon-to-be teammates; for some, their initial school didn’t work out for one reason or another, or they were unable to meet initial academic qualification requirements. Some are just late bloomers.
Either way, junior college transfers can have an impact. Look at Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly. After washing out at Clemson, Kelly spent a year at a Mississippi junior college before signing with the Rebels, winning the starting role and leading them to a 10-win season capped by a Sugar Bowl victory.
Here are 11 players who’ll be surefire starters at their new programs.
Alabama OT Charles Baldwin
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After winning another national title, Alabama has some holes to fill on both sides of the ball; 11 starters will return. One of the biggest holes is at right tackle, where starter Dominick Jackson is graduating. Enter Charles Baldwin. The nation’s No. 2 junior college prospect, Baldwin has already signed with the Crimson Tide and enrolled in classes.
Baldwin stands 6’5", 315 pounds and attracted attention from the likes of Georgia, Oklahoma and Michigan State before signing with the Tide. He has the frame to be immediately successful at Alabama and win the vacant starting role, assuming he picks up the offense quickly during spring practice. AL.com's Drew Champlin said he has a chance to do just that.
"They were telling me they want me to come in and contribute right way, and the fact I'm coming in as an early enrollee is really going to help. I think it's a good chance I'll play early as long as I work hard and buy into the system. That's what the coaches are telling me and that's what I plan on doing. As long as I buy into the system, learn the playbook and do what I'm taught, that's the plan.
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TCU LB Tyree Horton
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A year after just missing the College Football Playoff, TCU hoped to finish the drill in 2015, but it didn’t work out that way. The Horned Frogs finished 11-2, and defense was their Achilles heel. Graduation and injuries hurt badly, leaving the offense to carry a huge load and win multiple shootouts. TCU allowed 26.1 points per game, ranking No. 59 nationally.
There’s clearly room for upgrades, which is where Tyree Horton fits in. Horton excelled at Highland (Kansas) Community College, earning first-team junior college All-America honors. He had 86 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 2015. Horton was previously committed to Florida State, and he chose TCU over FSU and Baylor.
Tennessee DE Jonathan Kongbo
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Jonathan Kongbo has a great name, and the talent to back it up, too. The British Columbia native began his career at Wyoming, redshirting in 2014 before transferring to Arizona Western College. Kongbo stands 6’5”, 264 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.69 seconds. He’s a tremendous prospect who is rated as the nation’s top junior college recruit by 247Sports.
Kongbo is an excellent pass-rusher who can impact games from the edge. Butch Jones and Tennessee are pleased that he chose the Volunteers Wednesday, ending a back-and-forth recruitment. Kongbo was previously committed to Tennessee, but backed off that pledge and visited Florida State and Southern California.
Ultimately, however, the lure of Rocky Top was too strong for him to overcome. He has the skills to start immediately at UT and become a pass-rushing force in the SEC.
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Oklahoma WR Ryan Parker
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Oklahoma’s rise from 8-5 to the College Football Playoff was fueled by quarterback Baker Mayfield and a strong passing offense, but Mayfield and the Sooners need help to repeat that feat. Top receiver Sterling Shepard (86 receptions, 1,288 yards, 11 touchdowns) has graduated, and Dede Westbrook is the only returning receiver with more than 30 catches in 2015.
It’s a great chance for a guy like Ryan Parker to excel. Parker originally signed with TCU last February but didn’t qualify academically, winding up at Tyler (Texas) Junior College. Parker stands 6’2”, 180 pounds and has great catching ability. He should quickly emerge as one of Mayfield’s favorite targets and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Arizona State CB J'Marcus Rhodes
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Arizona State slipped from consecutive 10-win seasons to 6-7 last fall, and defense was a big culprit. The Sun Devils gave up 32.7 points per game, No. 97 nationally. They need help, and cornerback J’Marcus Rhodes can provide it.
Rhodes began his career at SMU as a receiver, but he excelled as a cornerback at Kilgore (Texas) Junior College. He stands 6’2”, 202 pounds and has the size to stand up in the pass-happy Pac-12 with the Sun Devils.
Arizona State graduated starters Lloyd Carrington and Kweishi Brown, leaving an excellent shot for someone to step in and play immediately. Rhodes will claim one of those spots and make the ASU defense better in 2016.
Missouri RB Natereace Strong
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Missouri’s offense struggled to generate points in 2015, and the lack of a solid running game didn’t help matters at all. Leading rusher Ish Witter had 518 yards rushing and one touchdown, averaging 4.1 yards per carry.
Witter should be looking over his shoulder, because Natereace Strong is coming. Strong originally signed with Missouri last February but didn’t qualify academically. He wound up at Hinds (Mississippi) Community College and will sign again with MU this week.
Strong was one of the top backs in the class of 2015, picking Missouri over Florida State, Michigan State and Ohio State, among others. The East St. Louis native rushed for 1,612 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior, averaging 9.0 yards per carry. He’ll be a great fit in the Tigers backfield.
Florida RB Mark Thompson
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As he enters his second season at Florida, Jim McElwain has questions in his backfield. Kelvin Taylor is off to the NFL, and backups Jordan Cronkrite and Jordan Scarlett did not distinguish themselves in their freshman seasons. That means there is opportunity, and Mark Thompson is poised to take advantage of it.
The Dodge City (Kansas) Community College transfer has already signed with Florida, and he has two years to play. He was named as a second-team junior college All-American. Thompson stands 6’2”, 230 pounds and has the size to be an every-down back for the Gators. He has speed and power as well as the ability to juke potential tacklers. He could be a real asset for Florida in 2016.
West Virginia S Kyzir White
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The White family has been good to West Virginia. Kevin White was a late-developing receiver who came to the Mountaineers and became an NFL first-round draft pick, and brother Ka’Raun White also stood out as a WVU wide receiver.
Now, their younger brother Kyzir is set to carry on the family tradition. A hard-hitting safety, Kyzir excelled at Lackawanna (Pennsylvania) College and is set to sign with the Mountaineers Wednesday. Kyzir stands 6’3", 210 pounds and is one of the nation’s top junior college prospects. Assuming he follows through with his commitment, he’ll make an immediate impact as a starter in West Virginia’s secondary.
TCU WR Taj Williams
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TCU again had one of the nation’s most productive offenses in 2015, but the Horned Frogs have some work left to keep up the pace this fall. Starting wide receivers Josh Doctson and Kolby Listenbee graduated, and while KaVontae Turpin should move into a more prominent role, Gary Patterson needs more help.
It's a perfect situation for a player like Taj Williams. The Tallahassee, Florida, native was very productive in two seasons at Iowa Western Community College. He piled up 128 receptions for 1,593 yards and 20 touchdowns in two seasons.
Williams picked TCU over Florida State and Auburn, and has already signed with the Frogs. He has good size at 6’3”, 180 pounds, and should be an immediate contributor in TCU’s system.
Texas Tech WR Derrick Willies
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Texas Tech has one of the nation’s most potent passing games. Behind Patrick Mahomes, the Red Raiders averaged 389.2 passing yards per game in 2015, No. 2 nationally. Texas Tech throws, throws and throws some more, a golden opportunity for receivers who love being involved in the offense.
Last year, Tech’s leading receiver, Jakeem Grant, made 90 receptions for 1,268 yards and 10 touchdowns. Grant has graduated, leaving an opportunity for another receiver to take over his role. His opening is Derrick Willies’ big chance.
Willies began his career at Iowa, but he left the Hawkeyes and landed at Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College. He excelled there in 2015, making 49 receptions for 1,155 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has already signed with Tech, choosing the Red Raiders over Oklahoma and Georgia. Willies should quickly establish himself as an integral part of Tech’s fast-paced passing scheme.
Georgia WR Javon Wims
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As the Kirby Smart era begins at Georgia, the Bulldogs need passing game help. Georgia’s leading receiver, Malcolm Mitchell, has graduated, and sophomore Terry Godwin (35 receptions, 379 yards, two scores) is the only returning receiver who made more than 12 catches in 2015.
Smart has hung out the “Help Wanted” sign at wide receiver, and Javon Wims has answered. Wims stands 6’4”, 215 pounds and has the size to immediately contribute in the SEC. He had 47 receptions for 775 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015 at Hinds (Mississippi) Community College.
No matter how the Bulldogs’ quarterback situation shakes out, Wims will produce early and often in UGA’s offense.
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