College Football Trades We Wish Could Be Made in 2016
College football is one of America’s favorite sports, and with good reason. The game’s pageantry, power and tradition is largely unmatched and creates compelling storylines from September through mid-January. However, one thing separates it from professional sports—the lack of trades to improve rosters.
Sure, transfers abound, including the newly popular graduate transfer rule, which allows players to leave their current program and be eligible immediately at another program if they’ve already completed their undergraduate degree and seek a graduate degree in an area their current school doesn’t offer. Schools fill needs that way, but how fun would trades be in college football? Teams could improve their rosters and build for the present (or the future) and give players new opportunities.
The NCAA would never approve such a rule, but it’s fun to think about. Here are eight trades that should happen in the current college football landscape. Trades were evaluated on current needs and made on the condition that they would help both sides in one way or another.
Alabama QB David Cornwell for Michigan State LB Riley Bullough
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For the third consecutive season, Alabama enters preseason practice with uncertainty at quarterback. Two consecutive years of one-and-done starters in Blake Sims and Jacob Coker have left the Crimson Tide with a multi-quarterback derby. Junior Cooper Bateman, sophomore David Cornwell and freshmen Blake Barnett and Jalen Hurts will all compete, but only one can win the job.
The Crimson Tide’s depth is impressive, but a winner could lead to attrition via transfer. Why not turn that problem into a positive? Michigan State needs a quarterback following steady Connor Cook’s graduation, with fellow senior Tyler O’Connor expected to step into his shoes.
The Tide graduated three starting linebackers from 2015, with senior Reuben Foster expected to lead the way this fall. They have young talent, but experience would be welcome. Enter senior middle linebacker Riley Bullough, who led MSU with 106 tackles last fall. Dealing sophomore quarterback David Cornwell for Bullough is a deal that would benefit both sides this fall.
Baylor RB Johnny Jefferson for Utah DE Kylie Fitts
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Baylor’s summer of adversity has been well-documented, but acting head coach Jim Grobe and the Bears should still be one of the Big 12’s best teams, even after releasing 12 incoming recruits from their national letters of intent.
The Bears have plenty of offensive talent with quarterback Seth Russell, tailback Shock Linwood and receiver KD Cannon leading what should be a potent offense. That said, they have issues on both lines, with a total of one returning starter between the lines and none on the defensive line.
Baylor has backfield depth with senior Johnny Jefferson, who rushed for 1,000 yards and eight scores as a junior. Utah has a talented defensive line but needs a lead back following Devontae Booker’s graduation.
How about sending Jefferson to Utah in return for senior defensive end Kylie Fitts?
Fitts broke out as a star as a junior, making 41 tackles with eight sacks and seven tackles for loss while forcing four fumbles. His skills would immediately bolster Baylor’s D-line while Jefferson pairs with Joe Williams for a solid 1-2 punch for the Utes backfield.
Clemson WR Mike Williams for Michigan CB Jeremy Clark
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Clemson has one of the nation’s most potent offenses, led by junior quarterback and Heisman third-place finisher Deshaun Watson. The Tigers averaged 38.5 points per game last fall and return eight starters. And that doesn’t even count junior Mike Williams, who had 1,030 receiving yards as a sophomore but redshirted after suffering broken bones in his neck sustained while running into the goal post after scoring a touchdown on the Tigers’ first drive of the 2015 season.
Williams would make a great offense even better. He’s rangy with excellent deep ball skills. However, Clemson survived without him last year. The Tigers have major needs on the other side of the ball after losing six starters, including All-American cornerback Mackensie Alexander, to the NFL draft. Brent Venables’ defense returns just three starters, led by senior cornerback Cordrea Tankersley. However, the secondary is full of youth and inexperience.
If Clemson can make do without Williams, send him to Ann Arbor for Michigan senior cornerback Jeremy Clark. Clark has 13 career starts but might not even start in the Wolverines’ talented secondary. He would make an immediate impact in Clemson and shore up a weak point while young players mature behind him.
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LSU S Jamal Adams for FSU QB Malik Henry
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Les Miles has put together one of the nation’s most talented rosters at LSU, and the Tigers should be better than 2015’s 9-3 mark. After all, they’ll return 18 starters (10 on defense), led by powerful tailback Leonard Fournette, coming off a 1,953-yard, 22-touchdown sophomore season. But if there is one Achilles heel in Baton Rouge, it’s at quarterback.
Junior Brandon Harris finally took the starting job as as a sophomore and was just adequate, throwing for 2,165 yards with 13 touchdowns against six interceptions. If the Tigers had a quarterback they could really trust, they’d be an even bigger threat to win the national title.
Harris told NOLA.com's Andrew Lopez that he feels he has the best arm and best team in college football.
"I hear it all the time, and the majority of people don't know what they're talking about. I really do feel like I have the best arm in college football, and I feel like I have the best team in college football. I get it all the time – can you throw this and that? I just laugh about it. I think as we continue to grow as a team, we'll get the last laugh.
"
Enter former LSU assistant Jimbo Fisher. Fisher and Florida State enter fall with a three-way battle at quarterback. Senior Sean Maguire, who claimed the starting role in 2015, was sidelined during spring practice following ankle surgery, which allowed freshmen Deondre Francois and Malik Henry to show what they could do. Both were impressive while making plays with their arm and their feet, but only one can play at Florida State.
FSU sends Henry to LSU in return for junior All-SEC safety Jamal Adams, who can pair with rising star Derwin James to become one of the nation’s top safety tandems and better position the Seminoles secondary to take on Clemson and star quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Notre Dame QB Malik Zaire for Florida CB Quincy Wilson
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Brian Kelly has a major quandary as Notre Dame prepares for the 2016 season. He has two quality quarterbacks but can only play one. Last fall, Malik Zaire took the starting role and excelled until breaking his ankle in the second game against Virginia. Freshman DeShone Kizer took over and led the Fighting Irish to the Fiesta Bowl, passing for 2,884 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Now, with Zaire healthy, Kelly and the Irish must pick a starter. Neither separated during spring practice and will battle all the way to the season opener (and perhaps beyond). Meanwhile, the Irish have a thin secondary with only one returning starter in senior Cole Luke.
Meanwhile, Florida and coach Jim McElwain are trying to find a competent quarterback of their own between much-traveled Luke Del Rio and Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby. The Gators have a deep, talented secondary even after losing star corner Vernon Hargreaves III to the NFL draft.
Junior cornerback Quincy Wilson, an established SEC starter, would be a natural fit in the Irish secondary. And Zaire would immediately be the best quarterback on Florida’s roster. Who would say no?
Ohio State DE Tyquan Lewis for Southern California RB Ronald Jones II
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Urban Meyer is 50-4 in four seasons at Ohio State with a national title and a Big Ten title, but 2016 will bring one of his biggest challenges yet. The Buckeyes lost 12 players to the draft (including nine underclassmen), and they return just six starters across the board.
It is a talented but young and inexperienced roster, and there could be some bumps along the way. One of the thinner areas is running back. Following Ezekiel Elliott’s departure, H-back Curtis Samuel is the leading returning rusher with 132 yards. Redshirt freshman Mike Weber is the odds-on favorite to start after Bri’onte Dunn’s recent dismissal from the program. Freshman Demario McCall will help, but the Buckeyes need depth here.
Pac-12 power Southern California has a solid roster for Clay Helton’s first season as full-time coach, but the Trojans need to bolster their defensive line, which returns no starters. Defensive end Tyquan Lewis, who had eight sacks last fall, would be an excellent fit for the Trojans line.
Who would go to Columbus? The Trojans have a deep backfield, and Ronald Jones II (who had 987 yards and eight scores last fall) would make a very good lead back for Weber and McCall to learn from.
Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon for Texas A&M WR Ricky Seals-Jones
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In Lincoln Riley’s first season as Oklahoma offensive coordinator, the Sooners put together one of the nation’s most potent attacks, averaging 43.5 points per game, which ranked No. 4 nationally. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns and rushed for another 405 yards and seven scores on the ground.
However, he lost his best receiving target to graduation in Sterling Shepard, who took his 86 receptions, 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns to the NFL. No. 2 receiver Dede Westbrook, who had 46 catches for 743 yards and four scores last fall, will be expected to take on a bigger load, and Penn State graduate transfer Geno Lewis can help, too.
But OU needs more. A powerful run game took a bit of a backseat to the passing game last fall, as OU averaged 222.1 rushing yards per game and 308.2 passing per game. The Sooners have one of the nation’s top backfield duos in powerful Samaje Perine and speedy Joe Mixon.
OU and Texas A&M already kind of “traded” quarterbacks last offseason, with Trevor Knight transferring to A&M and earning the starting role after Kyler Murray bolted for Norman (where he’ll redshirt behind Mayfield). A&M has a talented stable of wide receivers, but its leading returning rusher is James White, who had 196 yards and a score.
Send Mixon to College Station in return for A&M receiver Ricky Seals-Jones, who has excellent athleticism and size in a 6’5”, 240-pound frame. He had 45 receptions for 560 yards and four touchdowns as a junior, and playing with Mayfield could unlock his potential. Meanwhile, Mixon would be a standout as the Aggies’ lead tailback. No more sharing carries would do him and A&M a world of good.
Oregon RB Taj Griffin for Oklahoma State LB Jared Burton
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Oregon had a bit of a down season, by its standards, in 2015. In their first post-Marcus Mariota season, the Ducks were streaky and finished with a 9-4 record after blowing a 31-0 halftime lead to TCU in the Alamo Bowl. Defense was a major issue; the Ducks allowed 485.3 yards per game, No. 117 nationally. Defensive coordinator Don Pellum was demoted and replaced by former Michigan coach Brady Hoke.
Oregon needs help up front; junior defensive tackle Henry Mondeaux is the only returning starter in the front seven. The backfield is a position of strength that could take a hit. Royce Freeman is a true No. 1 back after rushing for 1,836 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore, and Taj Griffin had a very solid freshman year, going for 570 rushing yards and seven scores.
Oklahoma State needs help in its backfield. The Cowboys have a potent offense but ranked No. 114 nationally in rushing last year, and top returning rusher Chris Carson had just 517 yards and five scores. Barry Sanders Jr. transferred from Stanford, but Carson could use more competition. Griffin heads to Stillwater for another fast-paced offense, and All-Big 12 linebacker Jordan Burton (who had 98 tackles last fall) joins the Oregon defense to play either linebacker or safety. It’s a good deal for both sides.
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