Here is a handful of defensive player whose decision to transfer has provided their new teams with a big boost.
Terrence Alexander, CB
Stanford to LSU
The Buzz: Alexander is one of a trio of transfers to land with LSU this offseason. The cornerback joins the Tigers after four years on the West Coast at Stanford where he amassed 42 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble while contributing to the Cardinal secondary. He'll join a unit that ranked sixth in the SEC in pass defense with 12 interceptions while allowing just four pass plays of 40-or-more yards in 2017.
Deontay Anderson, S
Ole Miss to Houston
The Buzz: Much like LSU, Houston is adding a tremendous amount of talent in the offseason via the transfer market. One of those additions is Anderson, a former four-star safety who received a special eligibility waiver from the NCAA after sitting out last season following playing his freshman year at Ole Miss. In his one season with the Rebels, Anderson registered 32 tackles and an interception in 11 games. The Cougars featured a pass defense that ranked near the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision last season and should benefit desperately from his presence in 2018.
Kenny Bigelow, DL
USC to West Virginia
The Buzz: The oft-injured Bigelow was one of the top defensive players in the nation when he signed with Southern California as an early enrollee in 2013. After redshirting his freshman season, big things were expected out of Bigelow but those plans were derailed after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in 2014. He suffered the same injury that cost him his 2016 season. Now he hopes for a fresh start on a West Virginia defensive front that must be rebuilt this offseason.
Breiden Fehoko, DL
Texas Tech to LSU
The Buzz: A four-star tackle who was the cornerstone of Texas Tech's 2015 recruiting class; a class that ranked third-best in the Big 12 and No. 32 overall according to 247Sports. Fehoko was a two-year starter for the Red Raiders, collecting 38 total tackles and 2.0 sacks during his time in Lubbock. He joins an LSU front that is in desperate needs of experience following the departure of Christian LaCouture, a three-year letter winner. He'll provide the Tigers with a nice complimentary piece to Rashard Lawrence at end.
Alohi Gilman, DB
Navy to Notre Dame
The Buzz: Gilman stepped into the starting role for the Midshipmen back in 2016 where he totaled 76 tackles including 5.0 tackles for loss and two fumble returns with one for a touchdown. After sitting out last season per the NCAA's transfer rules, the Hawaii native returns to the field this fall at Notre Dame. He'll step into a Fighting Irish secondary that's gone through some transition with the departure of Nick Watkins via graduate transfer route.
Kiy Hester, S
Rutgers to FIU
The Buzz: Hester's college career path is apparently coming full-circle with the New Jersey native returning to South Florida where he started his career with the Miami Hurricanes. He'll end it down the road at FIU where the Panthers can benefit from the addition of the three-year starter who earned All-Big Ten honors after registering 37 tackles with three interceptions: two of which were returned for touchdowns. FIU has had two interceptions returns in 13 interceptions over the past two seasons.
JT Ibe, S
Rice to South Carolina
The Buzz: Ibe provides the Gamecocks with some much-needed experience in their secondary after playing in 31 games over the past three seasons while at Rice. During his time with the Owls, he finished with 121 total tackles including six tackles for loss and eight passes defended. He joins a South Carolina secondary which ranked near the bottom of the SEC in pass defense (226 yards per game) and will already benefit from the addition of fellow transfer Nick Harvey.
Jawuan Johnson, LB
Texas Tech to TCU
The Buzz: Johnson is coming off a career season at Northern Illinois, one in which he led the team in interceptions (5) and forced fumbles (5) while finishing second on the team in tackles (98.0), tackles for loss (18.0). It's a coup for TCU and Gary Patterson to land a transfer of Johnson's caliber especially with the Horned Frogs looking to replace leading tackler senior Travin Howard (108) this season.
Jabril Robinson, DT
Clemson to West Virginia
The Buzz: The Mountaineers added another piece to their defensive front with the addition of Robinson, a three-star tackle who spent much of the past three seasons buried on the Clemson depth chart. In 13 games for the Tigers, he registered 27 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. Robinson would join the likes of fellow transfer Kenny Bigelow on a revamped front that now features plenty of depth heading into 2018.
Tre Watson, LB
Illinois to Maryland
The Buzz: Watson is a welcome addition to a Maryland defense that ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten in total defense after allowing more than 37 points and nearly 420 yards per game in 2017. In three seasons at Illinois, the Tampa native accumulated 188 total tackles including 10 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He steps into the heart of the defense after the departure of Jermaine Carter Jr.
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