Five sleeper transfers in the Big 12
The Big 12 brought in several high-profile transfers this offseason, but now it's time for Rivals.com to take a look a few "sleepers" who are poised to make an immediate impact in 2023.
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MORE TRANSFER SLEEPERS: SEC | Big Ten | ACC
FIVE KEY POSITION BATTLES: ACC | Big Ten | SEC | Big 12 | Pac-12
BEST AVAILABLE: QB | RB | WR | OL | DT | DE | LB | DB
BIGGEST IMPACT TRANSFERS: ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | SEC | Pac-12
TRANSFER SUPERLATIVES: SEC | Big 12 | Big Ten | Pac-12
RIVALS TRANSFER PORTAL: Transfer portal team rankings formula explained | Transfer portal player ranking | Transfer Tracker | Latest news | Message board
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Holmes is part of a three-man transfer haul for the Longhorns but isn't getting the same kind of attention as the other two -- Georgia receiver AD Mitchell and Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon -- are. Nonetheless, Holmes has a chance to make his presence felt in the secondary at Texas after transferring in from Wake Forest.
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Speed, speed, speed. That is what McCray brings to Texas Tech. McCray arrives in Lubbock after demonstrating the ability to be a big-play threat on the FCS level. He can be exactly what the Red Raiders are looking for to complement Jerand Bradley in Zach Kittley's passing attack.
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Banks arrives in Manhattan after playing his first three seasons at Mississippi State. While in the SEC, Banks became a key player in the defensive line rotation and totaled 26 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks. He brings valuable experience and versatility to the Wildcats.
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Wright hit the transfer portal and opted to stay in the same state, transferring from Tulsa over to Oklahoma State. Now in Stillwater, Wright fills a need at linebacker that was important for the Cowboys to address once Mason Cobb entered the portal. At Tulsa, Wright earned all-conference honors and recorded 101 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions last season.
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Kansas head coach Lance Leipold has done a tremendous job of using the transfer portal to his advantage and that continued this offseason with the Jayhawks. Phillips has transferred in from Colorado State. He started 36 games with the Rams and provides Kansas with an experienced and talented player up front to help replace breakout defender Lonnie Phelps.