Bowling Green 2022 Transfer Portal Recap

 Transfer Portal Recap 2022

Twitter: BGFootballTalk

This list may not be 100% accurate but is updated to the best of my knowledge. I am going to give my opinions on each player, not meaning any disrespect but just an honest assessment of each player's impact in my opinion. 

Incoming Transfers Breakdown:

Position

QB: 1

WR: 2

TE: 1

OL: 9

DL: 1

LB: 1

DB: 2

K: 1

Total: 18

Conference

Big Ten: 1

ACC: 2

AAC: 3

Sun Belt: 2

FCS: 7

JUCO: 2

D2: 1

Outgoing Transfers Breakdown:

Position

QB: 5

RB: 1

WR: 2

TE: 2

OL: 4

DL: 3

LB: 3

DB: 4

P:1

Total: 25

Conference

ACC: 1

MAC: 1

FCS: 8

D2: 6

N/A: 8

JUCO: 1

Incoming

Chris Bacon DB Georgia State (Sun Belt) 1 year left

Chris was at Georgia State for 4 years. Entered the portal in October (mid-season) so there may have been some a disagreement over the direction of the team or playing time. Bacon had a few starts at Georgia State, a team that has been going to bowls games for a few years. I think it is a great pick-up for the Orange and Brown. The secondary is really good, but losing Devin Taylor leaves an open spot that an older player such as Bacon who only has 1 year left could potentially fill. Bacon totaled over 100 tackles and 2 INTs at Georgia State. 

Odieu Hiliare WR Alabama A&M (FCS) 2 years left

Odieu was fantastic this past season, racking up 918 yards on 71 catches for 9 touchdowns. Hiliare was all conference and is going to add some nice depth to the WR room. Even though Broden, Osborne, and Croom all return, I know Bowling Green is going to want to open up the passing game more and get the ball to more players. I hope BG can air it down the field and get vertical if needed, adding another skilled wide receiver helps that. 

Marcelo Mendiola OL Cincinnati (AAC) 3 years left

Marcelo comes to BG to bolster the offensive line that while better than expected had to play young guys that were not ready. Marcelo is a big guy who has spent 3 years in a program that has won 2 AAC Championships as well as established a world class culture. That is something that is always needed on young teams. Marcelo only played in 2 games at Cincy, so playing time is most likely the factor here. Mendiola was also a teammate of current Falcon center Jalen Grant. 

Jordan Oladokun DB Samford (FCS) 3 years left

Oladokun comes to Bowling Green after boasting 13 Power 5 offers out of high school. Jordan was committed to Iowa, before decommitting and landing at Samford. Oladokun is obviously a guy with a ton of upside potential if that many P5 schools came calling. Oladokun joins a skilled secondary, with 3 years of eligibility has time to develop and really contribute. 

Owen Rozanc K West Liberty University (D2) 1 year left

Losing all-American kicker Nate Needham, as well as the long snapper James Carolan and Punter Matt Naranjo leaves a big hole on special teams. Rozanc in my mind is likely to start right away, given this is his last year of eligibility and the uncertainty around the special teams unit going into 2022. Rozanc was a multi-year starter, earning all conference honors twice. 

Bronson Warner OL Abilene Christian (FCS) 3 years left

Bronson spent 2 years at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Abilene Christian. Warner played in 7 games in 2021. He is another guy that is going to come in and compete for a job on the line. The offensive line was unable to run block super well, so another big guy to compete is always a welcome sight. 

Jakari Robinson OL Memphis (AAC) 1 year left

Jakari comes from Memphis, previously at Cincinnati for 4 years where he played with Marcelo. Jakari started 24 games over his Cincy career, impressive being a starter on a team that good. He will be the most experienced OL on the team, likely a day one starter that will contribute immediately. Hopefully the 3 OL coming in help push this group towards its potential. 

DJ Taylor LB Wake Forest (ACC) 1 year left 

DJ comes to Bowling Green from former Falcon coach Dave Clawson. Another older guy who carries some insight from a very high quality culture/team that Clawson has built. The linebackers were great this year, but every young outside of Bryce Brand. Whether or not DJ starts or is a role player, an veteran player with great insight on how to be a student athlete is an awesome addition, as well as the only P5 transfer. Last years P5 crew proved to be a huge addition to the Falcons. Taylor racked up over 100 tackles and 2 sacks at Wake. 

Camden Orth QB Long Island University (FCS) 3 years left

Orth was the starter for the LIU Sharks last season, going 2-9 in the infancy of the LIU football program. With Riley Keller and Kody Sparks leaving, Camden provides some needed depth to the QB room. It is a loaded room, but depth is needed in college football. I respect Orth a lot leaving a starting job to come to a team in the FBS to compete for a job. Tucker Melton seems heir apparent to McDonald's throne but things can change. Whether Orth wins the job, or is a career backup, I'm excited he is going to contribute to the success of this program. Orth completed 55% of his passes, for 10 touchdowns to 5 INTs, and rushed for another score. 

Ian Drummond TE Elon (FCS) 3 years left

Drummond played in 6 games, catching one pass and mostly playing special teams for Elon. Drummond comes into a situation with a lot of good TEs such as Sims and Gazarek. BG has established a heavy TE set, 2nd in the NCAA in plays run with at least 2 TEs. It is hard for me to guess where Drummond will fall due to so many talented players so it should be a fun position battle. Need guys to come in and contribute on special teams as well. 

Kam Stewart OL Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt) 3 years left

A 3 star recruit out of high school, Stewart is a welcome addition to the OL room. Pressure makes diamonds, so bring in as many linemen as you can. The position group in the most need, it'll be very interesting to see who wins the starting jobs. Coastal is a very well run G5 program, so this is another guy who can add to the culture BG is creating. Another older guy, this is an awesome addition and huge win for Loeffler. 

Cedric Dunbar OL Jackson State (FCS) 2 years left

Dunbar comes from the Deon Sanders' coached Jackson State FCS school. Cedric is a big dude, adding some more competition to the offensive line. Dunbar started 11 games in his career and was not starting last season which likely led to his portal entry. Jackson State is a very high quality FCS program and getting another older player for the o line is big. 

CJ Lewis WR Boston College (ACC) 1 year left

CJ Lewis comes from Boston College, the last job Coach Loeffler had before coming to BG in 2019. Lewis will obviously have some familiarity with Matt McDonald as they were teammates over there in Boston. Lewis had 55 catches for 817 yards and 6 touchdowns in his career with the Eagles. CJ had multiple P5 offers and is exactly the kid of athlete that BG can scoop up in the portal that we never would have gotten out of high school. The WR room is the best its been at BG in maybe a decade, even up there with the crew from 2013-2015. 

Delonus Kabir OL Florida A&M (FCS) 4 years left

Delonus was a 3 star prospect out of high school with an offer from UCF. Kabir ended up at Florida A&M. Listed at 6'3 315, I am hyped to add another big boy to compete in the OL room. This is McDonald's last year and we NEED to protect him if we want to sniff Detroit. UCF is a high quality program, so the fact that they wanted Kabir is a great sign. Florida A&M is quality as well, so while Kabir is young and may not be a big impact year 1, we must stay future looking as well with portal additions.

Kitione Tau DL Laney CC (JUCO) 2 years left

Tau comes from the JUCO ranks. Kitione was all conference in 2021 at Laney CC. I have been hoping Coach Loeffler would dip into the JUCO pool. With the transfer portal as crazy as it is right now, there is TONS of quality JUCO players left up for grabs to schools willing to scout them. Tau has 4.5 sacks and over 50 tackles in 11 games in 2021 and will be a great rotational player right away. 

Jake Burns OL Cincinnati (AAC) 4 years left

Burns was a walk-on at Cincy, redshirting in 2020 and 2021 leaving him 4 years of eligibility. Burns is a little undersized but obviously was good enough to walk on to a fantastic Cincy team that made the playoffs while he was there and won two AAC Championships. Could have a great future in the Orange and Brown. 

Tunde Fatukasi OL Rutgers (Big Ten) 4 years left

Always nice bringing in a big body from the Big Ten. Tunde redshirted in 2020 and 2021. Fatukasi has an older brother that went to UConn and was drafted into the NFL by the Jets. The 9th offensive linemen brought in via the portal, this competition is going to be wild, and guys like Fatukasi may pay big dividends in a couple of years as he develops. 

Leiris Manzi OL Hocking College (JUCO) 4 years left

Manzi played one JUCO year so he has 4 years of eligibility left (if one is a redshirt). Another lineman is always a welcome sight for this team. 

Outgoing

Riley Keller QB Tiffin (D2) 4 years left

Keller was a huge signee for the Orange and Brown, fielding P5 offers from Ole Miss, WVU and Iowa State. However, Tucker Melton was also signed in the same class leading me to believe one of them would transfer by this time or 2023. Melton seemed to have won the backup job, leading to Keller to decide to go home, landing at Tiffin. I hope he balls out, but a really interesting scenario to go from Power 5 prospect to D2 player but he wants to play now and he will be Tiffin's day one starter. 

Sy Dabney DB Illinois State (FCS) 2 years left

Sy was a starter for 11 games last year. He racked up 75 tackles and two blocked kicks. Far and away the best transfer to leave the program this year. Dabney was a Jinks recruit who likely say the amount of depth at DB this year and decided he wanted to have a starting job 100% locked up. He was a great player who stuck it out through some real rough years here at BG and will be missed. 

Kody Sparks QB UT Martin (FCS) 4 years left

Sparks walked on to Bowling Green, I was excited to sign him. He had some interviews, sounded grateful for a chance to help in anyway, a great sign from a QB. Sparks has 4 years left, if I had to guess will go FCS if he wants to hit the field soon. Walking on to BG usually doesn't lead to a transfer  somewhere else in the FBS. Best of luck to Kody in the portal!

Sparks has since committed to FCS UT Martin. They play 2 FBS schools this year in Tennessee and Boise State. UT Martin is coming off of a great season, making it to the second round of the playoffs. 

Cole Lakatos WR Bryant (FCS) 4 years left

Cole did not hit the field in 2 years at BG so hitting the portal is very understandable. Lakatos will go to Bryant, which is an FCS school in Rhode Island. Bryant football is coming off of a solid 7-4 season, and Bryant football alum Tom Kennedy just threw a TD pass for the Lions on a cool trick play. Best of luck to Cole, the WR room is tight and going FCS provides a chance to hit the field. 

Gabe Brown OL Grand Valley State (D2) 3 years left

Gabe played in 10 games this year, all on special teams. Obviously wanting to start, Brown takes a step down to D2 GVS, located in Michigan. The OL room sees 3 transfers coming in, plus a lot of youth in the same class. With playing time at a premium, no shock here. 

Chris Oliver DL Duquesne (FCS) 3 years left

Chris racked up a lot of reps in 2019, playing in 11 games. Oliver got 11 tackles and a fumble recovery during his true freshman season. After not seeing the field in 2020 and 2021, Oliver must have seen the writing on the wall and opted to head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to play.  Oliver will be a really good addition to a mid tier FCS program. 

Jack Wardzala DL Dayton (FCS) 4 years left

Jack walked on to Bowling Green, and notched a sack against Murray State last season. Like just about every player that is leaving this year, wants to see the field more and should be a really solid player on a Dayton team coming off of a good 6-4 season. Wardzala is a hard worker and should contribute fairly early at Dayton. 

Jaylen Lawson LB N/A 4 years left

Lawson leaves after not seeing the field in his true freshman season. BGSU was his only offer according to 247 Sports, so it will be interesting to see where he lands. Hopefully Jaylen can find a school that is a better fit for him. 

Fortune Woods LB Carson-Newman (D2) 4 years left

Woods did not see the field in 2020 or 2021. According to 247, Fortune only had an offer from Bowling Green, so really not sure if there is an indicator yet as to what team he could land on. Woods has some good size so FCS is a good possibility. 

Woods has since committed to D2 Carson-Newman in Tennessee. 

Tucker Melton QB West Alabama (D2) 4 years left

Melton was seemingly the heir apparent to the starting QB spot after this season, but with Cam Orth taking reps on the second team during the spring game, Tucker hit the portal. I was real hyped about Keller and Melton being Loeffler's first QB recruits and now both are hitting the portal. Melton went 2/10 with a pick this past season, will be very interesting where he ends up. I understand the move completely as the BG QB room is jam packed and other schools may have an easier QB competition.

Melton has since committed to D2 West Alabama. Makes sense to move closer to home. I thought Melton was the future of BG but now he is gone. I wish him the best, but clearly other D1 schools were not begging to get him, so maybe the development just wasn't going as quick as Loeffler hoped. 

Malone Van Gorder OL Chattanooga (FCS) 4 years left

Van Gorder started all 12 games on the line last year, so the guess here is that with all the new linemen transferring in, he doesn't want to be a backup after getting a taste for the field. Now that his dad no longer coaches at BG, its anyone's guess where he could end up. Van Gorder was part of an O line crew last year that really struggled to no fault of their own. Its the MAC, low 3 star/walk on players should not be starting as freshmen, so while this departure hurts, it may be a sign of improvement as older players take the field. 

Elijah Eberhardt DB Alabama AM (FCS) 4 years left

Elijah shirted in 2020 and then played in 5 games with one tackle in 2021. Had some other MAC offers coming out of high school, so this is a guy who could easily transfer within the conference. Playing time in scarce in the loaded DB room right now and he likely wants to see the field soon. 

Jarrad Kerekes P N/A 4 years left

Kerekes walked onto the Falcons in 2021, redshirting the season. He is super tall at 6'6, with that kind of height should be able to land at another FBS school and compete for a job. The BG special teams room is crowded, and I can now assume Kerekes was not pegged as the starter going into an uncertain 2022 for special teams. 

Jaylen Smith WR N/A 4 years left

Smith retained his redshift for 2021, appearing in 3 games. Smith had a couple other FBS offers coming out of high school and will likely land somewhere in the lower FBS or FCS ranks. The WR room is loaded right now with Osborne, Broden, Croom, and new comer OJ taking up all the 1st team reps. Loeffler's offense also features the TEs so WR playing time behind the first few guys is nonexistent. 

LaBronz Davis QB N/A 3 years left

Davis was a walk on during the 2019 season, he appeared in 3 games, throwing a pick in his career with the Falcons. Again, this is a full QB room, only 1 guy plays, makes sense why 4 QBs are hitting the portal. If I had to guess, Davis will either be a backup at another lower level FBS school or hit the field in the FCS ranks. 

Matt Kordas DB Paloma (JUCO) 4 years left

Kordas was solid when he saw the field last year, I had a lot of hope for his future here. Stinks to lose someone I was hyped signed last season, but the DB room is deep and kids want to play now. He will likely go the JUCO route or land at another lower FBS or upper FCS school. 

Kordas has since committed to JUCO Paloma. I think Matt will work his way back to either FCS or FBS. Wishing he was still on the roster, it makes sense to get some game film before trying to find another D1 home. 

John Madden DL Ohio Dominican (D2) 4 years left

Madden did not appear in any games in 2021. The DL room is maybe the best at BG so some of the younger guys will contiue elsewhere. With the move to D2 announced, maybe FBS football just wasn't a fit for John. 

EJ Sutton RB Lock Haven University (D2) 4 years left

The RB room has a ton of depth and all of the players are young, so after not playing in 2021 as a JUCO transfer I could see him landing at a lower FCS or D2 school. 

John O'Brien OL South Dakota State (FCS) 2 years left

O'Brien was actually on the team when good ole Mike Jinks was the coach. After not being listed on the roster last season, O'Brien lands at a top FCS school, appearing in 6 games in his Falcon career. 

Tommy Guajardo TE Wayne State (D2) 4 years left

I was super hyped to get Tommy in the portal last year from Michigan State. He is a big kid, looks like a P5 athlete, but after not playing last season is heading to Wayne State. 

Aaron Washington LB East Tennessee State (FCS) 4 years left

Aaron appeared in 1 game as a Falcon in 2021. Washington has a few other FBS offers coming out of high school so I could see him staying FBS. 

Brian Kilbane OL Akron (MAC) 4 years left

Kilbane appeared in a few games in 2020 for the Falcons and was not listed on the 2021 roster. Per Akron's website, Kilbane is a preferred walk on in their 2022 class. He had a handful of FBS offers so that isn't surprising that he'll stay FBS. Will be interesting to see if we will see him on the field playing against us in the coming years. I think this is the first inter conference transfer we have ever have. 

Joey Carroll TE N/A 3 years left

Carroll entered the portal as the 2021 season was starting. He appeared in 8 games during his career at BG. I could see him landing FCS or possibly a walk on at another lower FBS program.

Jayden George QB Miami (ACC) 3 years left

George is the son of former NFL 1st overall pick Jeff George. Again, he wants to play, not just be a depth guy so Jayden heads to his 3rd school. Will always have a 2020 National Championship ring in his trophy case from his time at Alabama. 

George has since committed to the U. This is a fitting spot for Jayden in my mind. He is a competent QB with some upside who can provide depth, and be that 4th string QB who will not transfer again. Awesome for Jayden and I really hope he works his way onto the field in Miami.