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Reed Harris Hoping to Fill Void in Arizona State Receiving Room
With star receiver Jordyn Tyson headed to the New Orleans Saints, Kenny Dillingham's receiving room has a gaping hole. He grabbed former Boston College receiver Reed Harris in the transfer portal, and the early returns have been great. Standing 6-foot-5, Harris is a big play threat. He averaged 17.3 yards per catch last season, and 28.6 the year before. The big-bodied receiver has consistently stood out this spring, and is a good bet to be the top producer in Arizona State's passing game. Harris had 673 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore, and will look to put together a career season in Tempe.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nick Marsh Gearing Up for Breakout
Indiana wide receiver Nick Marsh put up career highs in yards (662) and touchdowns (six) as a sophomore at Michigan State last season. To anybody watching him play, it is evident that he's bursting with talent; he just hasn't strung the season-long numbers together due to poor quarterback play and a lackluster offensive system in East Lansing. That should all change this year as he heads to Bloomington to help replace the departed Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. Marsh should step in and instantly be the top receiver for transfer quarterback Josh Hoover. Paired with playoff breakout star Charlie Becker, the Hoosiers should bear a formidable passing offense yet again.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Drew Mestemaker Looking to Catapult Oklahoma State Offense in 2026
Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker followed head coach Eric Morris from North Texas to Stillwater, Oklahoma, with hopes of revitalizing an offense that scored just over 14 points per game in last season's one-win year. Mestemaker led the nation with 4,379 passing yards and also threw for 34 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman at North Texas last season, seemingly coming out of nowhere. Playing in the Big 12 is a big step up for the young signal caller, but he brings a level of stability to the position that the program hasn't seen since the Mason Rudolph days. It may not all come together in one season for Oklahoma State, but Mestemaker could be gearing up for another big year in 2026.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rocco Becht Brings Experience to New-Look Nittany Lions
Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht is graded as the sixth-best newcomer, per ESPN's Billy Tucker. Starting at Iowa State for the majority of the past three seasons, Becht has accumulated 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns in his career. His leadership and experience in Matt Campbell's system give the Nittany Lions a safe floor in year one of a new era. Becht has won 26 college football games, led the Cyclones to their first 11-win season in program history, and has all of the elements that a fan could dream of in a collegiate quarterback.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Can Trey White, Adam Trick Keep Texas Tech's Defensive Front Elite?
Texas Tech arguably had the best defensive line in college football in 2025, but the Red Raiders had to go back to the transfer portal for 2026 after losing David Bailey, Lee Hunter, Romello Height, and Skylar Gill-Howard all to the NFL Draft. To rebuild one of the nation's best units from a season ago, Joey McGuire landed a pair of stars in Trey White (San Diego State) and Adam Trick (Miami OH). White earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in both 2024 and 2025, compiling 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Trick broke out in 2025, racking up 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles for Chuck Martin's RedHawks. The duo has high expectations to live up to and will look to keep the Red Raiders on the top of the Big 12.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Devon Dampier is Key to Success for Morgan Scalley in Year 1
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier chose to return to Utah after leading the Utes to an 11-2 season in his first year with the program. Despite former head coach Kyle Whittingham departing for Michigan, Dampier stayed loyal after new head coach Morgan Scalley recruited him back. Scalley recalls the process in getting his quarterback back, stating "Just going to Devon and really going over to his apartment, saying, 'Dude, this sucks for you. You have your coordinator leave, head coach leave, and no one really is saying sorry, but here I am. I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm sorry you're having to deal with uncertainty. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.'" Dampier produced over 3,300 total yards and 34 touchdowns with five interceptions in his first season at the P4 level, instantly becoming one of college football's star. His retention puts Utah on the map heading into the 2026 season.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Can Eric Singleton Jr. Fully Break Out at Third School?
Florida wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. enters the 2026 season playing for his third program in three years. He spent his freshman and sophomore years at Georgia Tech before a one-year run at Auburn last season. Now, he will reunite with his Yellow Jackets offensive coordinator, Buster Faulkner. Singleton has game-breaking ability, but he hasn't been a volume-heavy wideout so far in his collegiate career. Through his first 36 games, he has tallied 162 receptions for 2,002 yards and 12 touchdowns. He's also rushed 36 times for 201 yards and one score. His familiarity with Faulkner's system could give him a head start over fellow wideouts Vernell Brown and Dallas Wilson, but overall, it should be a talented pass-catching group. A big season in 2026 could propel Singleton into an early-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Katin Houser Steps into QB1 Role for Illinois
After an excellent three-year stretch from Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer, the program brought in East Carolina transfer Katin Houser to run Barry Lunney Jr.'s offense in 2026. Houser joins the squad with one year of eligibility remaining after two years at Michigan State and two seasons with the Pirates. Last season, he set career highs in completion percentage (65.9%), passing yards (3,300), passing touchdowns (19), rushing yards (193), and rushing touchdowns (nine). Replacing Altmyer, who was responsible for 69 touchdowns over the last three seasons, won't be easy, and Houser will play a big part in determining how far the Illini can go this season. "Houser has a compact release that allows him to get the ball out quickly, and he consistently places throws where only his receiver can make a play," ESPN's Billy Tucker wrote. "He can extend plays with his legs, though he is more functional as a runner than a quarterback who takes over games with mobility." Houser draws easier matchups to start his career with games against UAB, Duke, and Southern Miss before a Week 4 outing at Ohio State.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Savion Hiter an Immediate Impact Freshman for Michigan
Michigan running back Savion Hiter decided to honor his commitment to the program despite the coaching change from Sherrone Moore to Kyle Whittingham this offseason, and the five-star ball carrier is in a position to carve out a role right away for the Wolverines. Michigan returns 2025 leading rusher Jordan Marshall, but Justice Haynes left for Georgia Tech via the transfer portal, opening the door for Hiter. "Hiter should contribute early in short yardage and clock management situations," ESPN's Billy Tucker wrote. With his role likely expanding as his all-around game continues to develop." The Virginia native tallied 4,340 rushing yards and 62 rushing touchdowns over his final three high school campaigns. He has the makings of a future All-Big Ten running back, with unlimited upside.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Isaiah Horton Set to Take Over KC Concepcion's Role
After spending three seasons at Miami and one year at Alabama, wide receiver Isaiah Horton transferred to Texas A&M this offseason, where he is expected to take over KC Concepcion's role on offense. Horton ranks No. 12 on ESPN Billy Tucker's Top 100 College Football Newcomers list entering the 2026 campaign. "Texas A&M needed a true No. 1 boundary receiver after losing KC Concepcion from last year's passing attack," Tucker wrote. "The Aggies are looking for a reliable focal point in the passing game to complement Mario Craver, support quarterback Marcel Reed, and stabilize a receivers room that lacked a true big body." The 6'4" Horton, who ranked second in the SEC in touchdown grabs (eight), fills that need for the Aggies. Catching passes from Cam Ward and Ty Simpson over the last two years, Horton tallied 98 receptions for 1,127 yards and 13 touchdowns. Texas A&M's pass-catching group should remain a strength despite the loss of Concepcion, and Horton will play a big part in that.
Source: Billy Tucker - ESPN
Source: Billy Tucker - ESPN
UCLA Transfer Karson Gordon Signs with Austin Peay
Former UCLA quarterback Karson Gordon has signed with Austin Peay, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Gordon was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024 out of Texas, but has yet to log a stat in his collegiate career. He sat behind Ethan Garbers as a freshman before backing up Nico Iamaleava in 2025. While the step down to the FCS level can be viewed as a negative, he can find his way back on an FBS roster with some development and playing time. Iamaleava returns as the Bruins' starter in 2026, and his younger brother, Madden, will likely serve as the team's QB2.
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Will Muschamp Bringing New Intensity to Texas Practices
Despite having a strong defense for most of the last few seasons, Texas replaced defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski with Will Muschamp this offseason. Muschamp is known for being a fiery coach on the field, and that has already been the case during his second stint in Austin. "This is a violent sport, a physical sport, and you can't coach people with gloves on, if that makes sense," defensive tackle Hero Kanu said. "I really love that about Coach Muschamp. He's professional about it. He doesn't cross a line or anything like that, but he's intense and coaches you that way every single day." Muschamp knows he's viewed as an intense coach who pushes his players, and he's not trying to change that. "I think players want to be coached hard," Muschamp said. "The good ones do. If they don't, then they probably don't need to come to Texas. That would be my advice for them." The 54-year-old spent the last five years on Georgia's defensive staff following stints as South Carolina's head coach, Auburn's defensive coordinator, Florida's head coach, and Texas' defensive coordinator. He is viewed as one of the top defensive minds in college football, and the program is hoping his SEC experience yields great results in 2026.
Source: On3
Source: On3
SEC Coach Calls Buster Faulkner a "Home-Run Hire"
One of Florida head coach Jon Sumrall's first moves was to bring in former Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to run the show on offense in Gainesville, and according to one anonymous SEC coach, it was a "home-run hire." "Faulkner can coach offensive football," the coach said. "It is such a departure from what anybody in the SEC does offensively, and they're gonna have a couple games where they have an advantage because everything is so new schematically." The 44-year-old joined the Yellow Jackets staff in 2023 and had strong offensive success with Haynes King at quarterback. Last year, Georgia Tech finished second in the ACC in total offense per game (460) and averaged 32.2 points per game. Florida's quarterback battle between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr., and Philo could have the leg up, thanks to his previous experience with Faulkner as a Georgia Tech backup.
Source: Athlon Sports
Source: Athlon Sports
Auburn a Sleeper in the SEC Under Alex Golesh?
Following a disappointing three-year stretch, Auburn moved on from former head coach Hugh Freeze and replaced him with USF head coach Alex Golesh. Golesh has been known for his high-powered offenses at Tennessee (as offensive coordinator) and with the Bulls. His offenses have averaged at least 31 points over the last three seasons, and with quarterback Byrum Brown following him to Auburn, at least one anonymous coach in the SEC thinks the Tigers could be successful right away. "You bring your quarterback with you, and there's not a big learning curve there. I could see them having success," the coach said. "They were really good on defense last year. They were the best defense that we saw. You add some offense with it, and they can be pretty good." As always, it won't be easy in the SEC, and it has road dates with Tennessee, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Alabama on its schedule in 2026.
Source: AthlonSports.com
Source: AthlonSports.com
Noah Fifita Primed for Strong 2026 Campaign
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita is entering his fourth year as the program's starter in 2026. The 22-year-old has completed 64.9% of his passes for 9,183 yards, 73 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions across 40 career games (34 starts). He had an excellent redshirt freshman season in 2023, struggled in 2024, and bounced back in 2025. With a ton of experience under his belt entering his fifth-year senior season, he could be one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country. "[Fifita] is freaking electric. He's one of the best quarterbacks in the country," an anonymous Big 12 coach said to Athlon Sports. "His off-schedule playmaking ability is unbelievable. When he gets flushed out of the pocket, the play begins. I thought their wideouts were really good." Arizona has the fourth-best odds to win the Big 12, according to ESPN (+1800), but Fifita could give the Wildcats a chance to sneak into conference title contention during his final year on campus.
Source: On3
Source: On3
