The landscape of college football recruiting is shifting, particularly within the Pac-12. As the transfer portal has closed, teams are now focusing on their new defensive assets for the upcoming season. Here”s a rundown of the standout defensive transfers affecting the Pac-12 legacy schools.
Arizona has bolstered its secondary by adding cornerback Daylen Austin from Oregon. Austin, who hails from Southern California, faced challenges during his time at Oregon but is now poised to make a significant impact in Arizona, where his speed and skills will be crucial in defending against rival receivers.
Arizona State picked up linebacker Owen Long from Colorado State. An All-Mountain West selection, Long tallied over 150 tackles before entering the transfer portal. Surprisingly, he chose Arizona State over offers from Indiana, Oklahoma, and UCLA, where he is expected to step in immediately under head coach Kenny Dillingham.
Cal secured safety Kingston Lopa, who previously played for Oregon. Lopa originally committed to Oregon to play for coach Tosh Lupoi, and with Lupoi now at Cal, he followed him to Berkeley, where he will add depth to the Bears” defensive backfield.
Colorado welcomed safety Boo Carter from Tennessee. Although Carter was a vital member of Tennessee”s defense, interpersonal issues led to a breakup that was expected. Coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes now provide him a fresh start.
Oregon added safety Koi Perich from Minnesota. Perich, a former Navy All-American Bowl MVP, surprised many by entering the transfer portal, but he is set to make an immediate impact in Oregon”s defense.
Oregon State strengthened its defensive line with Daniel Matagi from Portland State. After starting at Central Washington, Matagi transitioned to Portland State before opting to join the Beavers under new head coach Jamarcus Shepherd.
Stanford scored a significant transfer in cornerback Leroy Bryant from Washington. After playing a key role for the Huskies, Bryant entered the transfer portal and opted for Stanford over several SEC programs, making an immediate impact on the Cardinal defense.
UCLA added edge rusher Sahir West from James Madison. West was a freshman All-American and played a pivotal role in the Sun Belt championship. After his coach departed, he chose to follow him to UCLA, filling a critical need for a pass rush.
USC acquired edge rusher Zuriah Fisher from Penn State. Injuries hindered Fisher”s time at Penn State, but he is expected to rejuvenate his career at USC, contributing to their pass rush.
Utah bolstered its defensive line with Ethan Day from North Texas. Day had an impressive season with 53 tackles and 4.5 sacks, and his decision to join Utah reflects the program”s reputation for developing defensive linemen under head coach Morgan Scalley.
Washington landed cornerback Emmanuel Karnley from Virginia. Karnley had a complicated recruitment process but eventually returned to coach Jedd Fisch, where he is expected to emerge as a top cornerback for the Huskies.
Finally, Washington State added edge rusher Linus Zunk from Vanderbilt. Zunk, who is originally from Germany, aims for a starting position after his time at Vanderbilt and will be instrumental in the Cougars” revamped defensive strategy.
These transfers indicate a strategic effort among Pac-12 schools to enhance their defensive capabilities as they prepare for the upcoming season.
