With four games of the 2021 college football season done, we have some stats to see which transfers from this past offseason are making the biggest impact for their new teams.
Not every big name who transferred has started or contributed, but a handful of players are already sticking out and making a difference. So far, the offensive players are the ones making the biggest names for themselves, but a few top defenders have already risen to the top as well.
Here is a look at 10 of the most impactful transfers so far this season and what they've done to get on this list.
RB Kenneth Walker III
Michigan State
Walker transferred from Wake Forest and has made an immediate impact on a Michigan State run game that ranked 123rd in rushing yards per game last season (91.4 yards). This season, the Spartans are averaging 215.5 yards per game and are No. 21 among all FBS programs.
Walker has played a big part in that, leading all FBS running backs with 554 total rushing yards this season. He has five touchdowns on the ground and also leads all backs with 368 rushing yards after contact. Walker has been a huge addition to Michigan State's offense and has played a big part in the team starting the season 4-0.
Charbonnet was a top back out of high school and saw success at Michigan before transferring to UCLA. The Bruins staff was excited about adding Charbonnet to the offense, and he has not disappointed so far.
His seven rushing touchdowns this season are only one off the most in college football, and he's averaging 7.83 yards per carry for the Bruins. Charbonnet had 118 rushing yards and 57 receiving yards in UCLA's win over Stanford and has gone over 100 yards in three of his four games this season.
There was a huge need at defensive end for Penn State this season after some departures to the NFL and injuries prior to the season. Ebiketie was a star at Temple before transferring to Penn State and has already made a big impact for the Nittany Lions.
In the season opener against Wisconsin, Ebiketie blocked a field goal, had two tackles for loss and seven total tackles in the game. He now leads the team in tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (two), and he is third on the team in total tackles with 19. Ebiketie has provided the presence on the edge that Penn State was missing and has helped fill a big gap through four games so far this season.
Oklahoma has had its fair share of quarterbacks, and Mordecai was a Sooners signal-caller who transferred to SMU. Since being named the Mustangs' starter, he has thrived.
Through four games, Mordecai leads all FBS quarterbacks in touchdowns per attempt, throwing for a TD on 14.4% of his passes. He is third in catchable pass attempt percentage with 88.5% of his passes deemed catchable, showing he is giving his teammates a better chance to succeed. Mordecai is eighth in total passing yards and has the most touchdown passes of any FBS quarterback with 20 touchdowns on the season.
QB Bailey Zappe
Western Kentucky
Zappe has been flying under the radar compared to some of the other transfers. He has the sixth-most touchdown passes of any quarterback (13) and has thrown only two interceptions on 119 attempts.
He transferred to Western Kentucky from Houston Baptist with a few teammates and has been on fire since the season opener. WKU ranked 112th in passing yards per game last season at 164.3. This season, the Hilltoppers are ranked No. 2 with 426 passing yards per game. Zappe and his efficiency has led that turnaround.
Zappe is ranked in the top 10 of all quarterbacks for completion percentage, total pass yards, yards per attempt, pass touchdowns, interceptions thrown, completions of 20 or more yards, touchdowns per attempt -- you get the picture. To say he has made a giant impact for Western Kentucky would be an understatement.
Robinson was billed as an electric recruit out of high school who almost signed with Kentucky. He picked Nebraska instead but wound up back at Kentucky anyway after transferring prior to this season.
Through four games, he has 402 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns for the Wildcats. He's averaging 16.08 yards per reception and has 113 yards after catch. Robinson is Kentucky's leading receiver in both total yards and touchdown receptions. He's averaging a little over 100 yards per game so far and has helped his team to a 4-0 start in 2021.
Williams transferred from Ohio State to Alabama, which is an interesting journey from elite offensive school to elite offensive school. Williams has been a big success at Alabama so far in multiple facets of the game.
He leads all Alabama receivers with 299 yards and three receiving touchdowns, while averaging 24.92 yards per catch. Williams has also been active in the kick return game, returning five kicks for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
Williams has already broken records at Alabama and within the SEC. He's the first player in Alabama history with a 80-yard touchdown catch and a kickoff return for a touchdown in the same game, and he's the first player in SEC history with two kickoff return touchdowns and a receiving touchdown in a game.
DE Jermaine Johnson II
Florida State
Johnson was billed as one of the most important transfers prior to the season, leaving Georgia for Florida State. He has lived up to the hype so far this season and has given the Seminoles a dominant presence on the edge.
Johnson is tied for the FBS lead in sacks (5.5) through the first four weeks of the season. He leads the team in sacks, tackles for loss and total tackles. He has been a bright spot in what has amounted to a dismal start for Florida State.
LB Henry To'o To'o
Alabama
Prior to transferring to Alabama, To'o To'o was already a big name on Tennessee's defense. He was a top-50 recruit out of high school and was also viewed as one of the top transfers coming into the season.
To'o To'o has been a leader for Alabama's defense at linebacker and has been a playmaker from the start. He has the most total tackles on the team with 25 and always seems to be around the football. That's saying something given the depth at linebacker in Tuscaloosa with Will Anderson Jr., Christian Harris and Drew Sanders.
A former Clemson Tiger, Kendrick transferred to Georgia and has been a big help in the secondary this season. He had the chance to face his former team in the season opener and had three tackles in a 10-3 win.
Kendrick has been a big part in Georgia's pass defense, which ranks No. 1 in passing yards allowed per game, No. 2 in interceptions per pass attempt, No. 2 in opponent completion percentage and No. 4 in touchdowns allowed per attempt.
He has six total tackles and one interception this season. He also has four pass breakups, which is the most on the team.