After Kansas State lost to Tulane on Sept. 17, coach Chris Klieman and offensive coordinator Collin Klein met with transfer quarterback Adrian Martinez.
Their message: Let it rip.
"I don't think there was a confidence issue," Kleiman told ESPN. "We were playing really good defense early and he didn't want to put the defense in a tough spot. It was his ability to get more comfortable with what we were doing offensively and play fast, and if he makes a mistake, he makes a mistake, but do it aggressively."
Since the Tulane game, Martinez has been the quarterback Kansas State hoped he could be after a productive but turbulent four seasons at Nebraska. He has 350 pass yards, 319 rush yards and nine touchdowns (seven rush, two pass) in wins over Oklahoma and Texas Tech, propelling Kansas State to No. 20 in the AP Poll.
Martinez is among the many transfer quarterbacks around college football impacting the first half of the 2022 season. He's also in a smaller but notable group of older players -- grown-man transfers, if you will -- who have found new programs later in their careers, hoping to end on a strong note.
"The 40-plus games he's played has shown," Klieman said. "He's gotten us into so many good calls, has done a great job of making checks at the line of scrimmage. That's helped us, going to the tempo, no-huddle stuff where Adrian feels comfortable. He sees it and he's a step ahead of people and gets us in a really good call. That's a sign of somebody very mature, who has played a ton of football."
Transfers are once again shaping the college football season, and not just at the quarterback position. ESPN spoke to coaches from every Power 5 league about 25 standout transfers who changed teams this offseason -- from opposing teams, and some on their own team. The list doesn't include every significant transfer, but I tried to identify those who have caught coaches' eyes, including a robust group of quarterbacks and some players flying under the radar.
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Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Offensive line
Defensive line | Linebackers | Secondary
QUARTERBACKS
JT Daniels, West Virginia
Previous team: Georgia
2022 numbers: 1,209 pass yards, 8 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 63.7% completions, 71.5 QBR
Breakdown: West Virginia is 2-3 but Daniels has performed well after arriving from Georgia. His reunion with offensive coordinator Graham Harrell -- the two briefly worked together at USC before Daniels' ACL tear -- has been good for both. After a so-so debut against Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, Daniels has completed 65.5% of his passes with six touchdowns and one interception in WVU's last four games.
What they're saying: "We thought he was a good player, throws a really, really good deep ball," an opposing coach said. "JT Daniels could possibly be an NFL quarterback. Obviously he's got to stay healthy. He could be playing at Georgia, or the NFL, if he could stay healthy."
Jayden Daniels, LSU
Previous team: Arizona State
2022 numbers: 915 pass yards, 6 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 67.9% completions, 79.6 QBR, 60 carries, 321 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
Breakdown: Despite LSU's opening loss to Florida State, Daniels has played well with his new team, looking more like the quarterback who impressed early in his ASU career. He has avoided major mistakes and shown good mobility, eclipsing 50 rushing yards in three of five games. His accuracy has been a bit choppy with three games at better than 73%, but only 40% in the come-from-behind win over Auburn.
What they're saying: "He's a very capable passer," an opposing defensive coordinator said. "He throws it well enough to get people's attention where I think he can get into an NFL camp. He's got a strong-enough arm, he's accurate enough, he can get out of sacks. Just from a skill set, he's a good player. He can kick out of tackles and create offense for them."
Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
Previous team: UCF
2022 numbers: 1,215 pass yards, 12 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 63.9% completions, 76.6 QBR, 126 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
Breakdown: Gabriel's talent jumped out to those who coached him at UCF, like current Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, and those who faced him in the AAC, like TCU coach Sonny Dykes (formerly at SMU) and TCU defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie (formerly at Tulsa). The only question was how Gabriel would transition to the Power 5.
What they're saying: "There's always unknowns because you're walking into something that's different," Lebby told me. "Not necessarily me, but people outside wonder, 'Is he a real guy?'" Before leaving Saturday's loss to TCU with a head injury, Gabriel had quieted concerns with his accuracy and playmaking ability, especially coming off of a broken collarbone last year. Both Dykes and Gillespie cited Gabriel's competitiveness in their evaluation. "A really mature guy," Dykes told me. "He just seems like one of those guys who never panics. That's his biggest strength. He runs well enough where he can be a problem, but also, too, what he does really well is stay alive in the pocket and get the ball down the field. I would worry more about him pulling it down, finding some time and then throwing a 40-, 50-yard pass, because he does that very well."
Jayden de Laura, Arizona
Previous team: Washington State
2022 numbers: 1,633 pass yards, 14 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 62.8% completions, 75.5 QBR, 60 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown
Breakdown: The 2021 Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year has been productive, eclipsing 200 pass yards with at least one touchdown in all five games. Arizona coach Jedd Fisch is giving de Laura plenty of opportunities to throw, as he has at least 35 attempts in four of five games and 45 or more in three contests. But he also threw five combined interceptions in losses to Mississippi State and Cal.
What they're saying: The word Pac-12 defensive coaches used to describe de Laura before the season is being repeated five games into his Arizona career. "Gunslinger," a Pac-12 defensive assistant said. "He's added some downfield elements to their offense. But he makes some throws that I'm sure make the coaches hold their breath."
Adrian Martinez, Kansas State
Adrian Martinez runs for 12-yard touchdown
Previous team: Nebraska
2022 numbers: 654 pass yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 62.2% completions, 72.5 QBR, 469 rush yards, 9 rushing touchdowns
Breakdown: Martinez arrived at Kansas State in January but was still recovering from surgery on his throwing shoulder, and would not fully participate in on-field work until preseason camp. Klieman doesn't get wrapped up with Martinez's time at Nebraska, but Martinez's issues with turnovers (30 interceptions, 16 lost fumbles) marred an otherwise record-setting career in Lincoln. Kansas State's goal was to get "under-control aggressive" from Martinez, who has formed a potent rushing tandem with Wildcats running back Deuce Vaughn. The two have combined for 1,107 rush yards on 182 carries in five games.
What they're saying: "That's the thing that makes us more difficult to defend," Klieman said of having both Martinez and Vaughn. "Deuce can give him a lot of relief but then they still have to honor Adrian when he pulls it." Martinez is also settling into the system under Klein, who became a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2012 largely because of his running ability. Klein finished his K-State career with 2,455 rushing yards and 60 touchdowns. "It's a great comfort level for CK, to have a guy [Martinez] who is very similar to what he was, a guy who was a difference maker as a runner, but also a really good, efficient passer and gaining more and more confidence in the throw game," Kleiman said.
Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Previous team: Indiana
2022 numbers: 1,733 pass yards, 16 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 65.5% completions, 78.7 QBR
Breakdown: Penix's extensive injury history and struggles during the 2021 season made it easy to forget how feared he was for part of the 2020 season, when he had 491 pass yards and five touchdowns against Ohio State, and 342 pass yards and three scores against Michigan. His reunion with Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, who served as Indiana's offensive coordinator in 2019, has helped the junior recapture his best form. Washington's coaches knew about Penix's physical tools, but knew he needed to be more consistent, even when healthy, to maximize his potential. Other than the first half of Friday's loss to UCLA, Penix has looked sharp and shown the most accuracy since his year with DeBoer at Indiana in 2019 (68.8% completions).
What they're saying: "A very good player," a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. "All the throws he can make, his concentration, amazing arm." One person noted that the past offseason marked the first where Penix wasn't coming off of an injury since high school. "He's been through a lot of things, and you think about the refinement process for him as a quarterback, we're not surprised that he's in this place he's in right now," a Washington source said. "Having an entire winter to really build his body up to full strength has been critical for him."
Cam Ward, Washington State
Previous team: Incarnate Word
2022 numbers: 1,445 pass yards, 13 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 68.6% completions, 60.8 QBR
Breakdown: USC's Caleb Williams carried the most attention among transfer quarterbacks, but Ward might have had the most intrigue. A year after Bailey Zappe went from Houston Baptist to leading the FBS in passing at Western Kentucky (5,967 yards), could Ward do the same on the Palouse? He has delivered a bit of everything in his first five games, but more positives than negatives, especially from an accuracy and playmaking standpoint.
What they're saying: "He plays the game in such a fun, energetic, fast way, it's just incredible," Dickert said. "I think he's going to be a high, high [NFL] draft pick." A Power 5 coordinator who recruited Ward out of West Columbia, Texas, noticed a "raw talent with a rifle arm." He just needed time to develop at Incarnate Word before rising to the Power 5. "He threw a ball off of the run to his left Saturday [against Cal], about 42 yards on a dime to a corner route like just without his feet getting set," Washington State coach Jake Dickert said. "He's just going to trust himself to let it rip. There's going to be some mistakes that come with that, but there's going to be some greatness, too. There's magic when he plays free. Great quarterbacks become elite off-script, when your read's gone and the pocket collapses. That's what Cam has."
Caleb Williams, USC
Caleb Williams fires his third touchdown to Kyron Hudson to extend the Trojans' lead in the fourth quarter.
Previous team: Oklahoma
2022 numbers: 1,402 pass yards, 12 touchdowns, 1 interception, 67.3% completions, 85.8 QBR, 144 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
Breakdown: The most talked-about transfer of the offseason has met or even exceeded most expectations so far with his new team and old coach (Lincoln Riley). Williams has led an offense -- and a team -- put together largely through the portal, as USC sits at 5-0 and No. 6 nationally. He has completed at least 67% of his passes in all but one game, has multiple touchdown passes in all but one game and just one turnover on the season. He also has shown mobility, not as a main run threat but to evade the rush and buy time to attack downfield.
What they're saying: "So dangerous out of the pocket," a Pac-12 coach said. "Running, throwing, creating." Still, some Pac-12 coaches want to see more from Williams, especially after he struggled against Oregon State (180 pass yards, 44.4% completions) in a game USC was extremely fortunate to win. "I watch him and I see a good player, but he's not unbelievable," a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said.
RUNNING BACKS
Zach Evans, Ole Miss
Previous team: TCU
2022 numbers: 389 rush yards, 5 touchdowns, 68 carries, 25 receiving yards, 3 receptions
Breakdown: The former national top-20 recruit was one of the more talked-about non-quarterback transfers of the offseason. He averaged more than 7 yards per rush in two seasons at TCU, but was strangely underutilized, logging only 146 carries as a Horned Frog. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin isn't making the same mistake, as Evans is on pace for 163 carries this fall.
What they're saying: "You look over at Ole Miss and they're running the ball better than they ever have, and that's because of Evans," an SEC coach said. An SEC coordinator added: "The kid was the No. 1 player in the country coming out of high school. He was real-real, and looks like a million dollars."
Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Previous team: Georgia Tech
2022 numbers: 378 rush yards, 2 touchdowns, 207 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, 93 kick return yards
Breakdown: Gibbs was among the buzziest transfers entering the season, as he joined Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young in an offense lacking the typical group of proven elite wide receivers. Coaches say his dual-threat potential -- he had 60 receptions for 773 yards in two seasons at Georgia Tech -- gives Alabama a skill set it hasn't typically had with its featured running back.
What they're saying: "Gibbs is outstanding," an SEC coach said. "He's a strong runner, he can make you miss, he can run over you. He's really special." An FBS coach familiar with Alabama said Gibbs is the team's fastest running back since T.J. Yeldon, who averaged 5.8 yards per rush and 10.7 yards per reception during his Tide career. "He's an elite skills set, for sure," the coach said. "Then you put him around all those other really good players, it creates a little space."
Khalan Laborn, Marshall
End Zone! Khalan Laborn scores a 78-yard rushing touchdown for the Thundering Herd.
Previous team: Florida State
2022 numbers: 731 rush yards, 8 touchdowns, 132 carries, 58 receiving yards, 9 receptions
Breakdown: Marshall began the season without star running back Rasheen Ali, a 1,400-yard rusher in 2021 who tied for the FBS lead in rushing touchdowns (23). But any concerns quickly disappeared thanks to Laborn, who has emerged as a productive and prolific runner. Laborn has eclipsed 100 yards in each of the first five games, including a 163-yard performance in a Week 2 upset at Notre Dame. The 5-foot-11, 212-pound Laborn has already hit the 30-carry mark three times.
What they're saying: "He's tough, he's physical, he can grind it out," coach Charles Huff said. "He gets stronger as the game goes on. He's got really good body and balance control. He runs with a really low center of gravity, so he takes some hits and pinballs off and stays up." Although Laborn last played in 2020 at Florida State, his experience has helped in identifying defensive fronts and how best to attack. "His maturity level is a lot higher," Huff said.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Jordan Addison, USC
Previous team: Pitt
2022 numbers: 442 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns, 29 receptions
Breakdown: The 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner has settled in nicely at USC, despite having to share touches with the team's other talented receivers and backs. Addison had at least one touchdown reception in each of his first four games, and five or more catches in all but one contest. He has two 100-yard receiving performances after recording eight last season.
What they're saying: "Obviously not getting near the number of touches that he did at his last place," said Dickert, whose team faces USC this week. "But man, when he does, it's explosive." At just 6-foot and 175 pounds, Addison isn't the most imposing receiver but has made up for it in other ways. "Tremendous at the line of scrimmage," Dickert said. "Everyone sees the slightness and they want to come get him. Well, that can be a big mistake. He's really crafty at the line of scrimmage, and he can take you over the top so quickly. The old adage, when you're even, he's leavin.' This guy can go. Incredible talent."
Jake Bobo, UCLA
Previous team: Duke
2022 numbers: 21 receptions, 363 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns, 15 punt return yards.
Breakdown: Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson returned for his fifth season as UCLA's starter, but there were questions about who he would throw to in his final season. The Bruins had lost much of their receiving yards production, and hoped Bobo, who had 74 receptions for Duke last season, could come through. Bobo has delivered, averaging 17.3 yards per reception for a UCLA offense that is humming right now. At 6-5 and 215 pounds, Bobo is one of the larger-frame receivers in the Pac-12, and has emerged as DTR's main downfield threat.
What they're saying: "He's a tough matchup," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, whose team faces Bobo and the Bruins on Saturday. "His catch radius is obviously impressive. You get the ball in his general vicinity, he's got a chance to catch it. They have a lot of weapons on offense, and he's one of those."
Charlie Jones, Purdue
Previous team: Iowa
2022 numbers: 588 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns, 47 receptions, 78 kick return yards, 65 punt return yards
Breakdown: The Big Ten West Division isn't the most fertile ground for top receivers, but Jones' move from Iowa to Purdue underscores what a scheme change can do for a talented wideout. Through five games, he already has more than doubled his receptions total with the Hawkeyes last season (21). He eclipsed 130 receiving yards in each of Purdue's first three games and had at least one touchdown catch in the first four games.
What they're saying: "One hundred percent legit," an opposing defensive coordinator said of Jones. "Because he's covered and he's making catches. He's got attitude to him. He knows he's good, so he wants the ball. He knows you're double-teaming, he knows you're rolling guys up, and he don't care. He's as advertised." A Big Ten defensive coordinator added: "He's their best receiver. They've got some good ones but he's the best one for sure."
Johnny Wilson, Florida State
Johnny Wilson snags the dime from Tate Rodemaker and gets his right foot down to give the Seminoles the lead. (edited)
Previous team: Arizona State
2022 numbers: 357 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns, 19 catches
Breakdown: Florida State might end up being this year's version of Michigan State, which deftly used the transfer portal to engineer a turnaround from 2020 to 2021. Wilson has made the biggest impact so far, using his massive frame -- 6-foot-7, 235 pounds -- to make big catches against LSU, Louisville and others. Despite only 19 catches, Wilson has racked up at least 50 receiving yards in all but one game this season. He averages 18.8 yards per reception. Wilson already has eclipsed his receptions total from Arizona State in 2021.
What they're saying: "That big receiver, he's crushing it," an ACC coach said. "That dude's a freak," an ACC defensive coordinator said. "He's their outlet guy, that's for sure."
OFFENSIVE LINE
Gerald Mincey, Tennessee
Previous team: Florida
2022 numbers: Started first four games at left tackle for nation's No. 1 offense (559.2 YPG)
Breakdown: Quarterback Hendon Hooker, a 2021 transfer from Virginia Tech, has picked up where he left off last season, but he has been helped by Mincey and the offensive line. Tennessee ranks in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense, passing offense, yards per game, red zone efficiency and other categories. Mincey played 10 games as a reserve for Florida but has become a consistent starter for Tennessee, exceeding expectations so far within the program.
What they're saying: "He's done a really good job," a team source told me. "Like, way better than we thought he would."
DEFENSIVE LINE
Jordan Domineck, Arkansas
Jordan Domineck has the crowd on its feet as he comes away with the strip sack to give the Razorbacks great field position.
Previous team: Georgia Tech
2022 numbers: 15 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Breakdown: Sanders has received more attention for his impact as a pass-rusher and a disrupter, but Domineck isn't far behind despite his role as a reserve. The Georgia Tech transfer has already exceeded his single-season total for sacks and has consistently been around the ball. Coordinator Barry Odom's system allows for some position flexibility, and Domineck will back up Sanders at linebacker when the Alabama transfer plays up front. His line responsibilities can range from 4i, on the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle, to the 9-technique, outside the tight end.
What they're saying: "Arkansas gave me a scheme that would allow me to be on the defensive line, be able to run freely if I need to," Domineck told me last week. "I'm able to stand up on pass rushes, play a little bit of outside backer, just being able to run after the ball and show effort."
Jared Verse, Florida State
Previous team: Albany
2022 numbers: 13 tackles, 4 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss
Breakdown: Verse described his ability to enter the transfer portal as "life-changing," and he has been a game changer when healthy for Florida State early this season. The Albany transfer had two sacks in FSU's win over LSU, after recording a sack in his Seminoles debut against Duquesne.
What they're saying: "I can't imagine what havoc he was wreaking at Albany, if he was causing those kinds of problems for LSU," an opposing offensive coordinator said. "He's in the right spot, he should have been playing at this level for a while." Verse can "flat-out run," a Florida State source said, but can also be overaggressive at times and can get out of position.
Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State
Previous team: UNLV
2022 numbers: 23 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 pass breakups
Breakdown: The first half of the season hasn't been good for Michigan State or its defense, so Windmon isn't getting the same attention as Kenneth Walker III did last season, when he and other transfers helped the Spartans' to a No. 9 AP finish. But like Walker, Windmon made an immediate impact for MSU, recording all of his sacks and four of his forced fumbles in the team's wins over Western Michigan and Akron.
What they're saying: "He's the one who stands out for them on defense," a Big Ten coordinator said. Windmon has been quieter during MSU's three-game losing streak but remains a pass-rushing threat. "He really can run, that's his thing," an opposing coach said. "He's got a ton of speed. He had two really base moves that he uses in his pass rush, the ghost shoulder and the spin move. He had 6.5 sacks in two games off that."
LINEBACKERS
Mohamoud Diabate, Utah
Previous team: Florida
2022 numbers: 19 tackles, 4 tackles for loss
Breakdown: Utah's defense has been a consistent strength under coach Kyle Whittingham, but the Utes had a major hole to fill with the departure of All-American linebacker Devin Lloyd, now a candidate for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. In Diabate, the Utes' coaches saw a player with the frame (6-4, 222 pounds), skill and experience (17 starts, 176 tackles at Florida) to help. After missing spring practice because of injury, Diabate got a later start and remained limited to start the season but has started to emerge, recording all of his tackles for loss in last week's win over Oregon State.
What they're saying: "Mo's a lot like Devin Lloyd," Whittingham said. "I don't want to say he's producing like Devin did right now, not yet, but he's got an excellent skill set. He's got size, 6-4 plus, runs extremely well, is physical. His job is to help fill the shoes of Devin Lloyd, and he's proven to be a playmaker. He's a big part of what we're doing."
Daiyan Henley, Washington State
Previous team: Nevada
2022 numbers: 44 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception
Breakdown: After earning second-team All-Mountain West honors last season, Henley followed defensive coordinator Brian Ward from Nevada to Washington State, as one of the best-kept secrets in the portal. Henley, a converted wide receiver, has added 25 pounds at WSU, and has improved how he reads defenses. Henley had a breakout performance against Colorado State (three sacks, two forced fumbles) and has been a headache for opposing offensive lines.
What they're saying: "When we landed Daiyan, I knew it was going to be a way bigger deal than anybody let on," Washington State coach Jake Dickert said. Dickert has had several linebackers reach the NFL, and thought Henley is more athletic than all of them. The key was refining his skills, both mental and physical. "He's not just a see-ball, get-ball guy any more," Dickert said. "And he's still going to get better because it's just his second year playing linebacker." Henley has surged to No. 24 on Mel Kiper's Big Board for the 2023 NFL draft. "Their linebacker's a big-time NFL guy," an opposing offensive coordinator said. "He's a dude." "At the next level, to be able to guard anybody from the linebacker position, it's such a rare skill," Dickert said. "What everyone's seeing this year, when you get him matched up one-on-one on a tailback in pass rush, good luck. He has those unique abilities and that athleticism that everyone is looking for."
Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Laiatu Latu drops opposing QB for the sack
Previous team: Washington
2022 numbers: 13 tackles, 6 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 pass breakup
Breakdown: Along with fellow transfer Grayson Murphy (North Texas), Latu has carried the Bruins pass rush in the first half of the season under new defensive coordinator Bill McGovern. His ascent is made more remarkable when you account for his medical retirement from football because of a neck injury during the spring of 2021. He announced in December he would return to the field, but for UCLA. Latu had a breakout performance in UCLA's win at Colorado, recording three sacks and a forced fumble, and followed with another sack last week against Washington.
What they're saying: "He's physical, he's disruptive," Whittingham said. "He's making a lot of plays for them. I'm sure they've very happy with what they're seeing."
Drew Sanders, Arkansas
Previous team: Alabama
2022 numbers: 43 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 pass breakups, 3 quarterback hurries
Breakdown: Sanders is massive, even out of uniform. Arguably no transfer on defense has made a bigger impact than the 6-foot-5, 233-pound junior from Denton, Texas. Sanders leads the nation in sacks per game (1.3), recording at least half a sack in all five contests and two against both South Carolina and Missouri State.
What they're saying: "He's a grinder," coach Sam Pittman said. "He fits in really well. He just comes in, goes to work, plays the game, loves the game, good to his teammates. I thought he'd be really good, so we're not surprised."
SECONDARY
Josh Hayes, Kansas State
Previous team: Virginia
2022 numbers: 22 tackles (14 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup
Breakdown: A sixth-year player, Hayes actually spent two seasons playing cornerback for Klieman at North Dakota State in 2017 and 2018. He played three more years at NDSU after Klieman left, earning second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 2019, before transferring to Virginia. Hayes had familiarity with Klieman's defensive philosophy but had to learn a new position, safety, where he has blossomed early this season for the Wildcats.
What they're saying: "Josh has shored up the secondary," Klieman told me. "He makes plays in the pass game, he makes plays in the bubble [screen] game, he makes plays on the perimeter. We do so many things with him. He had a big adjustment because he played cornerback his entire career, but Josh has really stuck out to us."
Josh Newton, TCU
Previous team: Louisiana-Monroe
2022 numbers: 8 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 pass breakups, 2 tackles for loss
Breakdown: Newton's numbers might not jump out as much as others on this list, but his impact has been felt from the moment he arrived at TCU. He entered a talented and competitive cornerback room featuring NFL prospects Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson and Noah Daniels, and earned a starting job opposite Hodges-Tomlinson. Newton also has immediately become a team leader and a mentor for younger players.
What they're saying: "That's just in his DNA," Gillespie said. "He knows he's been given a second chance in a weird way, and he wants to make the absolute most out of this. Josh isn't a college boy. He's a grown man." Newton has seamlessly fit into Gillespie's defense. "Josh is willing to go stick his face in the fan, but we're also willing to single him up on an island and not have any problems," Gillespie said. "He's an intelligent player, so we're going to try and do several things with him."