When the NCAA passed the graduate-transfer exception in 2006, many college football coaches called it the start of free agency. They were on-point for the most part -- the exception and the related graduate-transfer waiver have functioned similarly to free agency for players that have an undergraduate degree, but it has been a remarkable success in getting players a diploma and a better opportunity on the field.
The rule served Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson very well when he went from N.C. State to Wisconsin in 2011 and promptly led the Badgers to the Rose Bowl. The Wolfpack ended up starting Mike Glennon at quarterback that season and he went on to become a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their potential quarterback of the future.
Which graduate transfers could have on-field success in 2014? Here are 10 players that could have a Wilson-like impact on their team after transferring to be in a grad program. The players are ranked based on the impact we expect them to make next season, from least impactful to most impactful.
10. QB Michael Brewer, Texas Tech to Virginia Tech
9. DE Jordan Allen, LSU to Arizona
8. OL Malcolm Bunche, Miami to UCLA
7. QB Clint Trickett, Florida State to West Virginia
6. TE Jake McGee, Virginia to Florida
5. C Chad Lindsay, Alabama to Ohio State
4. QB Brandon Connette, Duke to Fresno State
3. CB Cody Riggs, Florida to Notre Dame
2. DE Shaquille Riddick, Gardner-Webb to West Virginia
1. QB Jacob Coker, Florida State to Alabama
*Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter **@BryanDFischer.*
