Entering the second half of the season, Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney takes a look at which transfer defensive players have impressed the most so far.
THIS SERIES: Which transfer QBs have impressed? | RBs | WRs | TEs | OL
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CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
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Jordan Domineck, Colorado
A three-star defensive end in the 2018 class who first played at Georgia Tech and then Arkansas before transferring to Colorado, Domineck is making the most of his time in Boulder as he leads the team in tackles for loss with 7.5 along with a team-high three sacks. He was ranked as a three-star and No. 191 overall in the transfer portal rankings.
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Justin Flowe, Arizona
A five-star who was ranked eighth overall in the 2020 class, Flowe chose Oregon over USC, Clemson and others but was marred by injuries in Eugene and transferred to Arizona for this season. The former Upland, Calif., standout is tied for third on the team with 34 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.
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Travis Hunter, Colorado
Ranked as the No. 1 overall transfer heading into this season, the top-ranked prospect in the 2022 recruiting class has been predictably spectacular for the Buffaloes. Hunter has 14 tackles, an interception and two pass breakups in four games, missing two with a lacerated liver he sustained on a cheap shot against Colorado State. The two-way star is also third on the team with 29 catches for 353 yards and two touchdowns.
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Nick Jackson, Iowa
Jackson was a production machine during 46 games at Virginia where he totaled 354 tackles (20 for loss) and 10.5 sacks before transferring to Iowa where he’s kept busy as well. Ranked as the No. 21 overall transfer and a four-star, Jackson has totaled 59 tackles, good for second on the team, with three quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
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Steve Linton, Texas Tech
Over four seasons at Syracuse, the former high three-star edge rusher totaled just 45 tackles and 4.5 sacks but Linton has come into his own during his first season at Texas Tech. Through seven games with the Red Raiders, Linton has totaled 18 tackles and is tied for team-highs with three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. He also has two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
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Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
His five-star brother, Francis, is starting on the offensive line as a freshman and now Mauigoa, a transfer from Washington State, is making a tremendous impact on the Hurricanes' defensive line. Rated as a four-star in the transfer portal, Mauigoa leads Miami with 28 tackles including 6.5 for loss with one sack, an interception and two forced fumbles.
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Jamil Muhammad, USC
In 12 games last season at Georgia State, Muhammad totaled 44 tackles and 1.5 sacks which is impressive since he was a three-star quarterback recruit who signed with Vanderbilt in its 2019 class. So far this season with the Trojans, Muhammad has been unstoppable with 10 tackles for loss including six sacks and two forced fumbles.
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Andre Sam, LSU
Sam played for five seasons at McNeese State, last season at Marshall and now is second on LSU with 46 tackles an interception and two pass breakups at safety so far this year. Heading into this season, Sam has totaled 232 tackles and seven interceptions during his extensive college career.
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Shilo Sanders, Colorado
A high three-star in the 2019 class who started his career at South Carolina before following his dad, Deion, to Jackson State and now Colorado, Sanders is tied for the team-high with 36 tackles along with an interception and a forced fumble. Over two seasons at Jackson State, Sanders had 59 tackles.
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Isaac Ukwu, Ole Miss
An unranked defensive end who played three seasons at James Madison, Ukwu totaled 27.5 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks during his time with the Dukes. Through six games this season at Ole Miss, Ukwu is second on the team with three sacks (0.5 sacks behind five-star Suntarine Perkins) and he also has 17 tackles and two quarterback hurries.
