DISCLAIMER: Caleb Williams will not be included as he’s the obvious top choice here.

Travis Dye RB — USC

Travis Dye flipping as a graduate transfer from Oregon to USC is a huge loss for the Ducks and an absolutely crucial pickup for the Trojans. While the Trojans lost their two leading rushers to the draft, they gained Oregon’s leading rusher and leader in total touchdowns. Dye ran for 1,271 yards, scored 18 times, and was third in receiving with 402 yards. Lincoln Riley runs an electric offense, and Dye is sure to be a big part of it. Last year at Oklahoma, Kennedy Brooks ran the ball close to 200 times, which is a workload Dye can definitely handle, carrying the ball 211 times himself. The key to ensuring Dye will be a successful runner is volume. In the eight games where he carried the ball 15 or more times, he averaged 120.1 rushing yards. Riley will need to find a balance of letting Caleb Williams sling it and having Dye run the ball at this pace. If Dye gets his share of touches, the USC offense will be very, very dangerous.

Cameron Ward QB — Washington State

Coming out of high school, Cameron Ward was not a highly-touted recruit at all. His only NCAA offer was at Incarnate Word of the FCS. He took this offer, and boy did he thrive. In his first year, Ward played through injury, but last season he was an absolute monster running the Cardinals’ air raid offense. Ward finished the year with 4,648 yards and led the FCS with 47 passing touchdowns. His season included a 610-yard, 7-touchdown game against Southeastern Louisiana. Incarnate Word’s head coach Eric Morris made the decision to take the job as Washington State’s offensive coordinator and QB coach, and soon after Ward followed. His move to go play in the FBS for the Cougars isn’t getting as much attention as it should be. In an offense he already knows with a coach he already trusts, Ward has a legitimate shot to be a dark horse candidate for the Heisman. 

Dillon Gabriel QB — Oklahoma

When Oklahoma lost Lincoln Riley, Spencer Rattler, Caleb Williams, and others this offseason, it seemed like the program was doomed. In December, the Sooners hired Brent Venables to be their head coach, and they seemed to be moving in the right direction again. A month later, the Sooners got their starting quarterback when they were able to get Dillon Gabriel to flip from UCLA. Before breaking his clavicle against Louisville last season, the former UCF quarterback had back-to-back 300+ yard games against Boise State and Bethune-Cookman. In his two previous seasons, Gabriel had some very good stat lines. In 2019, he threw for 3,653 yards and 29 touchdowns, then 3,570 yards and 32 touchdowns in the shortened 2020 season. Gabriel’s former offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby will be joining him at Oklahoma, which will bring a familiar offense. Gabriel may not be the most mobile QB, but his strong and accurate arm poses quite the threat to Big 12 defenses.

Jaxson Dart QB — Ole Miss

When Kedon Slovis went down in week 3 against Washington State, Jaxson Dart came in and broke the record for passing yards in a USC debut with 391. Slovis got hurt again later on in the season, and Dart was a serviceable replacement. He played well against UCLA and BYU but floundered in the season finale against Cal. When news came of Caleb Williams coming to USC, Dart bolted into the arms of Lane Kiffin in Oxford. Matt Corral had two brilliant years under Kiffin, which will result in him being a first-round pick in the draft. The big difference between Corral and Dart, however, is that Corral made a lot of plays with his legs. Dart can move, but he’s more of a pure passer than Corral is. The last time Kiffin had a big-time quarterback with a big arm was Matt Barkley in 2011 and 2012. Barkley’s best year was in 2011, where he threw for 3,528 yards and 39 touchdowns. Kiffin’s offense has evolved and improved in the past decade, and it’s safe to say Dart is a much better athlete than Barkley was. If Dart makes the accurate throws he is very capable of making and can read these SEC defenses properly, look out for him and the Rebels to have a huge year. 

Mitchell Tinsley WR — Penn State

Replacing Jahan Dotson’s production seemed like an almost impossible task when the standout declared for the draft. Then along came Mitchell Tinsley from Western Kentucky. While Dotson had 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns, Tinsley put up numbers that were just as good with 87 catches for 1,402 yards (eighth in the country) and 14 touchdowns (fifth in the country). While Tinsley did play in an air raid offense, he has proven that he is a legitimate threat. He has great hands, excellent speed, and is a huge big-play threat. He had four receptions of at least 60 yards, one being a 75-yard touchdown in the Boca Raton Bowl. In Mike Yurcich’s offense, Tinsley will generate a lot of attention, and not only will he be targeted a lot, he’ll open up the field for other talented pass catchers like Parker Washington and Brenton Strange. Tinsley has the potential to be the next great receiver at Penn State.