The switch portal continued to spin final offseason with no signal of slowing down. With the primary school soccer video games of 2022 kicking off this weekend, we check out probably the most compelling transfer-related storylines in every Energy 5 convention. Up subsequent: the Pac-12.
1. How good can USC’s switch additions be — and the way quickly?
Lincoln Riley put a variety of stress on himself at Pac-12 Media Days when he boldly proclaimed that he got here to USC to win titles, win them now and win them for a very long time. If he is ready to declare a convention championship in 2022, it is going to be due to his huge switch portal haul.
No program within the nation introduced in additional high-profile expertise through the portal than the Trojans, together with former five-star quarterback Caleb Williams, large receivers Jordan Addison and Mario Williams and operating again Travis Dye. The inflow of expertise will make USC probably the most fascinating groups within the nation to observe this season. However will it’s sufficient to show a staff that went simply 4-8 final yr right into a Pac-12 title contender? The primary actual measuring stick ought to come on Sept. 10 when the Trojans journey to Stanford in Week 2.
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2. Can Bo Nix lead Oregon to a convention title?
Regardless of USC’s switch haul and Utah’s convention title a yr in the past, the recruiting rankings would recommend that probably the most gifted staff within the Pac-12 resides in Eugene. From 2019 by means of 2021, former head coach Mario Cristobal signed three top-10 recruiting lessons, together with the nation’s No. 3 class a yr in the past. These signing lessons included 5 five-star prospects.
In Dan Lanning’s first season changing Cristobal, the Geese convey many of the expertise again from a staff that beat Ohio State on the highway and for some time regarded like a Faculty Soccer Playoff contender final season. However the large query mark is quarterback after the commencement of Anthony Brown. Lanning opted to herald Bo Nix, a three-year starter at Auburn, through the portal. Whereas Nix hasn’t been named the starter for the staff’s season-opening showdown towards Georgia but, he’s broadly anticipated to start out.
Nix was inconsistent throughout his Auburn profession, at occasions wanting sensible and at occasions scuffling with decision-making and ball safety. Nonetheless, it’s value stating that Lanning ought to have a reasonably good concept of what Nix is able to, having coached towards him every of the final three seasons whereas on the employees at Georgia. If Nix can discover some extra consistency, he may have the kind of expertise round him that may not solely problem for the convention title however a CFP berth.
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3. How will Washington State QB Cameron Ward modify to Energy 5 soccer?
Cougar followers are enthusiastic about their staff’s offense in 2022 thanks largely to a trio of latest faces. Jake Dickert took over for the fired Nick Rolovich in the course of the offseason and has pledged to implement a “Coug Raid” offense much like Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” philosophy. Quarterbacking that pass-happy unit will likely be Cameron Ward, and his main pass-catcher could possibly be Robert Ferrell, each of whom transferred from FCS Incarnate Phrase.
Ward and Ferrell each put up huge numbers final season. Ward threw for 4,648 yards, 47 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 video games. Ferrell caught 74 passes for 815 yards and 9 scores. The query, after all, is how a lot leaping all the best way to the Pac-12 will impression their productiveness. Ward, particularly, impressed in the course of the staff’s spring recreation, however it’s unattainable to know the way he’ll deal with going through the likes of Wisconsin, Oregon and Utah in stay recreation motion till we see it.
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4. Which different switch quarterbacks will stay as much as the hype?
No energy convention noticed as a lot turnover behind heart because the Pac-12. Along with USC, Oregon and Washington State, 4 different applications introduced in quarterbacks from the switch portal which might be anticipated to start out their season-openers, which means greater than half the convention will begin a switch signal-caller. That listing consists of Jayden de Laura at Arizona, Emory Jones at Arizona State, Jack Plummer at California and Michael Penix at Washington.
Every of these 4 gamers arrives with earlier Energy 5 beginning expertise however some query marks. De Laura earned Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Yr honors final season when he began 11 video games at Washington State. He threw for two,798 yards and 23 touchdowns. He’ll want to chop down on the turnovers, although, after throwing 13 interceptions in 16 profession video games. Jones involves Arizona State from Florida, the place he put up strong numbers final season however struggled to steer his staff to wins. Plus, Jones padded his stats with large performances towards Vanderbilt and Samford and he was anticipated to lose his beginning job to Anthony Richardson this yr. Plummer began 13 video games throughout three seasons for Purdue however misplaced his job to Aidan O’Connell after 4 video games a yr in the past. Penix helped lead Indiana to the most effective seasons at school historical past in 2020 and was garnering some dark-horse preseason Heisman hype previous to final season, however he didn’t seem to completely get better from an ACL harm suffered on the finish of the 2020 marketing campaign and struggled mightily final fall. Huskie followers will hope {that a} reunion between Penix and new Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, who coached Penix as Indiana’s offensive coordinator in 2019, will convey the very best out of the fifth-year senior.
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5. Can Arizona State’s switch additions save Herm Edwards’ job?
Any teaching sizzling seat listing within the Pac-12 goes to start out with Herm Edwards. The previous NFL head coach has led the Solar Devils to the postseason in every of the three full years he’s been on the sidelines, however an NCAA investigation into recruiting infractions dedicated by this system has led to turmoil this offseason. 5 full-time assistant coaches left the employees (together with each the offensive and defensive coordinators), a drove of gamers transferred out (together with beginning quarterback Jayden Daniels) and the Solar Devils solely signed six highschool prospects within the class of 2022.
Regardless of all that, Edwards can have an opportunity to avoid wasting his job with a robust season. And if he can handle that, it is going to be because of the transfers he added to the roster to switch the departures. Jones is the headliner, however Arizona State additionally added a number of different gamers who’re anticipated to play important roles immediately, together with former Wyoming operating again Xazavian Valladay, Vanderbilt switch large receiver Cam Johnson and former Miami defensive lineman Nesta Jade Silvera.
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