Top 5 transfers Big 12 teams acquired through winter window of portal ft. Jaheim Oatis
Perhaps not as loaded as some other conferences, the Big 12 continues to have some competitive teams. The conference was close at the top in 2024, with as many as eight teams having a chance to share the conference title in the final week of the regular season.
In this year’s transfer window, the Texas Tech Red Raiders were among the most aggressive teams, landing seven four-star players. As for the conference, Big 12 schools were able to add some quality players, although perhaps not as many as the other Power 4 organizations.
Top 5 transfers acquired by Big 12 teams
The Big 12 may not have gotten the sexiest names in the transfer portal, but several teams got stronger. Texas Tech aside, schools like Colorado, Kansas and UCF should be improved heading into the 2025 season.
#5, Conner Weigman, QB Houston Cougars
After three injury-riddled seasons at Texas A&M, Conner Weigman transferred to Houston, where he is expected to take over as the starter. Weigman opened the last two years as the starter for the Aggies but couldn’t stay on the field.
In 2024, the Cypress, Texas, native passed for 819 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions. An injury against McNeese State forced him to miss about a month, but after struggling in four games after coming back, he was benched in favor of Marcel Reed.
Weigman will arrive at a 4-8 Houston program that finished 126th in passing, with returning sophomore Zeon Chriss recently having surgery. The Cougars will look to improve on their 12th-place Big 12 finish.
#4, Jordan Dwyer, WR, TCU Horned Frogs
Four-star receiver Jordan Dwyer's transfer to Texas Christian has been the biggest splash for the Horned Frogs in the transfer portal so far. Dwyer is the 13th receiver on 247Sports’ ranking.
The sophomore broke out in 2024, with 78 receptions for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Idaho Vandals. He was targeted by schools like USC, UCF, Georgia, Washington and Ole Miss.
For the Horned Frogs, Eric McAlister is the lone returning starter at wide receiver. The team lost six receivers that began 2024 on the roster to graduation or the transfer portal.
#3, Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Red Raiders were among the best performers in the transfer portal not just in the Big 12 but nationally. 247Sports has Texas Tech ranked third in the transfer portal. Romello Height, a former Georgia Tech defensive lineman, had 34 tackles, 6.5 of them for a loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a pass deflection and an interception.
Before spending last season with the Yellow Jackets, the Dublin, Georgia, native was at Auburn and USC. The junior has 73 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in his career.
#2, Hunter Zambrano, OT, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Sticking with Texas Tech, Hunter Zambrano is coming over from the Illinois State Redbirds. Zambrano is listed at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds and played left tackle for the Redbirds.
The lineman from Weston, Florida, was limited to only two games this season because of a hip injury. He is still highly regarded but may have to move inside. The Red Raiders will have to replace three starting offensive linemen, so adding a coveted player like Zambrano was an important step.
#1, Jaheim Oatis, DL, Colorado Buffaloes
The former Alabama defensive lineman was the top-ranked defensive lineman in the portal at the time he committed to Colorado (No. 4 right now). Jaheim Oatis will look to add physicality to a defensive front that struggled at times for Deion Sanders’ team.
The junior from Columbia, Mississippi, totaled 57 tackles, 1.5 sacks and five pass deflections in two-plus seasons at Alabama. He opted out of the 2024 season in September and announced he would enter the transfer portal. The Buffaloes need a stronger defensive front to compete for a Big 12 title this year.