Unpack the Pac Offseason Edition: Breaking down the top impact incoming transfers in the Pac-12

“Unpack the Pac Offseason Edition” is a column by Jacob Hare that discusses offseason football news in the Pac-12 conference.

With over 120 transfers joining the Pac-12 next season, it’s almost impossible to know what players will have an immediate impact next season. Don’t worry — knowing the conference inside and out is my job. In this week’s column, I will break down the Pac-12 transfers with the most guaranteed effects on the conference.

Shedeur Sanders, QB: Colorado

Deion Sanders’ son Shedeur will join him as they go from Jackson State to Colorado. Sanders will be touted as one of the best quarterbacks in the conference even before he steps on the field. Sanders had a remarkable two-year career at Jackson State as he went 21-3, threw for over 6,900 yards and had 70 passing touchdowns. Sanders was even the 2022 Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Now the current knock on him is that he was putting up these numbers against FCS opponents, but that narrative will be squashed early in the season. Sanders has an enormous amount of talent that allows him to be a successful college quarterback. He has the arm strength, athleticism, size and pocket awareness that winning quarterbacks possess. He could get drafted by an NFL team if he has another great season. This transfer was a massive pickup for Colorado, who looks to do better than last season’s dreadful 1-11 record under first-year head coach Deion Sanders.

Travis Hunter, CB/WR: Colorado

ESPN’s No. 1 transfer and the former No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2022 is moving with Shedeur and Deion Sanders. Last season, Hunter became one of the most electrifying players in the country. Sanders unlocked Hunter’s unique skill set, with the top recruit playing on both sides of the ball. This versatility is rare in the modern era, but Jackson State succeeded immensely as Hunter thrived in his dual-threat role. In addition to being a lockdown corner, he caught 18 passes for 188 yards and 4 touchdowns. The sky’s the limit for Hunter, and I don’t think anyone understands his value as much as Sanders does. Transferring to Colorado was likely the best option for the Hunter. Sanders should have an enormous role in store for Hunter this season, and he will be one of the most vital assets as Colorado looks to compete for a Pac-12 championship.

Dorian Singer, WR: USC

Dorian Singer won’t have to travel far as he transfers from Arizona to USC. Singer is a massive pickup for the Trojans — he was the 2nd leading receiver in the conference last season, hauling in 1,105 yards with 6 touchdowns. After the season, there was a lot of uncertainty about who would replace Jordan Addison after he decided to forgo his senior year with USC and enter the draft. However, those worries can be put to rest as Singer should immediately become the team’s number one wideout. While USC’s wideout room has incredible depth with players such as Mario Williams, Brenden Rice, Kyle Ford and Tahj Washington on the roster, I would argue that Singer is considerably more talented. For instance, he overtook Jacob Cowings for Arizona’s No. 1 wide receiver spot last season, and Cowings was a top-three wide receiver in the Pac-12 last year. That should speak to how influential Singer will be for the Trojans. I expect the offense to catch up as they move to Singer with the loss of Addison.

DJ Uiagalelei, QB: Oregon State

Former five-star recruit D.J. Uiagalelei entered Clemson with sky-high expectations following in 2021 first-overall pick Trevor Lawrence’s footsteps. However, Uiagalelei could never find his footing at Clemson and now looks to revive his career at Oregon State. Uiagalelei showed flashes of his potential at Clemson, but those moments lasted only a short time and got overshadowed by his countless mistakes. Uiagalelei is a talented quarterback, as he possesses the size and athleticism. While Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has an incredible track record with quarterbacks, it just didn’t work out between him and Uiagalelei. Now Oregon State Head Coach Jonathan Smith will try his luck at fixing Uiagalelei. This job will be a tall task, but if successful, could put Oregon State in serious Pac-12 title consideration. Oregon State was 9-3 last season, with uncertainty at the quarterback position holding them back the entire season. With a veteran quarterback who can make winning plays for the Beavers, I like their chances to be a sleeping giant in the Pac-12 next season.

Jordan Burch, DE: Oregon

The former top ten overall recruit in the class of 2020 will look to make an immediate impact for Oregon. Burch had a somewhat disappointing career at South Carolina after coming in with expectations to become a game wrecker for the Gamecocks. He was never able to find consistency, but will look to anchor an Oregon defense that is losing many vital pieces. Burch adds a presence up front that the Ducks desperately need in a conference featuring some of the country’s best dual-threat quarterbacks. I believe Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning will utilize Burch to his maximum potential and make him the great player everyone thought he would be coming out of high school.

“Unpack the Pac Offseason Edition” runs every Wednesday.