Continuing to look at incoming freshman or transfers who could make significant impacts this fall
Part one of our series took a look at five schools in which a new player may be an immediate impact player for their team. Continuing on, we look this time at Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, and finally Ohio State.
In case you missed it, you can review part one here.
Michigan State – CB Ronald Williams
Honestly with the large amount of turnover the roster has gone through this off-season, the Spartans are not short of new faces who could make an impact this fall. Part of me wanted to write about one of MSU’s new linebackers here, but ultimately I decided that transfer CB, Ronald Williams should take the honor.
Williams spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. In 2020, Williams then joined the Alabama Crimson Tide as JUCO prospect where the 247 Sports Composite rankings had him as the number 12 JUCO player.
His time with the Tide was fairly unproductive due to an arm injury that limited him to three games. However, Williams showed he was a very productive player at the JUCO level where he recorded 49 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 8 pass breakups while with Hutchinson.
Michigan State does not posses a lot of experience at the cornerback position currently. The Spartans are also needing to alleviate the loss of Shakur Brown, who left early for the NFL. Williams could very well step into one of the starting roles and become a primary contributor to the Spartan defense.
Minnesota – DL Nyles Pinckney
The Golden Gophers struggled on defense in 2020, in part due to some very talented players leaving after the 2019 season. Head coach P.J. Fleck and his staff used the transfer portal to attempt to address some of those issues, as they landed transfer defensive lineman Nyles Pinckney from Clemson.
Pinckney spent the past four years with the Clemson Tigers, where he recorded 82 tackles and 3 sacks, along with 2 fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He was a productive member of the Tiger defensive front his four years with the school, and left to pursue a starting role.
He could very well find that with Minnesota, though the Gophers are returning a number of players from the defensive line who played last season. Pinckney still should be a leader on that front, providing a boost to a Minnesota defense that finished 72nd in total defense.
Look for Pinckney to man one of the defensive tackle positions this fall as the Gophers attempt to recapture their 2019 form.
Nebraska – RB Markese Stepp
Before his knee injury, freshman TE Thomas Fidone would have been the likely candidate for this spot. With him possibly missing half the season, it’s on to candidate number two. Running back and USC transfer, Markese Stepp.
Stepp missed the Nebraska spring game due to injury, and injuries have been an issue throughout his collegiate career. In 2018 a concussion cut his season short. In 2019, it was a sprained ankle that derailed it. Lastly, in 2020, a strained pectoral disrupted his season.
If Stepp can remain healthy, he can be a solid weapon for the Cornhuskers. Even with the missed time, Stepp has accumulated 505 yards rushing on 100 carries for 6 touchdowns.
While Nebraska needs to establish more of a threat in the passing game, Stepp should help dual-threat quarterback Adrian Martinez carry the rushing attack behind a good offensive line.
Northwestern – QB Ryan Hilinski
The Wildcats addressed the quarterback position last off-season by recruiting Peyton Ramsey from Indiana in the transfer portal. They liked the results of that so much, they decided to try their hand at it again. Enter former South Carolina QB, Ryan Hilinski.
Hilinski comes to the Wildcats after starting for South Carolina as a true freshman in 2019. That year he started 11 games, finishing with 2,357 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. The 2020 season saw Hilinski lose the starting job before the season even began, as he became the backup to Collin Hill.
Northwestern is now hoping that someone from the quarterback group of Andrew Marty, Hunter Johnson, or Hilinksi steps up and seizes the job before the season begins. Clearly, I think it will be Hilinski.
If Hilinski does win the job, he will have potentially three years to lead the program. Perhaps he will be able to lead the Wildcats to the Big Ten championship game, as Ramsey did.
Ohio State – DL Jack Sawyer
Admittedly, what I am about to write for Jack Sawyer you could say for J.T. Tuimoloau as well. Sawyer though wins this honor only because we actually got to see him flash his potential in the spring game last April.
Last season the Buckeyes missed the presence of an elite pass rusher on the edge of the line. Jonathon Cooper and Tyreke Smith did a serviceable job at end, but neither could replace the impact Chase Young had in 2019.
Sawyer is one of the young, but very talented, options OSU will have available to develop another elite pass rusher for the program. The 5-star recruit from Ohio showed flashes of his potential in April during the spring game when he was credited with three sacks.
It was a strong start for the true freshman, and Sawyer may be able to secure the backup role behind Smith and Zach Harrison, another former 5-star defensive end recruit from Ohio. Should Sawyer win the backup end position, it could be the fist indication of another elite pass rusher in the making for the Buckeyes.