Top 11 Impact Transfers: Ohio State, Rutgers Lead Big Ten Bonanza

When schools start bringing students back on campus in next month, there will be quite a few players at new addresses. Many of those expected to make the biggest impact will have new Big Ten homes. Led by Ohio State and Rutgers, the conference was more active with the top impact transfers than any other conference.

Here are some of the most significant players changing schools. 

Zac Amend

2026 team: Bryant
2027 team: Syracuse

Outlook: Amend heads to the Orange after a pair of good years at Bryant. He was America East Rookie of the Year in 2025, and last year was Bryant’s leading scorer and the fourth leading scorer in America East. A strong shooter with quickness to dodge from anywhere on the field using either hand, he can bring some more scoring to the midfield.

Jameson Coffman 

2026 team: UMBC
2027 team: Johns Hopkins

Outlook: Coffman was a first team All-America East d-middie in 2026 after amassing 17 ground balls and causing seven turnovers. He also scored seven goals and had three assists. He’s a big, strong player that will strengthen a rope unit that was good last year. His leadership qualities – Coffman was a captain for the Retrievers as a sophomore – are a bonus.

David EvanchiCk

2026 team: Villanova
2027 team: Ohio State

Outlook: The Ohio State defense was tops in the country, allowing just 7.36 goals per game. The Buckeyes are expected to return Bobby Van Buren, and Evanchick is one of two transfer defensemen who should help Ohio State stay one of the stingiest teams in the country. Evanchick was a first-team All-Big East selection after causing 15 turnovers and scooping 29 ground balls. He’s a physical defender who started from day one of his freshman year. 

Garrett Haas

2026 team: Ohio State
2027 team: Maryland

Outlook: Haas had 79 points over his last two seasons at Ohio State. One of the most coveted attackmen in the portal, he was the Buckeyes’ leading scorer last year. He brings scoring and playmaking to the Terps, who also will add first team All-America East attack Ryan Demato (31G, 9A) from UMBC into the offensive mix. 

Luke McNamara

2026 team: Utah
2027 team: Ohio State

Outlook: McNamara led the nation with 4.28 goals per game and a 51.7 shooting percentage. The lefty is a strong dodger and effective around the crease. The second team All-ASUN pick is a big addition for the Buckeyes, who were only 58th in scoring offense a year ago.

Ezra Moore

2026 team: Bellarmine
2027 team: Rutgers

Outlook: Moore ranked second in the nation last year with 43 assists and 72 points. He had 50 points as a freshman. There are plenty wondering what sort of numbers he’ll put up for the Scarlet Knights. The junior attackman has put up big numbers against strong programs – scoring six points against Duke and four against Notre Dame, though neither game was competitive. If he cuts down his turnovers, he should be a huge asset to the Scarlet Knights.

Patrick Pisano

2026 team: Yale
2027 team: Ohio State

Outlook: An honorable mention All-American, Pisano is another new piece for a defense that figures to be Ohio State’s biggest strength again. He led Yale with 22 caused turnovers and ranked second with 41 ground balls to earn first team All-Ivy honors. He was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs and is another physical defender to add to the Buckeyes.

Timothy Shannehan

2026 team: Boston University
2027 team: Michigan

Outlook: The prize of the portal, Shannehan reunites with his brother, Luke, a sophomore, to bring scoring and playmaking to the Wolverines, who ranked 47th in Division I in scoring offense. Shannehan ranked first in the country in points per game last year, and was Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2025 after leading all college rookies with 61 points on 32 goals and 29 assists for the Terriers. Now he’ll be proving himself on an even bigger stage.

Owen Tasse

2026 team: St. Bonaventure
2027 team: Penn State

Outlook: The Nittany Lions added only one transfer in the offseason, which in itself makes Tasse something special. A second team All-Atlantic 10 pick, he caused a program-record 30 turnovers and had 59 ground balls last year for the Bonnies. The Canadian product finished 10th nationally in caused turnovers per game. Penn State does not have many holes, but graduated defenseman Alex Ross and SSDM Jon King, who ranked 1 and 2 in caused turnovers last year..  

Tommy Wilk

2026 team: Stony Brook
2027 team: Michigan

Outlook: Wilk finished his time at Stony Brook being named CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after saving 33 shots in upset wins over Drexel and Towson. His 54.3 save percentage was top 20 nationally. With the graduation of Hunter Taylor, he’ll have the chance to earn the starting spot with the Wolverines.

Walter Zhao

2026 team: Vermont
2027 team: Johns Hopkins

Outlook: Zhao was third nationally with a 66.1 faceoff winning percentage. He was America East Faceoff Specialist of the Year. Ranked just ahead of him last year was Maryland’s Henry Dodge, another former Specialist of the Year from Vermont. Hopkins’ top FOGO last year, Joe Hobot, was 50.6 percent.

NOTABLE

Thomas Berry (Le Moyne → Syracuse)
Le Moyne’s top scorer in each of the past two years, the lefty grad transfer is a highly accurate shooter. 

Noah Blinkoff (Lafayette → Penn)
Only a sophomore, Blinkoff led Lafayette in caused turnovers as the Leopards' top SSDM.

Chris Caldwell (Denver → Duke)
Only played half the season last year due to injury, but in a full season for the Pios in 2025 he had 39 ground balls and forced 15 turnovers.

Jack Combs (Vermont → Rutgers)
Three-time first team All-America East defenseman had 60 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers as Vermont's team MVP.

Nick Crowley (Princeton → Rutgers)
Scarlet Knights pick up a quality LSM after he helped Princeton win the national title.

Craig Daria (Sacred Heart → Delaware)
Grad transfer had 180 saves and a 52.8 save percentage as a senior.

Cade Faulkner (Utah → Rutgers)
Two-time first team All-ASUN midfielder had 46 goals and 18 assists over three seasons at Utah.

Freddy Fowler (Colgate → Richmond)
Scored 20 goals and dished out 19 assists as a freshman; with four years remaining, a solid addition for Richmond.

Max Frattaroli (Vermont → Rutgers)
A solid scorer with 34 goals as a freshman and 31 as a junior in his only full seasons at Vermont.

Johnny Hackett (Virginia → Ohio State)
Buckees hope he can return to the form that made him a midfield standout at Bryant his first two seasons.

Finn Jensen (Harvard → Notre Dame)
SSDM had 16 ground balls and four caused turnovers in his final season for the Crimson.

Daylin John-Hill (Jacksonville → UAlbany)
Was very consistent in his first two seasons at Jacksonville (31g, 19a in 2025; 31g 20a in 2026) and should be an immediate contributor for the Danes. 

Owen Kovacs (Bucknell → Richmond)
After injuries hampered first two seasons, Kovacs had 50 goals and 12 assists over the last two seasons, including 30 goals last year.

Tatum Lewis (Vermont → Rutgers)
Another pickup for the Scarlet Knights who made a big jump last year with 22 ground balls and will add depth to the rope unit.

Konrad Miklaszewski (Yale → Johns Hopkins)
Second team All-Ivy LSM (16 GB, 8 CT) brings experience at a high level to the Blue Jays.

Cooper Pasko (Lafayette → Syracuse)
Still has four seasons of eligibility after scoring six goals in limited time as a freshman.

Casey Quinson (Colgate → Virginia)
Scored 39 goals as a sophomore, including four in loss to UVA.

Michael Rooney (Boston University → Dartmouth)
Junior midfielder had promising freshman year, gets fresh start after playing time diminished.

Ryan Sanders (RIT → Utah)
One-time MCLA player now in Division I by way of Division III and a big NCAA tournament performance; was Liberty League's top scorer (69g, 26a)

Justin Tavares (Denver → Cornell)
Freshman might not offer immediate impact but is a big-time scorer in Canadian box lacrosse with massive upside.

Tristan Whitaker (Vermont → Syracuse)
Two-time All-America East midfielder hopes to return to form as grad transfer.