In the offseason many programs tend to focus more on the people they lost to the portal more than they gained, but with the season right around the corner, it is time to put the incoming transfers into a positive light and see who can be the biggest help to the Huskies in the 2026 season. The Huskies brought in 14 transfers in the offseason, here are the four I feel will have the biggest impact with one standing above the others.
CB Emmanuel Karnley (Virginia, previously also at Arizona)
Getting a player that coaches have a lot of familiarity with from the portal has proven to be very effective for this staff from all the players that followed them from Arizona. While it was an indirect route due to playing at Virginia last season, Karnley now joins that group. Along with the familiarity with the staff, Karnley brings a lot of experience. He has started 10 games and has played 1000+ snaps. While the Huskies could have gotten by with their young talent in the room, having a veteran presence along with someone good enough to immediately win the starting CB job is a double-win.
DL Darin Conley (Ball State)
You can never have too many quality DL and Conley appears to be poised to earn a significant amount of playing time this season. Conley put himself in a strong position to win the starting job outright and will be competing against true freshman Derek Colman-Brusa for the honor. With the amount of rotating that Walters likes to do with his defensive scheme, both of them should still see significant playing time regardless of who wins the starting role. If Conley were the one to come off the bench, he would bring an immediate spark to the DL and keep the same level of talent and quality along the DL when he were to come in.
K Tyler Robles (Texas State, previously also at USC)
Jimmy Johnson famously said that to win football games, you need to win at least 2/3 of the phases of the game (offense, defense, and ST). With the talented leg of Tyler Robles, the coaches are hoping to lock down one of those phases. At Texas State last year he was 21/23 on FG attempts including 3/4 on 50+ yard attempts. That 91.3% success rate was the highest in CFB among those who attempted at least 20 FGs. The other kicker who tied with Robles, Kansei Matsuzama of Hawai’i, was a first team All-American selection. It is that accuracy and leg strength that has earned Robles a spot on the preseason watchlist for the Lou Groza Award, which is given to the top placekicker in CFB each season.
Jayden Limar (Oregon)
For all the talk that Demond Williams needs to be the catalyst for the team to take the next step, you know what is helpful for a QB to take that next step? A good running game to take some of the pressure off. With Jonah Coleman off to the NFL and Adam Mohamad leaving to Cal in the transfer portal, there was an enormous vacuum left for experienced running backs on the roster. Jordan Washington appeared to be in position to earn some serious playing time, but was dealt a major setback with a severe injury. Our thoughts and prayers are with him to make a full recovery. All that is to say, the Huskies need a RB to come in and step up. Although Limar was a depth piece for Oregon, Limar managed 5.7 YPC when he got his chance. Unfortunately Limar had to miss spring ball due to injury, but the Huskies success this fall will be in part to their ability to run the ball and Limar should be the leading back to make that happen.