College Football Camp Highlights
Six College Football Programs Begin Fall Camps, Showcasing Roster Changes and Emerging Talent
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Key Points
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Oklahoma's 2026 linebacker group is anchored by Kip Lewis, Cole Sullivan (a Michigan transfer), and Reggie Powers III, with Owen Heinecke returning after a NCAA preliminary injunction; the injunction status remains tied up in the appeals process with no hearing date yet set.
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Iowa's tight end depth includes Addison Ostrenga returning from injury and providing a versatile trio alongside DJ Vonnahme and Thomas Meyer, with Ostrenga highlighting Mason Woods as bringing receiver-style versatility to two-tight-end sets.
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Michigan State's fall camp is spotlighting WR Taplin and TE Savoury as breakout candidates; Taplin has earned increased reps in the spring game after a relatively modest 2025, while Savoury (6'5", 253 pounds) is emerging as an every-down tight end option alongside Parachek and Gulker.
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Illinois is implementing Bobby Hauck's aggressive 3-3-5 defensive scheme for 2026 as part of a broad roster and coaching overhaul, with a new quarterback and offensive line and a projection-driven depth chart from Illini Inquirer.
Fall camps opened August 1 across major college football programs, kicking off a 2026 season defined by sweeping roster overhauls, courtroom battles, and new coaching staffs. From Oklahoma's linebacker room to Iowa's loaded tight end group, 247Sports and Sports Illustrated detailed five programs deep in transition as preseason practices began.
The portal-fueled rebuilds are massive in scale. Michigan State alone added 62 new players — 32 from the transfer portal and 30 freshmen — to an 111-man roster under coach Pat Fitzgerald. Meanwhile, legal drama, $44.7 million contracts, and defensive scheme secrets are reshaping programs from Champaign to Gainesville.
Oklahoma Linebacker Owen Heinecke Returns via Court Order
Oklahoma's 2026 linebacker corps is anchored by Kip Lewis, Cole Sullivan (a Michigan transfer), and Reggie Powers III. The group gets a major boost from Owen Heinecke, a sixth-year senior who had to sue the NCAA to play again. An Oklahoma judge granted Heinecke a preliminary injunction in April, clearing him to return, according to 247Sports.
The NCAA filed a premature appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court — which was dismissed — buying Heinecke enough time to likely play the full season before a final ruling. No hearing date has been set. After winning his injunction, Heinecke told coach Brent Venables: "Let's do it, Coach... I'm ready to get to it."
Iowa's Tight End Room Is the Deepest It Has Been in Years
Iowa enters 2026 with four legitimate tight ends, led by DJ Vonnahme — a former walk-on who became the team's leading receiver in 2025. Addison Ostrenga returns from a torn Achilles and is fully cleared. Thomas Meyer and Mason Woods add depth, according to Sports Illustrated.
Ostrenga praised Woods for bringing receiver-style versatility to two-tight-end sets. At Big Ten Media Days, Ostrenga said his recovery came down to trusting his trainers: "I knew if I just listened to my trainers and pushed myself to be smart... I could get back sooner." Offensive coordinator Tim Lester now has genuine options at the position.
Michigan State and Illinois Rebuilding From the Ground Up
Michigan State's fall camp spotlights two potential breakout players: wide receiver Charles Taplin and 6'5", 253-pound tight end Jayden Savoury. Taplin earned more reps after a modest 2025 spring game. Savoury is emerging as an every-down option alongside Brennan Parachek and Carson Gulker, per Sports Illustrated.
Illinois is running a similarly large reset. New defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck is installing an aggressive 3-3-5 scheme — a defense focused on pure gap disruption rather than traditional gap control. Coach Bret Bielema canceled the spring game entirely to hide scheme details from future opponents. New quarterback Katin Houser, a transfer with 26 career starts, will work behind a rebuilt offensive line with a combined 726 snaps in an Illinois uniform.
Florida Bets Big on Special Teams and a $44.7 Million Coach
New Florida head coach Jon Sumrall signed a $44.7 million contract to reverse the Gators' recent slide. His first major move was raiding his former staff at Tulane. Kicker Patrick Durkin — who hit 25 of 28 field goals in 2025 — and punter Alec Clark, who averaged 46.5 yards per punt, both followed Sumrall to Gainesville.
Sumrall is betting that elite special teams wins close SEC games. But not everyone is convinced. An On3 survey of national evaluators rated Florida's overall transfer class as "underwhelming," questioning whether Group of Five transfers can hold up in the SEC's physical environment. Oregon State also opens a new chapter under former Alabama assistant JaMarcus Shephard, who inherited a 2-10 team and is rebuilding a running back room that lost 1,000-yard rusher Anthony Hankerson, according to 247Sports.
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