Everything was setting up perfectly for Boston College RB Montel Harris.

It was 2011, and the senior running back was expected to be one of the best rushers in the country. After putting together impressive seasons back-to-back, Harris was primed to finish his career on a high note.

But that's not how it worked out. After struggling through a nagging knee injury, Harris played in just two games as a senior. The NCAA granted him a medical redshirt, but Harris was later kicked off the Boston College team for repeatedly breaking team rules.

The Eagles' loss could be Temple 's gain. Harris decided to join the Owls this summer, and he is battling Matt Brown to replace Bernard Pierce in the Temple backfield. If Harris is able to return to the form he displayed in 2010 and '11, he could be one of the top backs in the conference. The potential is there, for sure.

Here is a group of transfers that could make a difference in 2012.

Chandler Whitmer, QB, Connecticut : Whitmer has come in and taken the starting quarterback job away from Johnny McEntee, who threw for more than 2,100 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Whitmer has taken a long road to Storrs, starting with a redshirt season at Illinois, then a breakthrough year at Butler Community College in Kansas. If Whitmer is able to throw the ball with any effectiveness, the UConn offense -- led by sophomore RB Lyle McCombs -- could be a force.

John Williams , DT, Cincinnati : Williams is familiar with the Bearcat scheme, given that he played under head coach Butch Jones at Central Michigan. Williams, though, will be under a lot of pressure to perform, seeing as he is being looked upon to shore up the middle of the defensive line that lost Derek Wolfe and John Hughes to the NFL. Jones has been impressed so far with what Williams has accomplished, and he will have some help on the edge from defensive ends Walter Stewart and Dan Giordano.

Bryce McNeal, WR, Louisville : As if the Cardinals needed any more athleticism at their skill positions, McNeal all but fell into their lap. The former Clemson receiver had planned on going to Connecticut but was reportedly denied acceptance by the university. He landed at Louisville and joins a young, athletic group. His chances to contribute have increased, as well, after some solid practices and the injury to leading returning receiver Michaelee Harris, who was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

Chris Dunkley, WR, South Florida : Another skill position player looking to make some noise, Dunkley is a Florida transfer that was once a five-star recruit. Dunkley, like McNeal, joins an athletic core group of receivers at South Florida looking to send B.J. Daniels off a conference champion. The one drawback for Dunkley is that he hasn't played a down in college football after redshirting at Florida in 2010 and sitting out 2011 as a transfer.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Big East, follow bloggers Evan Hilbert and Matt Rybaltowski @CBSBigEast.