The transfer portal never ceases to turn. Currently, one of the most overlooked remaining names on the board might have a significant impact in the trenches for a unit that needs it. Enter Jacob Busic, an explosive EDGE pass rusher with a penchant for residing in the backfield. This guy has flown somewhat under the radar to become one of the most appealing defensive prospects still searching for his next stop.
Busic’s college football ride has been anything but a straight line, but it’s also what makes him so intriguing as a transfer portal target. Following a genuine promise at the Navy, an abbreviated yet significant detour in Westwood, and now a new entry into the portal, Busic is poised for a return—and this time, fully healthy and prepared to shake things up once more.
Jacob Busic, The Disruptive Force From Annapolis to Westwood
Busic’s football resume started at the Naval Academy. That’s where he soon established himself as a force off the edge. By his junior season in 2022, Busic was a full-time starter, and he performed big. Throughout the season, he recorded 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. This performance earned him All-AAC Honorable Mention and ECAC First-Team All-East recognition.
Tragically, his 2023 season was sidetracked by a torn bicep after only three games. Still, even in a limited stint, he registered a sack and a tackle for loss before coming on as a reserve against Army late in the year. The injury temporarily halted his ascension but didn’t take away from his potential.
Navy DE Jacob Busic entered the portal as a grad transfer. Played three games this season and missed the rest with an injury. Three-year starter finished career with 15 TFL and nine sacks. pic.twitter.com/F7pS0f5Jl3
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) December 18, 2023
Busic moved to UCLA in January 2024, looking for a fresh challenge and a Power Four stage to demonstrate his ability. He appeared in 10 games with five starts there, recording 10 tackles and one sack.
Though the straight statistics didn’t leap off the page, his work as a run stopper was consistent, and he showed he could compete in a new system and increased level of competition.
Why the Portal Now?
So why is Busic in the portal again, just one year later? It’s probably a bit of everything. To begin with, his pass-rush productivity fell off at UCLA, and that probably wasn’t sitting well with a player who lives to harass quarterbacks.
The scheme probably didn’t completely take advantage of his attacking skill set. And with UCLA experiencing coaching turnover, including the firing of Jim Mora, Busic might have thought it was time to start over.
Most significant of all, he’s healthy now. That bummed bicep is in the rearview mirror, and with the 2025 campaign on the horizon, Busic wants to remind everyone why he was so unstoppable in 2022.
He’s not entering the portal hoping to find a depth guy—she’s seeking to become an elite edge rusher in the proper system, one capable of maximizing his skill set of being able to cut inside into the backfield and cause havoc.
Who Should Be Calling?
Busic is not an enigmatic project—he’s a tested defensive asset when utilized correctly. His production at the Navy is evidence in itself: 15.5 TFLs and 9 sacks in just 27 games between 2021 and 2023. That’s top-level production, and teams that were unable to stop the run or pressure the quarterback last year should be calling his name.
The best potential landing spots are:
- Group of Five programs seeking a title require an experienced presence along the edge.
- Power Four defenses that are hurt or thin at defensive end, particularly those that play aggressive fronts.
- Coaches who have reputations for developing defensive players, especially with transfer players or rebounding from injuries.
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For the right unit, Busic might be more than a rotation specialist—he might be a starter who can provide leadership, experience, and explosiveness. He already has both service academy toughness and Power Four flexibility on his resume, so he is a tough, rare hybrid of toughness and polish.
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