Long Shot CFB Transfer Ideas for Big-Name QBs Who May Lose Key Position Battles
In today's world of the transfer portal, losers of quarterback battles don't stick around for long. Gone are the days when players stay and wait their turn.
With needs at programs around the nation, it's a common occurrence to see players lose their jobs to other players then pick up and move on. For those looking for greener pastures, it doesn't always work out.
But that's the nature of today's college football world. It's also why players who are fringe portal prospects need to make absolutely sure they use their one-time, non-penalized transfer wisely.
While the first portal window is closed, another one will open after spring practice. So as races crystalize this spring, we'll see a crop of signal-callers enter. Where will they wind up? Well, that's impossible to know for sure, but it's fun looking into the crystal ball and predicting the future.
What teams will need help at the position? Which guys are geographical and cultural fits? Here are some predictions for guys who'll lose spring quarterback battles and an option of where they'll materialize in '23.
Trenton Bourguet to San Diego State Aztecs
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A season ago, former walk-on Trenton Bourguet burst on to the scene for an Arizona State program in transition to supplant Emory Jones and start for the Sun Devils for the last part of the season.
They found a 5'11", 185-pound diamond-in-the-rough who was precision-accurate (71.4 percent) and threw for 1,490 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. But it's the dawning of a new era in Tempe, and new coach Kenny Dillingham brings a fling-it-around mentality. Will Bourguet be the guy? He's going to get a shot.
"Trenton's going to take the first snap at quarterback this spring because he's deserved it and earned it," Dillingham told ArizonaSports' 98.7's Jesse Morrison.
There are other quality options, though. Notre Dame's Drew Pyne transferred to ASU, as did BYU's Jacob Conover. The Sun Devils won perhaps the biggest late-signing period coup when getting former Florida 4-star quarterback signee Jaden Rashada. So, the stable's full.
While Bourget will get his chance, it's going to be tough for Dillingham to ignore Pyne. Much like Bo Nix at Oregon (where Dillingham was the offensive coordinator), Pyne has experience, beat ranked teams a season ago with the Irish and has plenty of skills.
It makes too much sense for Pyne to win the job and bridge the gap to Rashada. That would leave Bourguet in limbo.
He could transfer back to his home of Tucson to play for the Arizona Wildcats, but trekking to nearby San Diego State would be a strong choice. Battling Jalen Mayden for the job wouldn't be bad, as he provides a better passing option and then has a couple more seasons to lead the Mountain West program.
Devin Brown to Utah Utes
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Nothing is a guarantee, and second-year Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown is going into this spring's quarterback battle with Kyle McCord with a legitimate chance to win the job.
Both competitors are incredibly talented, were high-profile quarterback recruits and chose the Buckeyes over a list of the nation's top suitors.
McCord, however, has waited his turn for two grueling seasons behind all-world star C.J. Stroud, and he will have at least a couple of years left to lead the Buckeyes. The former Philadelphia prep star is poised, has a swagger about him and is ready to win the job.
If he does, there's so much offensive talent on the Buckeyes' roster it's likely he'll be wildly successful.
Brown is going to be itching to showcase his talents elsewhere, and with the school he originally committed to (USC) having plenty of talent waiting in the wings behind Caleb Williams, the Trojans probably won't be on his radar if he chooses to bolt Columbus.
Heading home to Utah would be a wise choice for the Draper native. The '23 season will be Cameron Rising's last in Salt Lake City, and coach Kyle Whittingham has won back-to-back Pac-12 titles and has the conference's top program.
Brown could enter, play when the daring Rising is banged-up (like he has a tendency to get), and lead his home-state Utes for another couple of seasons. It's the perfect landing spot.
Tyler Buchner to Stanford Cardinal
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Tyler Buchner should go into spring's battle with Sam Hartman and give Notre Dame a reason to at least pause before picking the former Wake Forest star as the man to guide the Fighting Irish in the 2023 season.
Then, Buchner can pick up in '24 and finish the job at the school he originally chose in the recruiting process.
But Buchner's eligibility clock is ticking, and the Californian's dual-threat hasn't been consistent enough, at least yet, to give coach Marcus Freeman a reason to pick him as the QB1. Maybe that will change this spring, but Hartman is far and away the favorite to win the job.
If he does, Buchner may look to go, and perhaps he would move back closer to his San Diego home—even if it's not on the same side of California.
Stanford's quarterback situation is dire on paper, with Tanner McKee off to the NFL draft and new Cardinal coach Troy Taylor opting not to go with a portal quarterback. As of now, the program is rebuilding in the post-David Shaw era, with Ari Patu likely to be picked over Ashton Daniels and incoming freshman Myles Jackson.
Palo Alto is the perfect place for Buchner to step on to the field right away for a Power 5 program, showcase his abilities and make a difference. While he flashed upon his return in the bowl win over South Carolina after missing most of the '22 season with an injury, Buchner is still inconsistent.
He could go from one prestigious academic program to another closer to home and play right now.
Jaxson Dart to BYU Cougarrs
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If you're Jaxson Dart, what are you thinking right now? A year after being one of the most hotly pursued quarterbacks in the transfer portal and leaving USC for Ole Miss, his job status is tenuous, at best.
You have to perform at a high level in the SEC, and while Dart threw for 2,974 yards and 20 touchdowns in '22 and ran for 614 more yards, there were ugly spots, too. He threw 11 interceptions and completed just 62.4 percent of his passes.
As the Rebels limped down the stretch, Dart was mediocre. His performance led coach Lane Kiffin to scour the transfer portal for competition following the departure of backup Luke Altmyer (to Illinois). Kiffin's returns appear to signify a change-of-direction in Oxford.
Not only did the Rebels win the sweepstakes for LSU former 5-star transfer Walker Howard (who has four remaining seasons of eligibility), they stunned everybody by taking long-time Oklahoma State starter Spencer Sanders.
Sanders is inconsistent but talented, and he didn't come to Oxford to stand on the sideline. If he beats Dart for the job this spring, the latter may leave again, especially if he could bolt unpenalized as a graduate transfer.
Dart hasn't used his redshirt season, so he could leave again, sit out and still have two seasons. He comes from a devoutly Mormon family and (like Brown) is from Utah. What if Dart doesn't win the job and decides to head home?
Kalani Sitake's BYU Cougars makes a lot of sense as the flagship university for the Church of Latter Day Saints. Plus, Dart is a supremely talented signal-caller who needs to play somewhere. If it's not Oxford, why not usher the Cougars into the Big 12?
Ben Gulbranson to Oklahoma State Cowboys
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On its surface, it may not make a lot of sense to project Ben Gulbranson to Oklahoma State, but the bottom line is, if the Oregon State rising sophomore doesn't beat DJ Uiagalelei for the Beavers job this spring, the options will be bountiful.
At 6'3", 212 pounds, the Newbury Park, California, native ultimately chose Oregon State in the recruiting process over teams like Arizona State, California, Kansas State, Baylor, Utah and Washington State. So, he's not a stranger to being pursued by Big 12 programs.
When you consider the up-in-the-air QB situation in Stillwater for '23, coach Mike Gundy probably would love a dependable addition to that room.
Right now, the Cowboys are looking at starting Garret Rangel, walk-on (and coach's son) Gunnar Gundy or Michigan transfer Alan Bowman, who is back in the Big 12 after moving over from Texas Tech to the Wolverines.
If Gulbranson bolts Corvallis, he will have three remaining seasons of eligibility, so he could stabilize things.
While you shouldn't count out Gulbranson winning the job for coach Jonathan Smith at Oregon State, Uiagalelei's talent is enticing, and while he didn't have the career at Clemson you would have expected from his 5-star quarterback billing, he was far from bad.
He can run, has a big arm and may not feel the pressure in Corvallis he did in Clemson. For that reason, he should be the favorite over Gulbranson, and the latter may look to leave. Stillwater would offer him a place to go, compete and start.
Brady Cook to Virginia Cavaliers
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Missouri head football coach Eli Drinkwitz has to turn things around in Columbia in a hurry, or the Tigers may decide to move on.
It wouldn't be smart to pin the '22 struggles on quarterback Brady Cook, but the truth is the 6'2", 206-pound sophomore wasn't dynamic enough to be a full-time starter in the SEC. He is going to have to make a major leap to keep his gig.
Not only is underclassman dual-threat star Sam Horn expected to be a key component in this spring's competition, the talented Tiger (who also plays baseball) will be joined by former Miami signal-caller Jake Garcia.
As a true freshman with the Hurricanes last year, Garcia was thrust into action with Tyler Van Dyke's injury and completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 803 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.
If Drinkwitz moves in the direction of Horn or Garcia, Cook likely will leave and look for a spot where he can play right now with his eligibility winding down and two years remaining.
A great spot for him if that happens would be Virginia. The Cavaliers are trying to find their footing under second-year coach Tony Elliott, a former Clemson offensive coordinator who had a rocky first season after taking over for Bronco Mendenhall.
Brennan Armstrong left the Hoos for North Carolina State, and he left a huge gulf at UVA. Cook could move over, get a great education and almost certainly would start the next couple of years.
MJ Morris to Florida Gators
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This is a wild one, and while there are several good options that would make more sense for MJ Morris if he left for another school, here's why this is an intriguing one.
So far, none of the quarterbacks on this list would be transferring to the SEC. The conference has plenty of elite talent, but they utilize the portal just like the others, so there are reasons why this would be a great fit.
First and foremost, despite being a revelation who helped solve the Wolfpack's signal-caller issues as a true freshman in '22 after Devin Leary got hurt—throwing for 648 yards, seven touchdowns and one pick—he isn't beating out veteran and UVA transfer Brennan Armstrong.
Hopefully, Morris sticks around, waits his turn and realizes he can still play plenty of meaningful snaps in Raleigh. But he may get frustrated and not do that. So where would he go?
Morris is from Carrollton, Georgia, and pegging him to fix Georgia Tech's woes would be a strong bet, but coach Billy Napier's program is in need of a premier field general.
The Gators went out and got Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz, but his college career so far isn't going to scare anybody off. Behind him is former Ohio State transfer Jack Miller and not much else after Florida struck out on Jalen Rashada in the '23 class.
Yes, Napier has secured 5-star DJ Lagway for the '24 class, but he is at least a couple years away from being an impact player. Getting Morris' dual-threat weapons would be a steal, and he could beat out Mertz. Plus, Morris could play for a big-name program in the top league in the nation.
It's worth a look, at least.
Jalen Milroe to TCU Horned Frogs
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Jalen Milroe is a supreme athlete who could play anywhere in the nation. But the question for him—and the Alabama Crimson Tide—is can he play quarterback anywhere in the nation?
Because, if he can't, coach Nick Saban is going to go with Ty Simpson in the competition to replace Bryce Young.
Milroe had moments a season ago playing when Young was injured, but he may not be a consistent enough passer to be the man in Tuscaloosa. A feather in his cap, though, is new Tide offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has worked with many dual-threat quarterbacks in the past like Ian Book and Tyler Buchner.
Saban's most recent offenses have flung it around, though, and while the Crimson Tide are almost certain to get back to showcasing the run under Rees, they need a vertical presence, so lean Simpson in that race.
If that happens, Milroe has an ideal opportunity awaiting him in his home state of Texas, where he can go play for national runner-up Sonny Dykes and the TCU Horned Frogs.
Yes, Dykes' resume shows his love for pass-first quarterbacks, too, but Max Duggan was not that dude, and the Frogs' offense thrived under him. Considering their failure to sign a quarterback in the '23 class or in the portal, the shot to start for a high-value program awaits.
All Milroe would have to do is beat out Chandler Morris and he can be a dynamic force for the Frogs. He also could join former teammates WR JoJo Earle, RB Trey Sanders and OT Tommy Brockermeyer at the school. It just makes sense if he doesn't win the Tide job.
Beau Pribula to Maryland Terrapins
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Beau Pribula is one half of the quarterback battle in Happy Valley to replace long-time starter Sean Clifford. Unfortunately for the athletic signal-caller who came to Penn State in the '22 class, his buddy Drew Allar is the other half of that race.
Allar is a special talent—big, athletic and possessing generational arm talent.
While coach James Franklin is promoting an open battle, Allar was Clifford's primary backup as a true freshman and will be QB1 this spring. Pribula is going to really have to show out to beat him out for the job.
The 6'2", 215-pound York, Pennsylvania, native got a dream offer from the Nittany Lions and committed, but he is going to want to play, and he's too talented not to.
Connecticut was one of his heavy pursuers out of high school, and while playing for Jim Mora's up-and-coming Huskies program would be intriguing, Pribula likely would have higher-level talent than that.
He wouldn't beat out Taulia Tagovailoa for the Maryland job if he transferred to the in-conference rival Terrapins following this spring, but Pribula would battle Billy Edwards Jr. for the opportunity to lead a budding Big Ten program in '24.
It may not be a bad option for Pribula to stay in the conference, still be close to home (College Park, Maryland, is just one-and-a-half hours from his York home) and get to showcase his talents on a high level.
Heading to coach Mike Locksley's program would be a strong move if Pribula bolts PSU.
Brock Vandagriff to the Auburn Tigers
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With Stetson Bennett off to try his hand at the NFL after back-to-back national championships, expect Carson Beck to run away with the quarterback competition in Athens.
If that happens and redshirt freshman Gunner Stockton still hangs around, Brock Vandagriff isn't going to stay with the Bulldogs. The former 5-star has to be looking for an opportunity to start, and if Beck is the man, he isn't going to get it in red and black.
Going to Georgia Tech would be an option; after all, Vandagriff is a Peach State native who may want to stay close to home. Florida would love his talent, but in this hypothetical universe, we've given the Gators MJ Morris.
Why wouldn't Vandagriff (or Stockton, for that matter, since he was heavily pursued by Auburn) head to the Dawgs' SEC West rival Tigers?
With new coach Hugh Freeze on the Plains, Auburn took some transfer portal swings for guys like Devin Leary and Spencer Sanders. With incumbent Robby Ashford set to battle returners T.J. Finley and Holden Geriner, as well as incoming freshman Hank Brown, there aren't any exciting options on paper.
Vandagriff is a 6'3", 205-pound former 5-star from Bogart, Georgia, who didn't play strong competition in high school and hasn't broken through with UGA. But two years under offensive coordinator Todd Monken had to help. He may upgrade Auburn's situation.
All stats courtesy of cfbstats and Sports Reference. Player rankings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.
