Predicting College Football QBs Most Likely to Transfer Next
As the 2015 season unfolds, college football teams across the nation are settling on their starting quarterbacks. This summer saw a number of prominent quarterback battles at high-profile programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan and LSU, just to name a few. While not all of them are completely settled, the vast majority are or will be by the end of the month.
That’s how college coaches operate. They know a two-quarterback system rarely works, so they settle on one as their leader. That, in turn, leaves one quarterback out in the cold, watching and relaying signals from the sideline.
Quarterbacks, by nature, would rather play than stand on the sidelines. That often means they have to do so somewhere else, which leads to transfers. This fall alone, Vernon Adams, Everett Golson, Greyson Lambert, Baker Mayfield and Jake Rudock won Power Five starting roles as transfers, and you can expect more players to follow in their footsteps in the coming months.
Here’s a look at the quarterbacks most likely to transfer before next season.
Florida QB Treon Harris
1 of 8
Following Jeff Driskel’s disastrous turn at quarterback last fall, Florida threw freshman Treon Harris into the fire, playing out the string for the end of Will Muschamp’s ill-fated regime. Given his lack of polish and the Gators’ moribund offense, Harris was OK. He threw for 1,019 yards with nine touchdowns against four interceptions while completing only 49.6 percent of his passes.
Harris has experience, but as a dual-threat quarterback, he isn’t a perfect fit for new coach Jim McElwain’s pro-style offense. He spent spring and summer competing with redshirt freshman Will Grier, who is a more natural pocket passer.
Harris started last week against New Mexico State, but both quarterbacks excelled. Harris completed 14 of 19 passes for 215 yards and two scores, while Grier completed 15 of 17 for 164 yards and a pair of scores. Grier will start this week against East Carolina, but both quarterbacks are expected to play. Grier is a better fit for the system and should win the job, which would leave Harris looking for time elsewhere.
Florida State QB Sean Maguire
2 of 8
Jameis Winston’s departure to the NFL draft following two controversial but productive seasons at Florida State left a major hole in the Seminole offense. How would they replace the Heisman Trophy winner?
Following spring practice, junior Sean Maguire emerged as the leader ahead of freshman Deondre Francois and redshirt freshman J.J. Cosentino. But the arrival of Notre Dame’s Everett Golson as a graduate transfer changed the dynamic significantly.
Golson picked up the offense quickly and won the job, beating out Maguire. He is a senior, but the two freshmen will be back next year, and FSU has secured a commitment from 4-star recruit Malik Henry, rated as the nation’s No. 3 pro-style quarterback, per 247Sports.
Maguire has experience, leading the Seminoles to an overtime victory over Clemson while Winston was benched for yelling a vulgarity on campus. But he might decide that he’ll have a clearer path to playing time elsewhere as a senior.
Georgia QB Faton Bauta
3 of 8
Thanks to Hutson Mason’s graduation, Georgia had an opening at quarterback this fall. Throughout the spring, sophomore Brice Ramsey and junior Faton Bauta competed for the position, with neither gaining a real edge in new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s system.
This summer, a new wrench was thrown into the system when junior Greyson Lambert arrived from Virginia as a graduate transfer. Lambert picked up the system quickly and won the job. With a run-heavy offense centered around Heisman Trophy candidate Nick Chubb, Lambert could keep the job all season just by handing off and taking limited chances.
That will be trouble for Ramsey and Bauta. What’s more, Georgia has a commitment from 5-star recruit Jacob Eason, rated by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 2 pro-style quarterback. If it hasn’t happened by now for Bauta in Athens, it probably won’t happen. He’s likely better off pursuing a graduate transfer option next fall.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
LSU QB Anthony Jennings
4 of 8
You can’t say Anthony Jennings hasn’t had opportunities. When Zach Mettenberger tore his ACL in LSU’s 2013 regular-season finale, Jennings was thrust into the spotlight as the Tigers quarterback, leading a comeback win over Arkansas and an Outback Bowl win over Iowa.
Last fall, he was given every chance to establish himself as the offensive leader, but he was entirely unimpressive. He threw for 1,611 yards with 11 touchdowns against seven interceptions while completing just 48.9 percent of his passes.
Jennings competed with Brandon Harris throughout spring and summer, and Harris won the job by, in Les Miles' words, doing "everything we asked him to do, and he continues to improve," per ESPN.com's David Ching.
With a backfield that features Heisman Trophy candidate Leonard Fournette, one of the nation’s top tailbacks, as well as a talented wide receiver corps, including Malachi Dupre, Travin Dural and Trey Quinn, consistent is all LSU really needs for offensive success. LSU also has a commitment from 4-star quarterback Feleipe Franks, rated as the nation's No. 5 pro-style QB, per 247Sports.
It appears to be time for Jennings to get a fresh start elsewhere, and it’d be no surprise if he availed himself of that option soon.
Michigan QB Shane Morris
5 of 8
Jim Harbaugh was supposed to be a fresh start for Shane Morris.
The Brady Hoke era ended badly for Morris. Last fall, Morris was expected to push Devin Gardner for Michigan’s starting quarterback role but never really did. He completed 14 of 40 passes for 128 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He drew the most attention after staying in the game against Minnesota despite suffering a concussion and threw just one pass in the final seven games.
Morris competed well in the spring, and ended spring practice leading freshmen Alex Malzone, Zach Gentry and Wilton Speight for the job.
However, that was before graduate transfer Jake Rudock’s arrival on campus. Rudock, a multiyear starter at Iowa, has a steady hand and appears to be just what an inexperienced offense needs.
Rudock is a senior, but Michigan will have a crowded depth chart next fall following the arrival of 4-star recruit Brandon Peters. Morris would be wise to finish his eligibility in a more forgiving locale.
Oklahoma QB Trevor Knight
6 of 8
2014 was supposed to be Trevor Knight’s year. Following a Sugar Bowl MVP effort in a win over Alabama, Knight was poised to establish himself as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback as a star in the making. It never happened.
The Sooners were a huge disappointment, beginning the season as a College Football Playoff contender and ending it 8-5 and unranked. Knight was average at best. He threw for 2,300 yards with 14 touchdowns against 12 interceptions and missed several games with a scary-looking neck injury.
Bob Stoops’ hiring of Lincoln Riley as offensive coordinator didn’t do Knight any favors, either. Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield already had training in Riley’s preferred pass-happy Air Raid offensive system. The two competed throughout the summer, but Mayfield won the job.
He didn’t do anything to give it back in the opener against Akron, throwing for 388 yards and three touchdowns. Oklahoma also continues to recruit at the position, with a commitment from 4-star QB Austin Kendall, rated as the nation's No. 9 pro-style quarterback, per 247Sports.
Knight doesn’t seem to be a good fit in the new Oklahoma offense, and it’d be smart for him to start anew with some fresh eyes.
Ole Miss QB DeVante Kincade
7 of 8
Ole Miss returned 16 starters from 2014’s nine-win team, but he had a big hole at quarterback, where veteran Bo Wallace graduated. Hugh Freeze spent spring and summer sorting out a trio of quarterbacks: former Clemson quarterback Chad Kelly and sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade.
Kelly won the job and looked very sharp in a 76-3 rout of FCS foe UT-Martin. He threw for 211 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on nine-of-15 passing, adding a 20-yard rushing touchdown while receiving the lion’s share of the snaps. All three quarterbacks played, but it’s clear that Kelly will be the man going forward for the Rebels.
That leaves Buchanan and Kincade to fight for the backup role. And there is the not-so-small matter of 2016 commitment Shea Patterson, rated as the nation’s No. 4 overall recruit by 247Sports. Playing time is just going to get harder to find in Oxford, and it would be no surprise if Kincade sought it elsewhere.
Texas QB Tyrone Swoopes
8 of 8
Life as Texas’ starting quarterback hasn’t been easy for Tyrone Swoopes. Last fall, Swoopes was thrust into the spotlight in Charlie Strong’s first season when David Ash was forced to give up football due to multiple concussions. He threw for 2,409 yards with 13 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, and his reward was getting pushed by redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard all spring and summer.
Swoopes won the job but didn’t have much room for error with Strong, and a 38-3 opening-game loss to Notre Dame surely didn’t help. He completed seven of 22 passes for 93 yards, and this week, Strong stripped offensive coordinator Shawn Watson of his play-calling duties and refused to commit to Swoopes as his starting quarterback.
“I’ve just got to go out and practice every week, just keep doing what I’ve been doing, stay positive and keep everybody else positive,” Swoopes told Nick Castillo of the Dallas Morning News.
That isn’t a positive way to start the season, by any means. Swoopes still has a chance to retain his starting role, but the trends aren’t positive. A fresh start seems like the best option to revive his career.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
