College Football QB Newsletter - December 14, 2023
CFB Quarterback Depth Chart, Injury, Transfer Portal & Recruiting News of the Day
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The transfer portal turns 10 days old today with the Early Signing Period for the 2024 recruiting class less than a week away. Quarterback transfers dominated the news cycle in today’s free edition of the College Football QB Newsletter.
Quarterback Central | Teams | Players
TRANSFER PORTAL REPORT
Nebraska is not in the mix for Ohio State transfer quarterback Kyle McCord (Stats) following this week’s visit to see the Cornhuskers, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. It felt like a commitment could come any day with the number of predictions that were made for this to be a match. McCord started every game for the Buckeyes this fall and will look elsewhere to play his final season of college football. Mississippi State had been considered among the contenders for McCord, according to On3’s Pete Nakos, but the Bulldogs have since added Baylor transfer Blake Shapen (Stats). The Cornhuskers have been aggressive in looking to upgrade a quarterback room that currently has Heinrich Haarberg (Stats) and Chubba Purdy (Stats) as the top two returning options in 2024.
Florida State will have former Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (Stats) on campus this weekend, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, and Washington State transfer QB Cameron Ward (Stats) will be on campus on Thursday, according to Noles247’s Brendan Sonnone. Uiagalelei told ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren he talked to Mississippi State and Louisville, in addition to the Seminoles. On3’s Pete Nakos reported the NFL remains a viable option for Ward, who visited Miami this week and will make a decision in a week or two, according to CaneSport’s Stephen Wagner. The Seminoles and Hurricanes are looking to replace their starting quarterbacks from 2023.
Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy (Stats) intends to enter the transfer portal and will not be with the team during the College Football Playoff, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Murphy held off Arch Manning (Stats) for the backup role this entire season and has three years of eligibility remaining at his next school. While no official announcement has been made, it is believed Quinn Ewers (Stats) will return to the Longhorns in 2024.
Photo courtesy of WSUCougars.com
Notre Dame added a commitment from Duke transfer quarterback Riley Leonard (Stats), who announced the news on Twitter. Riley was a multi-year starter with the Blue Devils and may have delayed his entry into the NFL Draft because of multiple injuries that sidelined him at points of the 2023 season. Riley has one year of eligibility remaining with Steve Angeli (Stats) and Kenny Minchey (Stats) set to battle for the backup spot in 2024.
Oregon will host UCLA transfer quarterback Dante Moore (Stats) this week, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. The Ducks seem to have a very good chance at landing two of the top QBs in this transfer class after already adding Dillon Gabriel (Stats), who has one year of eligibility remaining. Moore has three more seasons to play and has a redshirt available if needed.
Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke (Stats) announced he will spend his final year of eligibility at Wisconsin after being a three-year starter with the Hurricanes. With Tanner Mordecai (Stats) out of eligibility, Van Dyke jumps into the No. 1 role with Braedyn Locke (Stats) as the most likely backup option on the roster heading into 2024.
USC is trending as the most likely option for Kansas State quarterback Will Howard (Stats), who is unlikely to land at Miami following his Canes’ visit, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. Howard has one year of eligibility remaining as the Trojans look to replace Caleb Williams (Stats), who opted out of the bowl game despite not publicly announcing he will enter the NFL Draft yet.
NC State added former Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall (Stats), who announced the news on Twitter. McCall was down to the Wolfpack and UCF coming off weekend visits, and NC State is desperate for quarterbacks as it needs to replace Brennan Armstrong (Stats) and MJ Morris (Stats). McCall has one year of eligibility remaining and was a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year during his career.
NC State and LSU will host Marshall transfer QB Cam Fancher (Stats), according to 247Sports’ Clint Brewster. This report came before the Wolfpack added a commitment from Grayson McCall (Stats), though Fancher does have two years of eligibility remaining. Meanwhile, the Tigers appear set to give Garrett Nussmeier (Stats) a shot to be the starter in 2024. According to the report, Oregon State, Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, Baylor and UTSA are also in the mix for Fancher, who was a starter with the Thundering Herd.
South Carolina is hosting former Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann (Stats), according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Swann started games for the last two years with the Commodores with two seasons of eligibility remaining and a redshirt available if needed. The Gamecocks are also interested in Miami (OH) transfer QB Aveon Smith (Stats), according to 247Sports’ Brad Crawford. Smith has two years left and took over this fall when Brett Gabbert (Stats) suffered a season-ending injury. South Carolina has also been linked to Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson (Stats), who has yet to announce his plans for 2024 and is not in the transfer portal.
Baylor is expected to have Toledo transfer QB Dequan Finn (Stats) on campus this week, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Finn is down to his final year of eligibility with multiple seasons of starting experience with the Rockets. The Bears are looking to replace starter Blake Shapen (Stats) with Sawyer Robertson (Stats) looking like the top option on the roster looking ahead to 2024.
Former Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (Stats) will visit Rutgers this weekend, according to 247Sports’ Allen Trieu. Kaliakmanis started every game for the Gophers this fall and has two years of eligibility remaining. It would be interesting to see what happens with the Scarlet Knights’ QB room with Gavin Wimsatt (Stats) as the starter for all of the 2023 season.
Syracuse, Vanderbilt and Rice are in the top three for Buffalo transfer QB Cole Snyder (Stats), according to Syracuse.com’s Chris Carlson, though he has been communicating with other programs. Snyder is coming off a visit to see the Orange, and all three programs are looking to replace their 2023 starting quarterbacks. He has one year of eligibility left to play.
Former Michigan State QB Noah Kim (Stats) announced his commitment to Coastal Carolina with two years of eligibility remaining. Kim opened the 2023 season as the starting quarterback before getting replaced and would likely be the favorite to start for the Chanticleers next season with Ethan Vasko (Stats) and Blake Boda (Stats) as the top competitors in the QB room.
Former Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals (Stats) has heard from Baylor, Washington State, UTSA, Ohio and Buffalo with Rice and Sam Houston State also in contact, according to Rivals’ Adam Gorney. Seals made a recent trip to see the Bobcats and does not have any other visits scheduled at this point. Seals took over as the starter at times this season with the Commodores and has two years of eligibility left.
Michigan State transfer QB Katin Houser (Stats) will see East Carolina this week, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. Houser took over as the starting quarterback for the Spartans midway through the season with three years of eligibility remaining. Alex Flinn (Stats) is set to be a returning starter, but Houser would be an upgrade at the position if the Pirates add him.
Arkansas State landed a Juco transfer commitment from Samari Collier (Stats), who announced the news on Twitter. Collier spent the 2023 season with Hutchinson Community College after beginning his college football career at Illinois. He has two years of eligibility remaining and will join a QB room that will return true freshman starter Jaylen Raynor (Stats) in 2024.
Arizona State QB Hunter Herrera (Stats) announced he entered the transfer portal after redshirting as a true freshman in 2023. He did not play a snap this fall, and the California native will have four years of eligibility at his next stop.
Washington transfer quarterback Dylan Morris (Stats) is visiting Marshall, according to 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman. He has also been in contact with Western Kentucky, LSU, TCU, Vanderbilt, Florida Atlantic, Oklahoma State, Temple and San Jose State. Morris was the No. 2 option for the Huskies this fall with one year of eligibility remaining as the Thundering Herd look to replace Cam Fancher (Stats) in 2024 with Cole Pennington (Stats) as the top on-the-roster quarterback looking to next season.
Central Michigan transfer quarterback Jase Bauer (Stats) told The Portal Report he has a visit scheduled with Sam Houston State and already saw Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa. He also has interest from Washington State, Baylor, North Texas, Louisiana Tech, San Diego State, East Carolina, Arkansas State and Southern Illinois. Bauer was a starter with the Chippewas and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Arizona State transfer quarterback Drew Pyne (Stats) will return to Notre Dame to graduate this spring before looking to play elsewhere in 2024, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Pyne missed much of his lone season with the Sun Devils with multiple injuries. He has two years of eligibility remaining, though he expects that number to be three, likely due to his injury issues. Pyne will not be part of the Fighting Irish football program this spring.
OFFERS
MOST - Chase Harrison (MRSH - Stats) | Tweet
SAM - Kasen Weisman (COLO - Stats) | Tweet
TSU - Tevin Carter (MEM - Stats) | Tweet
RECRUITING REPORT
San Diego State received a commitment from 2024 3-star QB Danny O’Neil (IN), who announced the news on Twitter. O’Neil originally committed to Colorado when the offense was being run by Sean Lewis, who has since been hired as the Aztecs head coach.
VISITS
BAY - Nate Bennett | Tweet
BYU - Carson Su’esu’e | Tweet
ECU - Cole Hodge | Tweet
ILL - Trey Petty | Tweet
SYR - Jakhari Williams | Tweet
TTU - Will Hammond | Tweet
UCF - Riley Trujillo | Tweet
UCLA - Jarret Nielsen | Tweet
UTEP - Gael Ochoa | Tweet
EWU - Jake Schakel | Tweet
FOR - Caleb Sanchez | Tweet
PENN - Karson Siqueiros-Lasky | Tweet
OFFERS
FSU - Faizon Brandon | Tweet
SYR - Malik Washington | Tweet
SYR - Cutter Woods | Tweet
USU - Anthony Wolter | Tweet
BUCK - Chris Dietrich | Tweet
FOR - Micah Balzarini | Tweet
PRST - Anthony Wolter | Tweet
QU - Dylan Dunn | Tweet
UPCOMING KEY DATES
A look at what’s ahead over the next 30 days.
Dec. 16 - Bowl season starts
Dec. 20 - 2024 recruiting early signing period starts
Dec. 20 - 2024 Juco midyear transfer signing period starts
Dec. 22 - 2024 recruiting early signing period ends
Jan. 1 - Bowl season ends
Jan. 1 - College Football Playoff semifinals
Jan. 2 - Transfer portal window closes
Jan. 6 - All-American Bowl
Jan. 8 - National Championship
Jan. 13 - Hula Bowl
Tomorrow’s College Football QB Newsletter will preview this weekend’s bowl games with the latest depth chart, injury and opt out news, and of course we’ll cover whatever transfer portal and recruiting news goes down. Adjust your lives accordingly.