College Football QB Newsletter: Recruiting, transfer portal, depth charts & injuries 12/28/2023

Welcome to the Nico Iamaleava era

College football QB info is sent to your inbox every morning as a Gunslinger Buzz subscriber. On Monday, you’ll get quarterback depth charts & injury reports, which are updated daily on the site (FCS coming soon). The rest of the week is filled with the latest QB recruiting, transfer portal, depth chart and injury news.

Free subscribers receive the top three stories in the daily email, while a paid subscription gets you every newsletter (including today’s FCS edition), the full archive and access to everything on Quarterback Central.

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As a quarterback enthusiast, could this be a more entertaining bowl season? Say what you want about opt outs, but Miller Moss made things interesting for USC’s 2024 plans in last night’s Holiday Bowl. Head coach Lincoln Riley said so himself. Over at Tennessee, Nico Iamaleava will make his first start on New Year’s Day, and Jackson Arnold will do the same tonight for Oklahoma.

Are you really that disappointed you won’t see Joe Milton III or Dillon Gabriel in those situations? I’d much rather see two 5-star true freshmen get their first shot at the starting role before taking over as the guy in 2024.

Tomorrow’s edition will hit on a ton of noteworthy items from this week’s bowl games with notes on how they could impact what happens heading into 2024.

Email GunslingerBuzz@gmail.com with any questions, comments or news tips.

MY TOP THREE

Tennessee true freshman QB Nico Iamaleava will start the Citrus Bowl vs. Iowa on New Year’s Day with Joe Milton III opting out to prepare for the NFL Draft. The former 5-star prospect played four games this fall and will take over the starting role in 2024 with four years of eligibility remaining. Scoop | TENN, IOWA | Iamaleava (Stats), Milton (Stats)

LSU remains the frontrunner for 2025 5-star QB Bryce Underwood (MI), who’s expected to make a decision on Jan. 6. This has been a two-team race with the Tigers and in-state Michigan, though Alabama is still in the mix more than a week away from his announcement. On3’s Chad Simmons | LSU, ALA, MICH | Underwood

UCF emerged as the team to watch for Arkansas transfer QB KJ Jefferson, who was in Orlando on Wednesday, according to his Instagram story. The Knights are in the market for a John Rhys Plumlee replacement as Jefferson looks for a new stop for his final year of eligibility. On3’s Pete Nakos | UCF, ARK | Jefferson (Stats), Plumlee (Stats)

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Photo courtesy of Tennessee Athletic Strategic Communications

TRANSFER PORTAL REPORT

A leader has not emerged between Florida State and Miami for Washington State transfer QB Cameron Ward. He has one more year of eligibility remaining, and the third option is likely the NFL with the draft declaration date set for Jan. 15. On3’s Pete Nakos | FSU, MIA, WSU | Ward (Stats)