Gunslinger Buzz - College Football QB News: December 4, 2023

CFB Quarterback Depth Chart, Injury, Transfer Portal, Recruiting & NFL Draft News of the Day

Dec 04, 2023

Photo courtesy of GoDucks.com

What a rush to start to start the day. I scheduled this post to publish at 7 a.m. ET and after a 6:59 a.m. wakeup, a notification told me Kyle McCord is in the portal. Heroically, I jumped out of bed, sprinted for the laptop and unscheduled the post to add the Buckeyes needing a new starting quarterback with roughly three seconds to spare.

Welcome to Transfer Portal Monday, kids. This is just the beginning.

The newsletter publishes five times per week with three of them exclusively available to paid subscribers, who also get a weekly depth chart/injury post with access to everything on the Quarterback Central page.

TRANSFER PORTAL REPORT

Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord (Stats) entered the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining, according to Mike Farrell Sports. This would qualify as the first truly stunning entry to the transfer portal so far when it comes to the quarterback position. McCord started every game for the Buckeyes this fall after beating out Devin Brown (Stats) for the starting role in the offseason. Brown has not played since suffering a knee on injury on Oct. 21, though he appears to have been available if needed. He would start the Cotton Bowl against Missouri on Dec. 29 with true freshman Lincoln Kienholz (Stats) as the most likely next option. Brown should be considered the favorite to start for the Buckeyes in 2024.

Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard (Stats) met with USC head coach Lincoln Riley, according to K-State Online’s Derek Young. Howard started games in each of the last four seasons with the Wildcats and held off talented true freshman Avery Johnson (Stats) to keep that role this fall. Caleb Williams (Stats) said it will be a game-time decision for whether he will enter the NFL Draft, according to Los Angeles Times’ Ryan Kartje. Still, it would be a stunner if he returned to college as a projected top-two pick in the spring. Assuming Williams leaves for the pros, Miller Moss (Stats) and Malachi Nelson (Stats) would be the top two options looking toward 2024.

There is a good chance NC State will have Coastal Carolina transfer quarterback Grayson McCall (Stats) on campus this week, according to Pack Pride’s R. Cory Smith. The Wolfpack made a home visit to see McCall this weekend as they are in desperate need of help at the quarterback position in 2024 with MJ Morris (Stats) in the transfer portal and Brennan Armstrong (Stats) out of eligibility. True freshman Lex Thomas (Stats) will be the only scholarship QB returning in 2024. McCall suffered a concussion that ended his 2023 season and has one year of eligibility to play. Expect NC State to be very active in the transfer market with potential to add multiple quarterbacks from the portal.

Minnesota landed a commitment from New Hampshire transfer quarterback Max Brosmer, who announced the news on Twitter. Brosmer has one more year of eligibility remaining, and the Gophers are in need of QBs after losing starter Athan Kaliakmanis (Stats) and true freshman Drew Viotto (Stats) to the transfer portal last week. Cole Kramer (Stats) is set to start the Quick Lane Bowl against Bowling Green on Dec. 26 with true freshman walk-on Max Shikenjanski (Stats) as the only other QB on the roster.

Utah State landed a transfer commitment from former Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras (Stats), who announced the news on Twitter. Petras was a multi-year starter with the Hawkeyes but was not on the roster this fall as he recovered from a torn labrum and rotator cuff that ended his 2022 season at Iowa. Petras will join an Aggies quarterback room that is set to return their top two options with Cooper Legas (Stats) and McCae Hillstead (Stats).

Florida State quarterback AJ Duffy (Stats) will enter the transfer portal, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Duffy was not in the mix even after two QB injuries this fall and was passed up on the depth chart by true freshman Brock Glenn (Stats). The former 4-star prospect appeared in five games over two seasons with the Seminoles with three years of eligibility remaining at his next school. With Jordan Travis (Stats) out of eligibility, Tate Rodemaker (Stats) and Glenn are the top two candidates on the roster to start in 2024.

Tulane quarterback Carson Haggard (Stats) announced he will enter the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining. Haggard did not see the field over two seasons with the Green Wave and was not among the top three listed on the depth chart in 2023. Starter Michael Pratt (Stats) has yet to decide his 2024 plans with the NFL Draft appearing to be a likely option after denying a report from last month that said he’s considering a transfer to a Power 5 school. Pratt is projected as a Day 3 pick, according to ESPN’s Steve Muench.

Akron quarterback Ryan Jankowski (Stats) announced he will enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. Jankowski was outside the top three on the Zips depth chart this fall, and his lone action came in two games during the 2022 season. With top two QBs DJ Irons (Stats) and Jeff Undercuffler Jr. (Stats) out of eligibility, Tahj Bullock (Stats) has to be considered the favorite among the quarterbacks on the roster to start in 2024 with Steele Wasel (Stats) as his top challenger after redshirting as a true freshman.

VISITS

VAN - Cole Snyder (Stats) | Tweet

DEPTH CHART & INJURY REPORT

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said quarterback Bo Nix (Stats) will play in the Fiesta Bowl against Liberty on Jan. 1. Nix does not have a decision to make considering he is out of eligibility when this season closes, but he’s definitely an NFL Draft prospect. It will be interesting to see if the Ducks roll with former 5-star QB prospect Ty Thompson (Stats) in 2024 or if they look elsewhere for a starter this offseason.

UCLA head coach Chip Kelly said he anticipates quarterback Ethan Garbers (Stats) being available for the LA Bowl against Boise State on Dec. 16. He also added we’ll see where he’s at toward the end of this week after exiting the regular season finale on Nov. 25 when he took a hit on the opening drive. With Dante Moore (Stats) in the transfer portal, Collin Schlee (Stats) is the next option, though he appeared to be unavailable for the most recent game with an injury.

Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza (Stats) said he will be back with the team next season despite offensive coordinator Jake Spavital leaving for Baylor. Mendoza took over as the starter midway through the season and held onto the role. Additionally, head coach Justin Wilcox said backup QB Sam Jackson V (Stats) will not be healthy enough to play in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 16 against Texas Tech. With Ben Finley (Stats) set to hit the transfer portal, true freshmen Brady Weingart (Stats) and Belay Brummel (Stats) are the only other QBs on the roster.

Tulane interim head coach Slade Nagle said he’s expecting everybody to play right now, referring to the Military Bowl against Virginia Tech on Dec. 27. Nothing official been released regarding starting quarterback Michael Pratt (Stats), who could declare for the NFL Draft and opt out of this game. If he sits out, Kai Horton (Stats) would likely be the next option.

Utah State head coach Blake Anderson said he’s uncertain whether QBs Cooper Legas (Stats) or McCae Hillstead (Stats) will be available for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Georgia State on Dec. 23. Legas missed the final game of the regular season with a shoulder injury, while Hillstead has been battling an ankle issue. Levi Williams (Stats) has plenty of game experience and would be in line for another start in his final college football game.

Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun said there’s a chance quarterback Zac Larrier (Stats) could return for the Armed Forces Bowl against James Madison on Dec. 23. Larrier missed the regular season finale with an injury, and Jensen Jones (Stats) did not play despite being listed as the backup. Instead, Ben Brittain (Stats) got the start before he left with an injury with John Busha (Stats) finishing the game.

NFL DRAFT REPORT

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix (Stats) and Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. (Stats) are both Day 2 prospects in the NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Jordan Reid. This report came before Friday’s game as the Huskies pulled off a 34-31 victory in the Pac-12 Championship as the two close out their college football careers. Both are in their final year of eligibility, and Nix will play in the bowl with Penix getting one or two more games after leading Washington to the College Football Playoff.

There is not expected to be a consensus QB1 in the 2024 NFL Draft between USC’s Caleb Williams (Stats) and North Carolina’s Drake Maye (Stats), according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. These are clearly the top-two options at QB in this draft class, but teams vary on who’s No. 1 looking ahead to April. Neither quarterback has declared for the draft yet, but the Tar Heels recently added Max Johnson (Stats) from the transfer portal, while Kansas State transfer Will Howard (Stats) reportedly met with Trojans’ head coach Lincoln Riley.

The buzz is Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders (Stats) and Washington State transfer QB Cameron Ward (Stats) will return to school in 2024, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. This report came before Ward announced he’ll enter the transfer portal, but he could still decide to declare for the draft. Sanders missed the final game of the regular season with a fractured back, and head coach Deion Sanders has continued to say he’ll be part of the 2025 NFL Draft class.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels (Stats) earned starting-level grades from NFL scouts, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. Daniels is another player who does not have a decision to make with this being his final year of eligibility. It’s unclear whether he will participate in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin on New Year’s Day, but he certainly improved his draft stock this fall.

The likelihood of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (Stats) returning to college football next season has increased exponentially, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Ewers led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, and an NFL Draft decision could come as early as this week. An NFL scout told 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz that he has Ewers as a third-round draft grade. If he returns, the next story would be whether this impacts the future of backup Maalik Murphy (Stats) and true freshman Arch Manning (Stats) if they need to wait another year to challenge for the starting spot.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (Stats) is a Day 1 possibility for the NFL Draft, a scout told 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Another scout added he is a first-round talent if he entered the draft this year but is likely a top-five prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. Beck just completed his first full regular season as a college football starting quarterback with a decision to make. If he leaves for the pros, Brock Vandagriff (Stats) would likely be the top on-the-roster QB with Gunner Stockton (Stats) as the biggest challenger.

RECRUITING REPORT

Virginia landed a commitment from 2025 3-star QB Cole Geer (MA), who announced the news on Twitter. He will join a future quarterback room that includes in-state 2024 3-star Ethan Minter, who may be playing a position other than QB at the college level.

James Madison lost a commitment from 2024 3-star QB Alberto Mendoza (FL), who announced the news on Twitter. Mendoza had been committed to the Dukes for more than five months before re-opening his recruitment a few weeks before the Early Signing Period. Mendoza committed before head coach JMU Curt Cignetti left for Indiana, and he revealed a Hoosiers offer hours after the news. 2024 3-star Timothy Carpenter (OH) decommitted from Indiana over the weekend, the Hoosiers received a FutureCast prediction to land Mendoza from Rivals’ John Garcia Jr. Mendoza also landed an offer from in-state Florida Atlantic on Sunday.

OFFERS

UPCOMING KEY DATES

A look at what’s ahead over the next 30 days. All times p.m. EST unless noted otherwise.

Dec. 4 - Transfer portal window opens
Dec. 9 - Army-Navy Game
Dec. 9 - Heisman Trophy Ceremony
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. 3 - Transfer portal window closes

Tomorrow’s newsletter will recap what is expected to be a massive day of quarterback transfer portal news, which will be a heavy focus over the next month. Adjust your lives accordingly.

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