Gunslinger Buzz 🏈 Tennessee pulls away from Nick Saban-less Alabama for top uncommitted QB
College football QB recruiting, transfer portal, depth chart & injury news
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MY TOP THREE
Tennessee received a prediction for in-state 2025 4-star QB George MacIntyre from On3’s Josh Newberg and 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong. With 5-star Bryce Underwood (MI) off to LSU, that left Alabama as the Vols’ top challenger for the top uncommitted quarterback in the class, but that was before Nick Saban retired.
Ohio State is the team to beat for 2026 4-star QB Jared Curtis (TN) with Georgia as its top challenger, according to 247Sports’ Tom Loy, who predicted the Buckeyes, and On3’s Alex Gleitman did the same. Curtis will visit Georgia this weekend, followed by a trip to see Ohio State next weekend, 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong reported.
Texas 2025 4-star QB commit KJ Lacey is still hearing from in-state Alabama and Auburn, and Oregon is going after him hard, he told Rivals’ Adam Gorney. Lacey committed to the Longhorns last June but has continued to go on visits as they look to hold on with the Early Signing Period nearly a year away. The Ducks already have 4-star Akili Smith Jr. (CA) committed in the class.
Photo courtesy of Alabama Athletics Photography
RECRUITING REPORT (3)
2025 4-star QB Bear Bachmeier (CA) feels like a priority for Oregon, Stanford and Alabama with some Arkansas interest, 247Sports’ Blair Angulo reported. The Crimson Tide and Cardinal are still looking for a quarterback commitment in the class.
2026 4-star QB Brady Smigiel (CA) will visit Notre Dame on Jan. 19 and Oregon on Jan. 27, Rivals’ Adam Gorney reported. Both programs have 2025 quarterbacks committed as they look ahead to 2026 with nearly every QB currently uncommitted in the class.
2025 3-star QB Alex Manske (IA) will visit Texas A&M on Jan. 20 with a trip to Iowa State on Jan. 27, 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong reported. The in-state Cyclones have been the favorite after multiple visits with Nebraska also in the mix.
TRANSFER PORTAL REPORT (17)
Florida State transfer QB Tate Rodemaker (stats) committed to Southern Miss with two years of eligibility remaining. He played eight games as the Seminoles’ backup quarterback in 2023 and steps into the starting quarterback role ahead of Ethan Crawford (stats) and Billy Wiles (stats). Additionally, Holman Edwards (stats) entered the transfer portal after playing four games last season with one year left.
UNLV received a commitment from Campbell (FCS) transfer QB Hajj-Malik Williams for his final year of eligibility. He was a multi-year starter with the Camels will compete with Doug Brumfield (stats) and Cameron Friel (stats) for the starting spot in 2024. The Rebels will host Holy Cross (FCS) transfer QB Matthew Sluka this weekend, On3’s Pete Nakos reported, and added former Southern (FCS) quarterback Dylan Mehrotra (stats), who has two years left.
Utah transfer QB Bryson Barnes (stats) committed to Utah State with two years of eligibility. Barnes played 11 games in 2023 as he took over in an injured Utes quarterback room. The Aggies have an incredibly experienced group as Barnes joins Cooper Legas (stats), McCae Hillstead (stats) and former Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras (stats). All four have starting experience.
East Carolina is likely to land Missouri transfer QB Jake Garcia (stats) with three years of eligibility remaining, 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported. He was the No. 3 option with the Tigers and would likely compete with former Michigan State transfer Katin Houser (stats) for the top spot in 2024 if he lands with the Pirates.
Western Michigan transfer QB Treyson Bourguet (stats) committed to BYU with three years of eligibility left. He played six games for the Broncos in 2023 and could be in the mix with Gerry Bohanon (stats) and Jake Retzlaff (stats) as the top three options on the depth chart.
Buffalo transfer QB Cole Snyder (stats) committed to Eastern Michigan for his final year of eligibility. He was a two-year starter with the Bulls and will step into the starting lineup ahead of Cam’Ron McCoy (stats), Ike Udengwu III (stats) and incoming Minnesota transfer Drew Viotto (stats) Last year’s starter Austin Smith (stats) signed with Austin Peay (FCS) with two years of eligibility remaining.
New Mexico State transfer QB Gavin Frakes (stats) committed to Virginia with three years of eligibility remaining. He played 11 games as a true freshman in 2022 but did not play a snap this fall. Frakes is unlikely to challenge for a spot in the two-deep with Anthony Colandrea (stats) and Tony Muskett (stats) returning.
Oklahoma transfer QB Davis Beville (stats) committed to South Carolina for his final year of eligibility. He was the third-string option for the Sooners in 2023 and will likely be behind LaNorris Sellers (stats), who’s set to take over as the starter next fall. The Gamecocks have been communicating with James Madison transfer QB Jordan McCloud (stats), 247Sports’ Hale McGranahan reported. Additionally, South Carolina transfer quarterback Tanner Bailey (stats) announced his football career is over.
Kentucky transfer QB Deuce Hogan (stats) committed to New Mexico State with two years of eligibility left. The Aggies lost three of their top four quarterbacks to the transfer portal with Hogan and Eli Stowers (stats) as the top 2024 options. Hogan was outside the top three on the 2023 Wildcats depth chart, and Stowers was primarily used as a pass catcher with New Mexico State.
Northern Illinois added a commitment from Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer QB Jalen Macon with two years of eligibility remaining. He played 11 games over the last two seasons and will compete with Kenny Lueth and Ethan Hampton (stats) in 2024. Additionally, former Huskies quarterback Mason Kidd (stats) committed to South Carolina State (FCS) with four years of eligibility remaining.
Texas State transfer QB Malik Hornsby (stats) committed to Arkansas State as wide receiver, AStateNation reported. Hornsby has one year of eligibility remaining and a redshirt season available.
Former Arkansas QB Kade Renfro (stats) entered the transfer portal, On3’s Kaiden Smith reported. He was not on the roster in 2023, and read here if you want to know more about it. Renfro has not played a snap over three college football seasons with the Razorbacks and Ole Miss two years of eligibility remaining.
Arizona State QB Jacob Conover (stats) entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining, On3’s Pete Nakos reported. The former BYU quarterback played three games last season due to a number of injuries in the Sun Devils’ QB room and would’ve been the fourth option in 2024.
UMass received a prediction to add Akron transfer QB Ryan Jankowski (stats) from UMass Insider’s Mike Traini. Jankowski was outside the top three on the Zips 2023 depth chart and picked up a Minutemen offer three weeks ago. Taisun Phommachanh (stats) is expected to return as the starter in 2024.
Northwestern transfer QB Cole Freeman (stats) committed to Columbia (FCS) with two years of eligibility remaining.
Western Kentucky transfer QB Bronson Barron (stats) committed to Southern Utah (FCS), he told The Fan Sports Network’s Devin Dixon.
Navy transfer QB Tyler Baker committed to Rhode Island (FCS) with four years of eligibility remaining.
DEPTH CHART & INJURY REPORT (2)
Texas A&M QB Jaylen Henderson (stats) will return in 2024, On3’s Pete Nakos reported. He took over a banged-up Aggies quarterback room last season and will likely settle in to the backup spot behind Conner Weigman (stats) next fall. Henderson underwent surgery to his non-throwing arm in late December after leaving the bowl game with an injury.
Western Michigan’s Mareyohn Hrabowski (stats) lists himself as a tight end in his Twitter bio. He remains a quarterback on the team roster and played 12 games over the last three years, all of which came at QB. Hayden Wolff (stats) will return as the starter in 2024, but the backup spot is up in the air especially if Hrabowski if Hrabowski is no longer playing the position.
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