Possible CFB Transfer Destinations for QBs Who Lose Position Battle in Spring

The challenge with being a quarterback is, barring some gadget formation or indecisive coaching, only one signal-caller can play at a time.

In today's transfer-fueled era of college football, that reality leads to a lot of movement at the position.

Spring practice is one of those triggers.

When the early-offseason workouts are over, a few programs may have a clear winner in their QB competition. Coaches often let a position battle spill into the summer and fall camp, but sometimes they'll announce an official QB1 to quiet the noise.

As a result, the backup might look for a more favorable depth chart or simply want a fresh start. And the following teams may be eyeing the portal for reinforcements when spring is over.

On paper, the reigning Big 12 champions are pretty set. They return Sam Leavitt as QB1, and veteran backup Jeff Sims previously started at Georgia Tech and Nebraska.

The trouble is Sims struggled in 2023 with Nebraska and was ineffective in ASU's loss at Cincinnati last season. And as excited as the Sun Devils might be about 3-star 2025 signee Michael Tollefson, true freshmen usually are not ready for college.

You'll be seeing a theme within this piece, and it starts with ASU: Don't run away from depth.

If the Sun Devils were still trying to build a program, another option would not feel necessary.

Once a program tastes success, though, it doesn't want to let an injury ruin a year. Leavitt is very talented, but planning for adverse scenarios is just smart coaching.

Gunner Stockton seems like the successor to Carson Beck, and Georgia isn't short on talented youth. Ryan Puglisi and Ryan Montgomery were both 4-star prospects in recent years.

After Jaden Rashada went to the portal, though, the impending competition to replace Beck is thinner than expected.

Georgia didn't prioritize a QB in the winter transfer cycle, which is understandable if it believes Stockton is ready to take over. (For the record, I'm in that camp.)

The bigger story is whether the position battle also produces a clear backup.

If that doesn't happen for Puglisi or Montgomery, for example, UGA may start looking around.

Tyler Shough used up his eligibility, and Louisville responded by plucking USC transfer Miller Moss out of the portal.

The current backup plan, however, is a concern.

Louisville lost Harrison Bailey (Florida) and Pierce Clarkson (Ole Miss) to transfers this offseason. The only other player on the roster with college experience is Brady Allen, who's attempted a grand total of two passes in the last three seasons.

Yes, UL signed 3-star Mason Mims in the 2025 cycle and 3-star Deuce Adams during the 2024 class. Perhaps one of them develops into a quality second-stringer this season.

But there is an undeniable risk about Louisville's current situation in the quarterback room.

Austin Simmons is fully expected to replace Jaxson Dart.

As for the backups, though? That's a lingering concern for Ole Miss, which lost Walker Howard to the portal.

Pierce Clarkson, who threw six passes in two seasons at Louisville before transferring to Oxford, will compete with AJ Maddox for the second-string job. Maddox hasn't attempted a pass in college.

Consequently, the Rebels may want to target a short-term transfer who brings more experience.

Ole Miss otherwise is, similar to Louisville with Moss, placing an enormous amount of faith in Simmons' health.

Athan Kaliakmanis isn't in danger of losing his spot on the depth chart. He logged 17 starts at Minnesota in 2022 and 2023 before heading to Rutgers and opening all 13 games last season.

But, again, the familiar story is an important one.

Ajani Sheppard threw two passes in 2023, and that's the extent of returning experience after Kaliakmanis. Rutgers hasn't picked up anyone from the portal so far, either.

Given how difficult this job is, an insurance policy certainly wouldn't be a bad thing for head coach Greg Schiano. He's successfully led Rutgers to respectability once again, and protecting against a long-term injury to Kaliakmanis is entirely defensible.

In a potential make-or-break season for fourth-year coach Tony Elliott, the Cavaliers need to get this right.

North Texas transfer Chandler Morris will be the starter. He brings several years of experience and is familiar with the power-conference level, given his previous stint as QB1 at TCU.

Sure, the Hoos also landed Nebraska transfer Daniel Kaelin this offseason with Gavin Frakes still on the roster. There's a real argument for UVA not pursuing any other additions in order to avoid having "too many cooks in the kitchen" at the position.

But if the team doesn't improve in 2025, Elliott and his staff may not have a 2026 in Charlottesville anyway.

Any available upgrade to its depth should be on UVA's radar.