By Dorrington Myers
Some time ago, when a coach developed a quarterback, it meant there was a process for that quarterback to go through. There was a phase of growth and maturity that used to be required before a quarterback could start. Nowadays, quarterbacks are starting directly out of high school, and current college players are switching teams as often as you would change a shirt in the middle of the summer. In this article, I present a few key points and provide my analysis of each.
Quarterbacks Who Found Success After Transferring
Quarterback talent is now being cultivated in a different way. The old methods are a thing of the past. With immediate eligibility, QBs can now dictate how they want their careers to unfold. Some have found great success, and those are the ones that I’ll be discussing. My sample focuses on the College Football Playoff (CFP) era, from its inception to the present day. The quarterbacks I’m about to highlight are still active in the league, mostly as starters. There are other QBs out there, most of these guys have either won the Heisman, or have been a finalist at some point.
CFP-Era Quarterbacks
Jayden Daniels – Washington Commanders
• Transfer: Arizona State → LSU (2022)
• In 2022, Daniels threw for 2,913 yards, 17 touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 888 yards and 12 touchdowns.
• In 2023, he elevated his play, finishing with 3,812 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, and just four interceptions, along with 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
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• That year, Daniels won the Heisman Trophy.
Bo Nix – Denver Broncos
• Transfer: Auburn → Oregon (2022)
• At Auburn, Nix passed for 2,542 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions while adding seven rushing touchdowns.
• After struggling with inconsistency, he transferred to Oregon in 2022, where he recorded over 4,100 total yards and 44 touchdowns.
• In 2023, he put up 4,700 total yards and 51 combined scores, boasting an astounding 74.9% completion rate over two seasons, displaying his newfound consistency.
Jalen Hurts – Philadelphia Eagles (Super Bowl Champion)
• Transfer: Alabama → Oklahoma (2019)
• As a true freshman at Alabama in 2016, Hurts amassed over 3,700 total yards and 36 touchdowns.
• He faced adversity in the 2017 National Championship Game when he was benched for Tua Tagovailoa. Instead of complaining, Hurts supported his teammate.
• In 2018, despite a reduced role, he came off the bench and led Alabama to a comeback win in the SEC Championship Game.
• After transferring to Oklahoma in 2019, he threw for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 1,298 yards and 21 scores.
• Hurts led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff and finished second in Heisman voting.
Baker Mayfield – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Transfer: Texas Tech → Oklahoma (2014)
• Mayfield’s story is one of perseverance. He started as a walk-on at Texas Tech in 2013, where he threw for 2,315 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
• After transferring to Oklahoma, he once again walked on and earned the starting job.
• Over his Sooners career, he threw for 12,292 yards, 119 touchdowns, and just 21 interceptions while adding 895 rushing yards and 19 scores.
• Mayfield finished in the top four of Heisman voting three times, winning the award in 2017.
Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals
• Transfer: Ohio State → LSU (2018)
• Burrow began his career at Ohio State but found himself behind the late Dwayne Haskins on the depth chart. Knowing his talent, he bet on himself and transferred to LSU.
• After earning his undergraduate degree, he became a graduate student and took over as LSU’s starter in 2018, leading the Tigers to a 10-3 record and a Fiesta Bowl win.
• In 2019, he put together one of the greatest college football seasons of all time.
• He led LSU to a perfect season, won the Heisman Trophy, and posted staggering numbers: a 76.3% completion rate, 5,671 passing yards, 60 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, along with five rushing touchdowns.
Coaching Priority: Portal or Homegrown Talent?
College football coaches face immense pressure to win now, which leads many to prioritize the transfer portal over developing talent over multiple seasons. It’s simply the reality of today’s game. Who wouldn’t want an experienced starter over a raw prospect? This trend isn’t limited to powerhouse programs—it’s happening across the country. Lower-ranked recruits are no longer guaranteed development or playing time in this new world.
Impact on High School Recruits
With NIL now in play, it’s more important than ever for young quarterbacks to take the recruiting process seriously. Choosing the right fit matters more than the prestige of a school’s name. Coaches are now selecting the top-tier prospects, and even that pool is limited. As a result, QBs must attend camps for live evaluations while also ensuring their film showcases their talent. Simply put, securing a scholarship has never been more competitive.
Impact on QB Development
While the transfer portal provides immediate solutions for programs, it also presents challenges—especially for quarterback development. The biggest issue is constant movement. Can a QB stay in one place long enough to truly develop? Another challenge is system continuity. Each program runs a different offensive scheme, and coaches teach them in unique ways. Exposure to multiple systems can have pros and cons. On one hand, it prepares a quarterback for the NFL by broadening their knowledge. On the other, bouncing between systems might prevent them from mastering one.
Final Thoughts
What was once a necessary developmental process has turned into musical chairs. Whether this is sustainable remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—patience and quarterback no longer go hand in hand. Today’s focus is finding the right fit, even if that means transferring multiple times. However, the transfer portal has produced multiple Heisman winners. Whether the portal is beneficial- is still up for debate.
