QB Transfer Big Board 2.0: Options are emerging quickly
Things happened quickly this week in college football when it came to player movement. The offensive coordinator search is moving at a snail’s pace for Kentucky, but options at quarterback are emerging quickly in the transfer portal.
Since the release of our first big board on Wednesday, we’ve seen some more interesting names enter the transfer portal. We’ve added some to our list.
Player backgrounds, scouting reports, recruiting buzz, and scheme fits are all right here. Let’s take a look at some potential candidates for Kentucky who are now in the portal and eliminate one potential target after Iowa recorded a big recruiting win.
Brennan Armstrong (Virginia)
- Three-star recruit out of Shelby (Ohio) High
- Flipped commitment from Minnesota to Virginia during senior year
- Three-year starter in the ACC with 30 career starts
- 2021 numbers: 65.2% completion rate on 45.5 throws per game, 8.9 yards per attempt, 52.3% passing success rate, 40 total touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 476 rushing yards on 7.6 yards per attempt
- Will be a super senior in 2023
- Scouting Report: Playing in a pass-heavy spread scheme for offensive coordinator Robert Anae from 2020-21, Brennan Armstrong is an instinctive big-play passer with solid accuracy despite having some arm strength limitations. With plus mobility, Armstrong can create off-script and provide a run element on scrambles. In many ways, this is a gunslinger that struggled out of Anae’s offense in 2022.
Brennan Armstrong (6-2, 210) was one of the best quarterbacks in college football in 2021. That was not the case in 2022. Under new head coach Tony Elliott, offensive coordinator Des Kitchings, and an entirely new offensive line, Armstrong struggled as a redshirt senior as the Cavaliers finished the year 3-7 (1-6).
The lefty posted career-worst numbers in completion percentage (54.7%), yards per attempt (6.5), touchdowns (7), and interceptions (12). Things were not good in Charlottesville, but we’ve seen Armstrong be a productive college quarterback in the past.
Finding a play-caller and scheme that Armstrong can gel with will be critical. That needs to be a wide-open spread offense with a bunch of RPO looks and vertical route combinations. The veteran doesn’t have the biggest arm but has shown an ability to make decisive reads and create explosive plays for a good Power Five offense.
Hank Bachmeier (Boise State)
- Top-300 recruit out of Murrieta (Calif.) Valley
- Committed to Bryan Harsin and Boise State over California, Colorado, Minnesota, and Oregon State during senior season
- 29 career starts
- 61.5% career completion rate (536/871), 6,605 passing yards, 7.6 yards per attempt, 41 touchdowns, 19 interceptions
- Will be a redshirt senior in 2023 with two years of eligibility remaining
- Scouting Report: A highly productive QB in the Mountain West that led Boise State to a lot of wins under multiple play-callers. Tough quarterback that will hold his ground and make throws under pressure. Produces very good velocity on short-to-intermediate throws but struggles to drive the ball on vertical concepts. Plays with high confidence and excels in quick game. Ton of playing experience. Very limited as a rusher.
Upon his arrival at Boise State, Hank Bachmeier (6-1, 210) immediately earned the QB1 role and led Boise State on a furious comeback to win his first-ever start. However, has battled injuries and saw a dip in production after Byran Harsin’s left for Auburn.
Bachmeier decided to leave Boise State after four games in 2022 after a brutal start. From that point, the Broncos made a change at offensive coordinator and finished the year undefeated in conference play. However, Bachmeier will receive Power Five interest due to his experience and ability to excel in the short-to-intermediate passing game.
An RPO-heavy offense might be the best fit for the Boise State transfer. Bachmeier has little rush value and has had some issues driving the ball vertically. However, the quarterback produces good velocity and has flashed confident decision-making when allowed to play fast.
Jay Butterfield (Oregon)
- Top-200 recruit out of Greater Los Angeles
- Committed to Oregon over California, Stanford, and Oregon State
- Will be a redshirt junior in 2023 with three years of eligibility remaining
- Scouting Report: A tall and lean QB prospect with a strong pedigree. Jay Butterfield’s dad, Mark, played quarterback at Stanford. Big arm that can make every throw. Strong high school background where he flashed poise, football IQ, and a high ceiling.
Jay Butterfield (6-6, 216) spent three seasons at Oregon under head coaches Mario Cristobal and Dan Lanning. Unfortunately, playing time never occurred. The Ducks signed five-star prospect Ty Thompson in the class of 2021 and added Auburn transfer Bo Nix for the 2022 season. Both passed Butterfield on the depth chart in Eugene.
The class of 2020 signee has only thrown four passes in his career so tape is limited. However, this was a very good-looking high school prospect who flashed a ton of potential. It is unclear what scheme would work best for Butterfield at the college level. However, there are some traits as this could be a high risk/high reward find for a program this transfer cycle.
Hudson Card (Texas)
- Top-100 recruit out of Austin (Texas) Westlake
- Committed to head coach Tom Herman after his sophomore season in 2017
- 5 career starts
- 65.5% completion rate (127/194), 7.9 yards per attempt, 192 non-sack rushing yards (6.4 yards per rush), 12 total touchdowns, 2 interceptions in 16 career games
- Will be a redshirt junior in 2023 with three years of eligibility remaining
- Scouting Report: Good athlete with off-script playmaking ability that can create plays out of structure. Plus accuracy. Very good on the move. Must improve playing from the pocket. Does not have a power arm but has enough juice to test defenses vertically.
Hudson Card (6-2, 201) continued the Lake Travis pipeline of quarterbacks that includes Garrett Gilbert, Todd Reesing, and Baker Mayfield. After taking a redshirt and sitting behind Sam Ehlinger, a coaching change was made at Texas early in his tenure.
Steve Sarkisian has come in and recently landed huge five-star recruiting wins in transfer Quinn Ewers and class of 2023 prospect Arch Manning. That has created a tough situation for Card. The blue-chip prospect lost a position battle to Ewers during the season but did receive playing time when Ewers was lost with a shoulder injury early in the season. Card started three games and posted solid numbers.
As of right now, this should be considered the top QB prospect available in college football free agency. Card has starting experience and some high-ceiling potential with multiple years of eligibility remaining. Multiple Power Five programs will be involved.
Latest Buzz: Notre Dame is trending in this recruitment.
Brett Gabbert (Miami, Ohio)
- Low three-star recruit out of St. Louis (Mo.) Christian Brothers
- Picked Miami (Ohio) over multiple MAC offers
- 30 career starts
- 58.8% career completion rate (450/765), 6,259 passing yards, 8.2 yards per attempt, 45 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
- Will be a redshirt senior in 2023 with two years of eligibility remaining
- Scouting Report: The undersized pocket passer excelled as a four-year starter at Miami (Ohio) in an RPO-heavy scheme. The RedHawks asked Gabbert to take vertical shots and he delivered constantly. There is not much mobility and durability is a question, but the veteran quarterback flashed arm strength that can stretch the field.
We all know Kentucky has to find at least one quarterback in the transfer portal this offseason. But the Cats need to consider adding two since it looks like the program is about to have another high school signing class without a quarterback.
If the program does go this route, the Cats will have to look to the Group of Five and FCS level to find another option. Kentucky saw a candidate in Week 1.
Miami (Ohio) quarterback Brett Gabbert (6-0, 205) entered the portal earlier this week after four seasons in Oxford. The St. Louis native has battled injuries two years in a row but has played a lot of football and has flashed moments of being a vertical playmaker behind center.
A lot of this evaluation will have to do with scheme fit, but a move like this could make some sense for Kentucky.
Phil Jurkovec (Boston College)
- Top-100 recruit out of Pittsburgh
- Spent two seasons at Notre Dame and three seasons at Boston College
- 20 career starts
- Numbers as a full-time starter in 2020: 61% completion rate on 33.6 throws per game, 7.6 yards per attempt, 20 total touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 5.9 yards per non-sack rush on 39 attempts
- Will be a super senior in 2023
- Scouting Report: The former blue-chip recruit left Notre Dame after two seasons and found a good spot at Boston College playing for new head coach Jeff Hafley. Jurkovec has had to battle injuries throughout his college career but has shown NFL arm strength and the ability to be a run threat. Processing, durability, and pocket mechanics are the biggest flaws for this veteran quarterback.
Phil Jurkovec (6-5, 214) was a three-year starter at Boston College that could not stay healthy. The big pocket passer was forced to miss most of the 2021 season with a hand injury and multiple starts in 2022 with both a knee injury and possible concussion issues. That makes his evaluation difficult.
When on the field in Chestnut Hill, Jurkovec flashed a great deep ball and moves well for a quarterback his size. Pocket mechanics are a worry as well as making progression reads are not a strength of his game. However, this is a player with clear NFL tools that could really succeed in a good vertical passing scheme.
Jurkovec will likely be at his best in a play-action heavy offense, but any program must need another quality QB to tag with him because the injury history is an issue. But there are pro tools, and Jurkovec could become a draft pick with a strong season.
Drew Pyne (Notre Dame)
- Top-250 recruit out of Connecticut
- Picked Notre Dame over Auburn, Oklahoma, and Penn State
- 11 career starts
- Numbers as a starter in 2022: 64.6% completion rate on 23.1 throws per game, 8.0 yards per attempt, 24 total touchdowns, 6 interceptions
- Will be a redshirt junior in 2023 with three years of eligibility remaining
- Scouting Report: An undersized quarterback with good movement skills, Pyne replaced Tyler Buchner after Notre Dame’s QB1 was lost for the season in September. After a slow start to the year, the quarterback flashed growth down the stretch with very good accuracy and good decision-making. Good pocket presence and a quick release, but vertical passing is a concern.
At one point, things were getting sideways for first-year head coach Marcus Freeman with home losses to Marshall and Stanford. However, Drew Pyne (5-11, 198) helped settle things in South Bend.
The redshirt sophomore went through some growing pains early but played winning football down the stretch and played his best game in the Week 13 road loss to USC. However, Notre Dame did not ask much of the young quarterback.
Pyne’s biggest play strengths are release and accuracy. But driving the ball on vertical concepts is a concern. A spread offense with a heavy dink-and-dunk passing attack might be the best fit for the Mid-Atlantic native moving forward.
Off the board
— Cade McNamara: The Michigan transfer did not wait long to find a new home. On Thursday, McNamara committed to Iowa, and the Nevada native will stay in the Big Ten. This is a change for Kirk Ferentz as the Hawkeyes were very against using the transfer portal last season. Some offensive changes could be coming to Iowa City, and the Hawks should have McNamara leading the way over the next two years.
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