Plenty of college football players transfer each offseason, but this year is set to be a big one, especially at the quarterback position. With so many players ready to transfer, lots of teams may end up either sub-par or freshman quarterbacks this coming season. Three of the biggest names in the transfer portal this year are Spencer Rattler, Quinn Ewers, and Keldon Slovis. All coming from high-powered teams in Oklahoma, Ohio State, and USC, respectively, these players could make huge impacts on their new teams and all of college football. Rattler has committed to South Carolina, Quinn Ewers has headed back to Texas, and Kedon Slovis has transferred to Pittsburg.
Rattler is an interesting case. He began the season as a Heisman Trophy favorite and a potential top-5 pick in the NFL Draft, then not only lost that status, but he also lost his starting job during Oklahoma’s rivalry game against Texas. It was a controversial move to bench him as they had won their first five games with Rattler under center, but it turned out to be the right one as freshman Caleb Williams led the Sooners to an Alamo Bowl berth against Oregon. Rattler has committed to South Carolina along with former Oklahoma tight end Austin Stogner for his senior season. He still has a legitimate chance to be an NFL quarterback, but it is a lot harder to become that elite top-five draft pick at South Carolina, and he will have his work cut out for him.
Quinn Ewers was the top recruit in the country in 2022, but then he reclassified to become a member of the 2021 class and committed to Ohio State. This season did not go as Ewers hoped as Heisman trophy finalist CJ Stroud firmly established himself as Ohio State’s starting quarterback and Ewers was relegated to the bench. Very much opposed to waiting for the current sophomore Stroud to leave, he entered his name in the transfer portal. He had originally committed to Texas before he came to Ohio State, and that was the decision he made now as well. After a 5-7 season in 2021, the Longhorns certainly need some help. Ewers is also the first big-time success in terms of player acquisition for second-year coach Steve Sarkisian. Quinn Ewers could really help build both fan confidence in Texas, and possibly a bowl game for the team as well. Ewers will have a competition for the starting job as Hudson Card, a candidate to start this past year, is still with the team. Former starter Casey Thompson has entered his name in the transfer portal and will not be returning to the Longhorns. This Texas native could play a huge role in the program’s return to the elite class of college football teams starting this coming season.
The third big-name quarterback in the transfer portal this year is Kedon Slovis from USC. He was the starting quarterback for three seasons at USC, but with Kenny Pickett departing for the NFL Draft, he has chosen to transfer to Pittsburgh. He wrote in his letter to the USC community that he is, “Ready to win now,” and he feels that Pitt gives him the best chance to do that. You can certainly never count on Clemson having as poor of a season as they did this year but if this is what we’ll see from the Tigers, Slovis and Pitt have a great chance to repeat as ACC Champions and contend for another New Year's Six bowl game. Pitt has plenty of great players coming back including the winner of the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the best wide receiver in college football, Jordan Addison. Slovis will certainly have the cast to win and his transfer could take Pitt to new heights they couldn’t reach with potential first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett at quarterback.
These are three of the best quarterbacks in the transfer portal, and their decisions could make impacts on their new schools and the whole college football community for years to come.
Image Source: Sport Illustrated