Gunslinger Buzz 1/5/2024 🏈 Welcome to Ohio State, Will Howard
College football QB recruiting, transfer portal, depth chart & injury news
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MY TOP THREE
Kansas State transfer QB Will Howard (stats) committed to Ohio State for his final year of eligibility. He steps in as the favorite over former 5-star quarterback Devin Brown (stats). Howard played 34 games over four seasons and started every regular season game for the Wildcats in 2023.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson (stats) will return in 2024, his dad told Tide Illustrated’s Tony Tsoukalas. The Crimson Tide will return their top two quarterbacks, but Eli Holstein (stats) entered the transfer portal, 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported. Holstein was outside the top four on the depth chart as a true freshman with four years of eligibility remaining.
Former Florida QB Jalen Kitna (stats) committed to UAB, ESPN’s Alex Scarborough reported. The Gators dismissed him late in the 2022 season after an arrest on felony child pornography charges, which were dropped this summer after reaching a plea deal. Kitna has multiple years of eligibility left and will likely compete for the backup spot behind returning starter Jacob Zeno (stats).
Photo courtesy of Alabama Athletics Photography
TRANSFER PORTAL REPORT (26)
Oregon transfer QB Ty Thompson (stats) will visit Iowa on Friday after already seeing Washington State and UCF, Hawkeye Insider’s David Eickholt reported. The former 5-star prospect has two seasons left and would back up Cade McNamara (stats), who is recovering from a September torn ACL. Deacon Hill (stats) has been starting, though true freshman Marco Lainez III (stats) took over in the 35-0 Citrus Bowl loss to Tennessee.
Louisiana transfer QB Zeon Chriss (stats) committed to Houston with three years of eligibility left. He took over when Ben Wooldridge (stats) suffered a season-ending injury, though Chriss was carted off with his leg in an air cast on Nov. 4 and did not play again. Donovan Smith (stats) is still the favorite as a returning starter, but Chriss will compete with Ui Ale (stats) and Lucas Coley (stats) for the No. 2 spot.
TCU received 247Sports crystal ball predictions for Vanderbilt transfer QB Ken Seals (stats), who has two years left. He played 10 games in 2023 and would enter a competition with Horned Frogs’ returning starter Josh Hoover (stats).
Minnesota transfer QB Athan Kaliakmanis (stats) committed to Rutgers with two years of eligibility left. He started every regular season game for the Gophers and will compete with returning starter Gavin Wimsatt (stats).
Scoop: Yesterday afternoon, Cal transfer QB Ben Finley (stats) told me he’s uncommitted despite reports of an Akron commitment. However, after yesterday’s visit, he let me know he has committed to the Zips for his final two years of eligibility and will not take another visit. Finley played 15 games over four seasons for the Golden Bears and NC State and will likely be the guy at Akron over Tahj Bullock (stats).
UNLV QB Jayden Maiava (stats) will enter the transfer portal after taking over as the starter this fall, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported. He has three years of eligibility left with Doug Brumfield (stats) and Cameron Friel (stats) as the top returning options for the Rebels in 2024.
Tulane QB Kai Horton (stats) withdrew from the transfer portal after starting the 41-20 Military Bowl loss to Virginia Tech. With Michael Pratt (stats) off to the NFL, Horton is the favorite to start ahead of Justin Ibieta (stats), who exited the bowl game on Dec. 27 with his leg in an air cast. Horton has two years left.
Texas State QB Malik Hornsby (stats) entered the transfer portal for his final year of eligibility, 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported. The former Arkansas quarterback played seven games as the backup in his lone season with the Bobcats. This likely means starter TJ Finley (stats) will be back in 2024, which is what San Antonio Express-News’ Keff Ciardello has been hearing.
Kentucky QB Deuce Hogan (stats) entered transfer portal with two years left, On3’s Pete Nakos reported. The Wildcats’ top four quarterbacks from 2023 are no longer on the roster with Brock Vandagriff (stats) ready to get his first shot as a full-time starter.
USF QB Israel Carter (stats) entered the transfer portal after playing three games as a true freshman, according to Rivals. The former 3-star prospect has four years of eligibility left, while the Bulls will have starter Byrum Brown (stats) back in 2024.
Arkansas State QB Jaxon Dailey (stats) entered transfer portal with three years of eligibility left, 247Sports reported. Dailey played eight games over two seasons with the Red Wolves and was behind Jaylen Raynor (stats), who took over as the starter as a true freshman in 2023.
Western Kentucky QB Bronson Barron (stats) entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining, 247Sports reported. He played just one game in his lone season with the Hilltoppers after starting at Weber State. Caden Veltkamp (stats) and Turner Helton (stats) played in the bowl game as the top two returning candidates to start in 2024.
Ole Miss QB Davin Wydner (stats) entered the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining, Rivals reported. He did not play a snap over two seasons with the Rebels.
Northern Illinois QB Mason Kidd (stats) entered transfer portal with four years of eligibility remaining. He did not play a snap as a true freshman for the Huskies, which have Ethan Hampton (stats) and Juco transfer Kenny Lueth as the top candidates to start in 2024.
USC QB Isaac Ward (stats) entered the transfer portal for his final season, On3 reported. He did not play a snap over four years with the Trojans.
Auburn QB Sawyer Pate (stats) entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility left. He did not play a snap for the Tigers over four seasons.
LSU QB Matt O’Dowd (stats) entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility left, Rivals reported. He did not play a snap over three seasons with the Tigers.
San Diego State QB Liu Aumavae entered the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining, 247Sports reported. He played two games over two seasons with the Aztecs.
New Mexico QB Aidan Armenta (stats) entered the transfer portal with four years of eligibility remaining. He did not play a snap as a true freshman this fall.
Marshall QB Jack Schierholz entered the transfer portal with four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting as a true freshman.
Southern Miss transfer QB Jake Lange (stats) committed to Delta State (D2) for his final year of eligibility.
VISITS
Akron: Ben Finley (Cal - Stats) | Scoop
Kent State: JD Sherrod (Troy - Stats) | Scoop
UNLV: Dylan Mehrotra (Southern (FCS) - Stats) | Scoop
OFFERS
Utah State: Ben Finley (Cal - Stats) | Scoop
Butler (FCS): Matt O’Dowd (LSU - Stats) | Scoop
DEPTH CHART & INJURY REPORT (2)
Tennessee true freshman QB Nico Iamaleava (stats) made his first start with Joe Milton III (stats) opting out of the 35-0 Citrus Bowl win over Iowa. Gaston Moore (stats) took over in garbage time, and Iamaleava will be the full-time starter next season after playing five games this season.
Louisiana QB Chandler Fields (stats) will return for his final college football season. He took over as the starter this fall after injuries to Ben Wooldridge (Stats) and Zeon Chriss (Stats) and will be the backup assuming reports of Wooldridge getting an extra year of eligibility are accurate.
RECRUITING REPORT (2)
OFFERS
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