Transfer Portal Shake-Up: Quarterback Prospects Change Schools Again

AUSTIN, Texas – The college football landscape has dramatically changed as four top quarterbacks from the 2023 class are on the move again, just two years after they were highly praised for their potential. As the spring transfer portal closed on Friday, only one of the quarterbacks has remained at his original school.

The 2023 recruiting class featured four quarterbacks ranked in the top five of the ESPN 300. Billy Tucker, ESPN’s director of football recruiting, noted that this trend highlights a shift in culture towards seeking immediate results. ‘It’s just that the culture now is about instant gratification,’ Tucker said, emphasizing that transfers are becoming the norm.

Leading the group is Malachi Nelson, who began his collegiate journey at USC. As a freshman, he was a backup to the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, Caleb Williams, and only threw three passes that season. Nelson then transferred to Boise State, where he faced tough competition for the starting role and completed just 12 of 17 passes for 66 yards last season. Recently, he decided to join UTEP, a choice he reportedly made after turning down several lucrative offers.

Perhaps the second-ranked player, Dante Moore, started at UCLA but struggled to find consistency in nine games, throwing 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Following a year of limited play, he transferred to Oregon in December 2023 to follow his aspirations of starting in 2025.

Jack Arnold, ranked third, also experienced ups and downs at Oklahoma after winning accolades as a high school senior. He earned the starting role but faced a tough season, leading to his transfer to Auburn. Arnold is now expected to become a primary starter.

Arch Manning, the grandson of Saints legend Archie Manning, and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, remains at Texas. Manning has had limited playtime, starting two games in his two years. He believes in the value of patience, stating, ‘Sometimes it’s worth the wait.’ After a solid performance last season, he is poised to lead Texas in 2025.

Tucker warns upcoming stars about rushing to transfer. He cites the success of Georgia’s defensive players, who excelled without needing multiple years of production. ‘It’s more about the people guiding these players not being as informed as they need to be,’ Tucker said. As the transfer portal continues to reshape college football, officials may need to address the underlying issues driving these young athletes to switch schools frequently.