Graduate Transfers Could Play A Major Role In 2015

By Michael Volpone

College sports are always looking outside of the box as teams search for new methods to recruit players to fill their needs and stay relevant in this ever competitive field.  Recruiting graduate transfers seems to have opened up a new avenue that more teams and players are taking advantage of.

Current NCAA regulations allow student athletes that have graduated from their university and still have athletic eligibility remaining the ability to transfer to another Division I university without having to sit out a year, like other transfer students.

This will be relevant with this upcoming football season. Three of the four teams that participated in the inaugural BCS Championship series, Oregon, Florida State and Alabama are all using this option as they lost their starting quarterbacks to the NFL, leaving each wondering who would step in and keep them in the hunt in 2015.  Each has a graduate transfer poised to take the reins this year, as highly touted freshman get the opportunity to gain valuable seasoning under their belt as they acclimate themselves to college life as a Student athlete.  Unfortunately things have not gone as smoothly as planned.



Florida State

Florida State has brought in once heralded Notre Dame QB Everett Golson to take over for departed former Heisman trophy winner and #1 NFL draft pick Jameis Winston, but he is fighting for playing time as he sits #3 on the depth chart while he learns the system

Oregon

Former Eastern Washington QB Vernon Adams was all set to join the Ducks team after walking in his graduation ceremony, but he failed to complete the necessary math class to fulfill the requirements needed to graduate.  He hopes to have this  completed by the beginning to mid training camp

Alabama

Former Florida State backup and now Alabama QB Jake Cocker, a once highly sought after recruit is fighting four other players for the starting job for the Crimson Tide.  Cocker a back up to both former Seminole and current Buffalo Bill EJ Manuel and Winston, has not found the rhythm to satisfy Coach Nick Saban yet.

Ohio State

The fourth team, and National Champions Ohio State has a rather different situation that almost caused one of their players to leave for a better opportunity.  Redshirt senior (and graduate) Braxton Miller, a 2- time Big Ten offensive Player of the Year, lost his starting spot due to injury. Now he has to compete against both JT Barrett, who filled in admirably in Miller’s absence, until a late season injury ended his season, and redshirt Junior Cardale Jones, who stepped in for Barrett and won the Big Ten Championship, as well as National Championship in his first three games as a starter.  Miller, who was courted and rumored to be transferring to other schools, like Florida State and Oregon, has decided to stay a Buckeye and is possibly changing positions to be on the field, and increase his opportunity to play in the NFL as a wide receiver.

One of the more common trends has been red shirt players that sit early in their career making the move to other schools. Former North Carolina State and Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson made the move after completing his degree, partly because the Wolfpack did not want him to play two sports (he was also drafted by the Texas Rangers). He transferred to Wisconsin, leading the team to a Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl berth.

More players will have this opportunity as colleges look for ways to better their situation.  The one big negative is they only have one season to learn everything and demonstrate their ability.

Graduate transfers will be an interesting trend to monitor and see who the real beneficiaries are – the players or the teams.

 

Michael graduated with a M. Ed. in Counseling and a B. S. in Physical Education with a concentration in Coaching from Bridgewater State University in MA. He worked in Higher Education for six years in Student Services and Athletics before changing careers. He watches all types of sports, but is a big Boston and University of Michigan fan. He also covers college football and the NFL Draft for 60MaxPowero.com.