OT: QB JT Daniels is in the portal and looking to transfer to a 4th school

Submitted by oriental andrew on December 6th, 2022 at 4:06 PM

This caught my eye because a friend of mine is acquaintances with JT Daniels' father. 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35196186/sources-wvu-qb-jt-daniels-looks-transfer-4th-school

It looks like the once-top rated HS QB is now planning to transfer to a fourth school. His college route has been long and winding, to say the least.

  • 2018 - started as a true freshman at USC
  • 2019 - season-ending injury in his first game, transfers to UGA
  • 2020 - starts the last 4 games of the season, including the bowl game
  • 2021 - starts the first 2 games of the season before giving way to Stetson Bennett for the remainder of the year (and we know how that went), transfers to WVU
  • 2022 - starts the first 9 games of the season before giving way to Garrett Greene for the remainder of the season. Enters portal. 

He has started in the Pac12, SEC, and Big XII. He could make it 4 teams in 4 conferences if he transfers to the Big Ten or ACC. He seems more like an ACC kid to me, but what do I know. 

He has one year of eligibility left, although he could petition for a medical redshirt for 2019 and have another year of eligibility. That could potentially leave him with 7 (!) years playing QB in college and he could theoretically play in every single P5 conference if he transfers again after next season. 

That said, his goal is to make it to the NFL where he can be a journeyman QB, not to be a journeyman QB in college. Good luck, kid. 

cbs650

December 6th, 2022 at 4:16 PM ^

I thought he should have never left high school early. I believe he reclassified up and entered college a year early. Also how is he legitimately on track to graduate transferring that many times. 

OuldSod

December 6th, 2022 at 4:54 PM ^

He graduated from Georgia last spring and likely will complete a Master's at WVU.

For reference:

  • WVU requires 30 credits in residence for an Undergrad degree (1 year)
  • Georgia requires 45 credits in residence for a degree (1.5 years)
  • Michigan requires 60 credits in residence for a degree (2 years)

They may all require 120 credits total, but this - not admissions - is what restricts UM undergraduate transfers.

FieldingBLUE

December 6th, 2022 at 4:22 PM ^

This is a great example of the confusion I have over the transfer portal. 

I thought everyone got *ONE* free immediately eligible transfer.

How did JTD get THREE already and looking to make it FOUR?

tsunami42080

December 6th, 2022 at 4:37 PM ^

In a related side note, Ray Lewis son is shopping for his 4th school as well.

 

The QB transfer carousel is impossible to keep up with. Show up to school in year one and win the job or move on to the next one. No one keeps a backup more than a year.

blueinbeantown

December 6th, 2022 at 4:40 PM ^

Hey JT, at some point you have to do look in the mirror and move on!  Time to give it up buddy.  Maybe you can Tom Cruise in Risky Business "looks like University of Illinois" to cross of B10!

bronxblue

December 6th, 2022 at 4:46 PM ^

Good luck to him.  Does seem to be suffering a bit from the curse of unrealistic expectations.  He's clearly not the 5* talent he was touted to be and if reports are to be believed may be chasing that NIL money because the pro contract doesn't look likely.  A smart move on his part.

I imagine he'll wins up somewhere that is really QB friendly and gives him a chance to put up numbers.  WVU turned out to be a bad team this year and USC under Helton was a bit of a tire fire in the end.  

cGOBLUEm

December 6th, 2022 at 4:54 PM ^

Unpopular take. The transfer portal is ridiculous. 

 

Perhaps it would be better if they limited the number of transfers per player. 4 transfers is absurd. 

Derek

December 6th, 2022 at 6:06 PM ^

It's bigger (and presumably more fun) than Morgantown, though, so it would break the pattern. I assume this is what he's optimizing for.

Alternatively, maybe he'll wait for Kedon Slovis to pick a destination, then go to that school's rival. I see an article suggesting that Slovis might head to Mizzou, which would mean ... no ... surely, he wouldn't go to Kansas to back up Jalon Daniels, would he? Oh, JT, you mad man.

treetown

December 6th, 2022 at 5:33 PM ^

What is surprising is that these are all decent football schools in major conferences.  He clearly has some ability otherwise couldn't have made it on as many games as he did.

Flexie94

December 6th, 2022 at 7:55 PM ^

I don't think I have ever watched him play a game (at any of his stops), but his stats seem decent enough at P5 schools. What's the skinny on his talent level and production (in real life, not just his high school stars)?

Wendyk5

December 6th, 2022 at 11:50 PM ^

Sometimes it's hard to know when to call it a day. My son played with a kid who is now pitching at UMass, his 6th year, after playing a 5th year at a school that doesn't have a graduate program (he just didn't finish his courses during his senior year and extended 1 class into a 5th year to get his undergrad degree and another season of eligibility). He's not good enough to go pro but he just doesn't want to stop playing. It's hard for some guys.