OT: Texas Maalik Murphy enters the portal
I would imagine he immediately becomes one of the most sought after players on the portal market. This obviously leaves Arch Manning as their backup in the CFP. Murphy is a redshirt freshman and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
December 13th, 2023 at 9:05 PM ^
Murphy looked fine this year in spot duty; he's not as good as Ewers but would obviously be a good get for a lot of teams. This does put a ton of pressure on Ewers to not get hurt because Arch Manning isn't some wunderkind.
It sucks that the portal schedule is set up such that guys need to make these decisions during the postseason, but I don't blame him either.
December 14th, 2023 at 2:31 AM ^
Wasn’t Arch the #1 overall player in 2023 Class and considered the best QB prospect in past decade?
December 14th, 2023 at 7:15 AM ^
I thought that was ewers
December 14th, 2023 at 7:38 AM ^
Arch played in a very soft division in high school and put up some ridiculous numbers. Time will tell, but if his last name wasn't Manning, he would not have garnered all that attention and rating. 5* recruit...probably, best qb prospect in past decade?...that's a big stretch.
December 14th, 2023 at 9:19 AM ^
Don’t forget .. the NCAA was perfectly fine with Texas spending $800K for Manning’s OV, yet - there’s a problem buying a couple of commits cheeseburgers during Covid when the campus is essentially shut down.
It’s the level playing field the NCAA emphasizes so much.
I wonder, how many schools have a recruiting budget smaller than $ 800K?
Final thought - to be fair to Manning - he might not have “fanned any flames”, and - it may not be his fault that the rating service(s) placed him in the 5* category. This being said, I believe Manning was third on the depth chart - and, those in front of him have more college experience.
December 14th, 2023 at 11:29 AM ^
Having a 5* freshman as your backup QB is a pretty big luxury, even if he's completely unproven and not a generational prospect. See: Michigan 2021.
December 14th, 2023 at 10:38 AM ^
He was the #1 player in last year's class but so was Ewers in his year, and if i remember correctly Ewers graded out slightly better than Manning did in HS.
As for being considered the best prospect in a decade, that's most likely a bit of recency bias and hyperbole. Ewers was once considered the best prospect, before him it was Walter Nolen, Drew Allar was the top QB and a highly-regarded prospect 2 seasons ago, etc. Manning's got the name and played amazingly well at a lower-level HS team, but the little I read about him at Texas it was clear he was #3 behind Ewers and Murphy, both of whom were highly regarded recruits themselves. He might turn into a stud but especially with QBs so much of it is projection because they're usually playing in HS offenses where talent disparity can be significant and a lot of the tools you look for - footwork, mechanics, reading a defense, etc. - are limited to camps and some tape.
December 14th, 2023 at 11:58 AM ^
Wasn’t Arch the #1 overall player in 2023 Class and considered the best QB prospect in past decade?
No, not at all. Ewers, Trevor Lawrence, and Justin Fields were all rated higher. Arch got a lot of hype and was rated higher than he should have been because of his family name.
December 14th, 2023 at 5:50 AM ^
If your starting QB gets injured you're automatically eliminated..they would have to put Georgia in, they are the only ones left with a QB they can talk about.
December 14th, 2023 at 7:14 AM ^
Only if Herbie opines that you are the BETTER! team
December 14th, 2023 at 7:47 AM ^
Think you meant “wonder kid”
- Nate
December 14th, 2023 at 8:44 AM ^
I finally started watching and just started season 3. First season was fantastic. Second season had some fun moments, but I kept wondering if it was going anywhere. I've heard the 3rd season is bad.
FWIW--Slow Horses on Apple TV is fantastic. It is a detective/spy agency show set in the real world. (No Parkour or ridiculous shootouts.) It is like Columbo/Rockford Files had a baby with 24 but with only 6 episodes a season. Gary Oldham at his finest.
December 14th, 2023 at 10:38 AM ^
First season is incredible, 2nd season is also incredible, 3rd season is not bad but definitely tries to do too much with all of the characters they have created and in turn ends up not doing enough for any of them. The first 5 episodes are not great but starting episode 6 they start to turn it around and the finale is excellent as far as finales go.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^
I'm almost done with season three and I found my self wondering where Ted was for an entire fucking episode...
I like that they fleshed out more characters, but it's A feast for crows without the tremendous writing...
Interested to see how it ends.
December 14th, 2023 at 10:39 AM ^
I was hoping someone would make the joke.
December 14th, 2023 at 2:54 PM ^
To be fair we also have the same pressure on JJ not to get hurt because don't have a good QB waiting in the wings if he does. And neither does Alabama if Milroe gets hurt. I know less about Washington's backup QB situation but I feel like in general it is very hard to keep a good backup QB around in the era of the transfer portal.
December 13th, 2023 at 9:10 PM ^
Called this one. Michigan should absolutely "kick the tires."
December 13th, 2023 at 9:15 PM ^
Yeah, this was predictable.
Ewers talking about coming back, Texas fans would have gone ape-shit if Manning leaves, so no room for him.
decent player, I hope he ends up in a good spot.
December 13th, 2023 at 10:12 PM ^
Which is funny because that's exactly how they got Quinn Ewers.
December 13th, 2023 at 9:19 PM ^
He looks like Jayden Denegal to me. He's 6'5" with kind of funny mechanics and average looking athleticism for a modern college QB. Same class too.
December 13th, 2023 at 9:36 PM ^
I think he’s a more polished Joe Milton when he came here. Huge arm, needs some development, not a run threat but can move around a bit.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up at OSU, actually. They were in it for him before he committed to Texas and fits a Ryan Day style QB. Given the timing and him leaving Texas in the middle of playoff run… someone is after him with some bucks…wonder if they are are buckeye bucks…
December 13th, 2023 at 10:10 PM ^
Not sure about this. If true, then you can almost guarantee Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and possibly Air Noland to exit. They're already nervous about losing Noland to Georgia, if Raiola heads to Lincoln. I doubt Day takes that risk.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:53 AM ^
As a counterargument, they need someone now.
Devin Brown doesn't seem ready, Noland will be a true freshman, they've lost three straight to Michigan, and we are talking about a program that is coming off literally five straight Heisman-vote-receiving quarterbacks before running off their current 2nd team all-B1G QB. Expectations in Columbus are so far from reality that I'd be willing to wager they are ready to take a gamble for short-term returns.
They are 100% shooting the moon regardless of the long-term fallout. They are not worried about driving out younger recruits if they think they can make a splash now. Heisman quarterbacks and writing themselves into the conference championship with permanent marker before the season even starts is what they have become accustomed to, and the thought of being a top 6 team who may be the second lead dog in their conference instead a top 3 team, even for just a season or two, simply seems untenable. I don't even mean this in a bad way, but they have become so used to results that 99% of programs aspire to in a single year that they just cannot comprehend anything else at this point. (And that ironically and so satisfyingly might ultimately be their undoing.)
December 14th, 2023 at 2:11 AM ^
Murphy's not exactly a proven quarterback. He was a backup with high ceiling. I'm not sure how this fits into their win now at all costs model. Even in desperation, Day's better off bringing in an experienced QB as a 1yr rental, or just stand pat and ride with their existing roster. I just can't imagine Day pursuing Murphy and blowing up his QB room as a result, just to risk with an unproven redshirt freshman to test his upside.
Time is not on their side and this cannot be an experiment for Day/OSU. With 3 seasons of eligibility remaining, Murphy will most certainly force Devin and Lincoln to hit the portal, and Noland will not appreciate this move either. Further, from all accounts, Day really liked Devin's athleticism and upside, but went with a safer route in Kyle. So, I have to assume it's either an experienced transfer as a 1year rental to bridge the gap, or nothing.
December 14th, 2023 at 6:45 AM ^
Agree with some of this, but it's hard to imagine a '24 (Noland) getting bent out of shape about an incoming '22 (Murphy) when there's already a '22 (Brown) and '23 (Klein-something) on board.
For the record, if a spot opens up at Georgia due to an unexpected departure there and Noland jumps on it, I'll be pleased. :)
December 14th, 2023 at 9:17 AM ^
OSU fans have gone from thinking they were going to get Cam Ward and actively dumping on McCord to whiffing on Ward and feigned shock that McCord would leave them. There was a day or two of mentioning other transfer QB names, who were destined for other places, before the fans started thinking that maybe they should role with who they have.
Per CityOfKlompton, Devin Brown doesn't seem ready according to OSU fan boards, but he'll be a junior next year, so this is really his last opportunity to be ready, at least at OSU. Brown has a similar recruiting rating (44/97) to JJ (38/97). Keinholz (138/94) and Norland (58/95) aren't too far off either. One of these guys should be able to step up.
Day screwed up letting McCord go because an 11-1 Senior QB > a new starter. Someone like Cam Ward might have been an upgrade, but the flirtation lost them McCord and had to freak out Brown a bit. Here's hoping that Norland goes to Georgia and Jeremiah Smith (#1 player/#1 WR) flips to FSU.
Go Mizzou!
December 14th, 2023 at 3:05 PM ^
I think the thing with getting either Murphy or Dante Moore is that neither are proven starters and are both high recruits the same way Ohio State's current QBs are. They may be better than what they currently have but it's definitely not clear that they are and bringing either of them in may lead to the rest of the guys transferring out.
Unless they are really sure about Murphy or Moore the only sort of transfer that makes sense is a one year guy who the younger QBs would be willing to wait behind. But they seem not to really be pursuing any of those guys. Which is interesting because I thought McCord left because they clearly had someone lined up.
December 13th, 2023 at 10:10 PM ^
Hmmm That does make sense
December 14th, 2023 at 7:48 AM ^
"...someone is after him with some bucks..."
While this is undoubtedly true, the kid had no choice but to enter the portal now. If he wanted to wait until after the playoffs, the portal would be closed and he'd be stuck at UT with virtually no chance to get on the field as #3 behind Ewers (probably returning) and Manning. It sucks that the portal 'rules' force kids to leave their team's before the bowl games/playoffs conclude. As it is, all the work they've put in with their teammates musst get thrown out the window and they get no payoff for it.
Fuck off, college football portal overlords.
December 14th, 2023 at 8:58 AM ^
Murphy is ahead of Manning on the depth chart.
December 14th, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^
For now.
December 14th, 2023 at 10:52 AM ^
Notice how you keep comparing a Black QB only to other Black QBs.
December 13th, 2023 at 10:14 PM ^
Stick with Jaydn Davis. He has stuck with us.
The transfer portal is a real turn off.
December 14th, 2023 at 7:51 AM ^
The transfer portal is a turn off? Out of 24 (I'll give one for kicker and one for punter) starting spots, this team has ~6 transfer portal "starters", right at 25%. Showing work - Nugent (1), Henderson (1), Barner (1), Turner (1), Wallace (1), Stewart (0.5), Hinton (0.5). Drop it to 5.5 if you want to make Hinton 0.25 and Wallace 0.75, but still over 20%.
This 2023 team is definitely worse without the portal.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
Yea, any Michigan fan complaining about being "turned off" by the portal is pretty uninformed/stupid. The portal has been great for us, and great for the kids who have transferred here. Hell, it's even been great for many kids who have transferred away from Michigan.
December 14th, 2023 at 8:39 AM ^
Murphy is 2 years older than Davis, I don't think one will affect the other.
December 14th, 2023 at 9:28 AM ^
You literally have the worst opinions on everything. Murphy is c/o 22 while Davis would be a true freshman. Who takes over if JJ goes to the NFL?
December 14th, 2023 at 12:11 PM ^
He’s not gonna start as a freshman.
Dante moore come on down.
December 13th, 2023 at 10:34 PM ^
This has UCLA written all over it. See ya soon bub…
December 14th, 2023 at 12:27 AM ^
Bullshit. You’re still in Iowa
December 14th, 2023 at 5:14 AM ^
What is Shea doing in Iowa?
December 14th, 2023 at 7:22 AM ^
Watching signs, obviously.
December 14th, 2023 at 7:49 AM ^
Golfing?
December 14th, 2023 at 10:21 AM ^
That would require Kelly to put forth effort in recruiting. I'll believe THAT when I see it.
December 13th, 2023 at 10:56 PM ^
Weird because I don’t think Arch Manning is very good after the limited times he’s been in. Looked quite bad actually.
December 13th, 2023 at 11:04 PM ^
Manning was behind Murphy on the depth chart.
I think this decision is based on Ewers returning.
December 14th, 2023 at 8:17 AM ^
It’s so funny seeing the media fawn over him for completing a 5 yard pass and scramble for 5 yards in garbage time
December 14th, 2023 at 8:36 AM ^
Anyone familiar with his recruitment, and who he was down to when he committed? I don't want him to end up in columbus.
December 14th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^
A lot of P5 schools were interested in / offered Murphy. It seems like his “runner up” was UCLA.
December 14th, 2023 at 10:02 AM ^
Thought we were in on him also?
Seems like maybe Moore is heading here though