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Transfers

Studs like J.J Watt, Aaron Rodgers, Alvin Kamara, and Baker Mayfield all had to do some sort of transferring when they were a college student. I went to three different schools in three years, so I’d consider myself somewhat qualified to write an article on this. So we’ve got graduate transfers, 1 year sit out transfer (aka the normal transfer) and the good old junior college transfer. Those are some of the different routes players decide to take in their college career due to certain circumstances. Something to know is that if a player transfers down a division, say from FBS to FCS or D2, he is allowed to play immediately. These type of off-season moves are a big part of college football programs now.

Grad Transfers

The first article I ever wrote was based on how quarterbacks impacted college football with graduation transfers. A grad transfer is a player that graduated from another college and is immediately allowed to play at another school. One guy that comes to mind is Russell Wilson, who went from North Carolina State to Wisconsin. Wilson led the the Badgers to the Rose Bowl and look at the numbers this man put up. Grad transfer are great because it allows a coach to basically fill a position for one year usually because they lack talent or depth. This is college footballs true free agency.

I love this because it is absurd how a coach can move from school to school but players aren’t allowed to. However this is a nice incentive for players to get their degree and be able to ball out every year, suck it NCAA.

1 Year Sit-Out Transfer

This was the norm back in they day, you had guys who didn’t like the situation they were in and wanted a new start. Troy Aikman, known for being the quarterback who led the Dallas Cowboys to three super bowls is a good example. He started his college career at Oklahoma but left for UCLA after coach Barry Switzer decided to change the offense. If Aikman had stayed, its possible he may have never became the quarterback he was. Schools are allowed to grant their player release from their scholarships but usually don’t because they are hypocrites and usually wont let players transfer within the conference.

Baker Mayfield who was this year’s first overall pick in the NFL draft was a walk-on to Texas Tech. He then had to sit out a year not even because he was on scholarship but because he stayed inside the Big 12. Clearly he made the right choice has he ended up undefeated against his former team. Its pretty badass to show a university that you once played for what a huge mistake they made. 14 total touchdowns in 3 years against your old school is impressive to say the least.

JUCO Transfers

Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, Alvin Kamara and Josh Allen are a list of some players that played at the junior college level. JUCO is like what hipsters think of avocados, its the hot new trend everyone is dying to know about. Its so popular even Netflix has been running a series based on the daily life of what goes on at a junior college football program.

Out of High School

This season of Last Chance U was on the Pirates of Independence Community College and it is a different breed of football. The reason JUCO is so beneficial is it provides a multitude of opportunities. Guys like Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen, who didn’t have many offers coming out of high school, so going JUCO provided them with a place where they could grow as a player. It also prepares them for division 1 football because they get a chance to play against better competition and get to grow both physically and mentally. Josh Allen only had one offer after he graduated from his junior college, impressive how this man is now a top 10 pick. According to 247 sports , Aaron Rodgers only had one offer out of junior college. Rodgers is now considered by many the best quarterback in the NFL, having two regular season MVPs and also a super bowl MVP. Sure seems like recruiting coaches aren’t always right.

Redemption

When it comes to guys like Alvin Kamara and Cam Newton, junior college helped them in a different way. Kamara who originally went to Alabama, went to a team that was loaded at running back with T.J. Yeldon,and Kenyan Drake. Derrick Henry was also apart of the same recruiting class. Kamara ended up getting into some trouble and decide to leave. He attended Hutchinson CC which is located in Kansas and ended up returning to the SEC and played for Tennessee. Newton got in trouble while at Florida for stealing a laptop. He eventually attended Blinn CC, and won a national title there, before going on to win a real one with Auburn. It gives them a place to redeem their careers.

Question

Say if you were playing NCAA football 19 and made a player. If you could choose a career path for your player, which one would it be. Would you want to be the player who stepped in to fill a void for one year as a grad transfer. Be a guy like Russell Wilson or Vernon Adams. Would you mind sitting out one year to be able to transfer to any school of your choice because you didn’t like your original choice.  Would you want to choose the junior college path and prove everyone who doubted you wrong and show them how much you have changed. Let me know what you think by tweeting at me or Student Union Sports . The 2018 college season is upon us and guarantee your college football team has at least one sort of transfer.