The transfer market has become a real thing in college football, and whether coaches like it or not, players are entering their names into the transfer portal and finding new destinations at a higher rate than ever.
Quarterbacks have been more prevalent among transfers and have created almost a second recruiting cycle for coaches trying to find a starting signal-caller. The top-ranked QBs from the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 classes have all transferred, and there is no reason to think that quarterback transfer market will slow down.
A big reason for the uptick is the number of quarterbacks coming in who are ready to play immediately. We have seen freshman quarterbacks join a team and disrupt the roster, most notably when true freshman Trevor Lawrence won the starting job over Kelly Bryant at Clemson.
Lawrence's presence on the roster created a ripple effect, with Hunter Johnson, the No. 1-ranked pocket passer in the 2017 recruiting class, transferring from Clemson to Northwestern, and with Bryant eventually redshirting and transferring to Missouri.
Jake Fromm had a similar impact at Georgia when he beat out Jacob Eason for the starting job and Eason later transferred to Washington.
The 2019 class could contribute to future transfers because of some of the talent in the class and the opportunity these prospects will have to play early and often. Here are a few players who could cause transfers in the future.
Spencer Rattler
Oklahoma
ESPN 300 rank: 29
Rattler is the No. 1-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class and has probably already had an impact on transfers. Sooners coach Lincoln Riley brought in Jalen Hurts and signed Rattler and then saw backup Austin Kendall transfer to West Virginia. The Sooners still have Tanner Mordecai, an ESPN 300 quarterback from the 2018 class, but Rattler has a very real shot at starting once Hurts leaves after the 2019 season.
The roster is thin at quarterback, so it wouldn't be ideal for Oklahoma to see another one transfer out, but if there isn't a path to play in a scenario where Hurts presumably wins the starting job in 2019 and Rattler plays after that, it might be difficult to keep the other signal-callers happy.
Jayden Daniels
Arizona State
ESPN 300 rank: 44
Daniels is coming to Arizona State with a unique situation. Starter Manny Wilkins is no longer on the roster, so there is opportunity to play right away. But Daniels is signed in this class with two other quarterbacks -- ESPN 300 quarterback Joey Yellen and ESPN 300 athlete Ethan Long.
There is a chance Long will move to a different position, but Yellen is a true quarterback and will have to compete with Daniels and potentially Long to earn the starting spot.
If Daniels wins out, it could cause a situation where the Sun Devils see a future transfer. Most quarterbacks want to see the field, and although there are more and more willing to sign with multiple quarterbacks in a class, it usually doesn't end well for one of them.
Graham Mertz
Wisconsin
ESPN 300 rank: 21
Mertz is an outstanding quarterback prospect, ranked as the No. 1 pocket passer in the class and signed with Wisconsin. There is a good chance he'll start very early, despite the Badgers having incumbent Alex Hornibrook still on the roster.
The Badgers have had an excellent defense under coordinator Jim Leonhard, and they ranked No. 6 in total rushing yards last season with the NCAA's leading rusher, Jonathan Taylor. However, Wisconsin ranked 118th in pass yards per game and 72nd in completion percentage, with only 19 passing touchdowns on the season.
Mertz, in his senior season, threw for 3,883 yards and 51 touchdowns. He accumulated 96 passing touchdowns between his junior and senior seasons, and he is exactly what Wisconsin needs on offense.
Jack Coan and Chase Wolf also are on the roster, and Mertz could pass both if he does as well as many expect.
Bo Nix
Auburn
ESPN 300 rank: 23
Nix is coming into a situation where the offense needs work, there's a new offensive coordinator and starter Jarrett Stidham is leaving for the NFL.
There is plenty of opportunity for him to start early for the Tigers, and the fact that he is already enrolled and on campus gives him a head start. Auburn signed ESPN 300 quarterback Joey Gatewood in the 2018 class and has a few other players on the roster.
If Nix comes in and plays from Day 1, though, that could cause issues because of the other young quarterbacks on the roster, most going into only their second or third seasons on the team.
Sam Howell
North Carolina
ESPN 300 rank: 120
North Carolina has senior Nathan Elliott, junior Chazz Surratt and sophomores Cade Fortin and Jace Ruder currently on the roster at quarterback. All four have experience, but the Tar Heels ranked 105th among all FBS teams last season in passing touchdowns, with only 14.
The Tar Heels dealt with injuries at the position last season, which resulted in a tumultuous campaign and required the staff to go through the depth chart.
Howell is the No. 7-ranked pocket passer in the 2019 class, and with a new staff at North Carolina, everyone is starting with a clean slate, including Howell. New coach Mack Brown and offensive coordinator Phil Longo specifically targeted Howell and got him to flip from Florida State in the early signing period. Howell will have every opportunity to play early; if he earns playing time, it could disrupt the depth the staff has at quarterback, but it also would mean there could be some stability at the position going forward for Brown & Co.