Let's talk 2019 QB recruiting

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2014 Class QBs

Kyle Allen, Houston – Allen, the top-ranked QB in the 2014 class who began his career at Texas A&M, started Houston’s first three games this season, completed 76.2 percent of his passes and led the Cougars to a 2-1 start. Not bad, right? But Allen also threw four interceptions against four touchdowns, which led to his benching. Allen, a redshirt junior, threw just once more the rest of the season. It’d be a huge surprise to see Allen finish out his career in Houston, where D’Eriq King seemed to grab a stranglehold on the starting job to end the year. Allen, if he transfers, would be eligible immediately at the school of his choosing.

Keller Chryst, Stanford – Chryst opened the season as Stanford’s starter. But by the end of 2017, the job belonged to sophomore QB KJ Costello. A highly-decorated signal caller in the 2016 class, Costello played well, completing 59 percent of his passes and throwing 11 touchdowns against two interceptions. He also led the Cardinal to victories over both Washington and Notre Dame. Chryst, the No. 53 overall player in the 2014 class, still has a year of eligibility remaining. In this situation, Chryst should perhaps take a lesson from his teammate Ryan Burns. Burns could’ve grad transferred this offseason. Instead, he chose to return to Stanford and threw just seven passes all year. There are worst places than Palo Alto to finish up your college career, but Chryst is talented enough to play elsewhere if he chose to.

Brandon Dawkins, Arizona – Khalil Tate emerged as a supernova for Arizona midseason and cemented himself as one of college football’s rising stars. That’s great for everyone with the Wildcats … except for Dawkins. Arizona’s starter the team’s first four games, Dawkins was injured in the first half Week 5 against Colorado. That gave Tate a crack of space to run through, and the sophomore took advantage. Dawkins lost his starting job as a result and he's not going to get it back. That usually results in a transfer decision, especially when one can do so without penalty like Dawkins entering his fifth year of eligibility. Dawkins completed 64.4 percent of his passes this season and also had a 6.7 yards per carry average.

Jalan McClendon, NC State – A four-star prospect in the 2014 class, McClendon’s been a good soldier for the Wolfpack. He’s backed up both Jacoby Brissett and Ryan Finley. He’s also won some big games for N.C. State – like in 2016 when he led the Wolfpack to a victory over Notre Dame in a hurricane. But with Finley, one of the most accurate QBs in all of football, able to return for his senior season, McClendon needs to seek opportunity elsewhere if he hopes to play. McClendon is an interesting talent at 6-foot-5, 221 pounds. Stuck behind Finley, it would make a lot of sense if he explored grad transfer opportunities. But if Finely decided to test the NFL waters, which is a possibility considering some mock drafts have him slotted as a first rounder, consider this entire section moot.

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