Transfers are becoming more prevalent on a yearly basis in college football, and the changing of schools can include players who were thought to be the nation’s best during their time in high school. Will a change of scenery lead to some former stars living up to their rankings? We take a look at five former Rivals250 quarterbacks who are set to re-emerge at new programs this fall.
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WILL GRIER, WEST VIRGINIA
After redshirting as a freshman in 2014, Grier’s career at Florida got off to a great start in 2015 as he started five of the first six games that season. But just when he was emerging as a star, a failed drug test led to Grier receiving a one year suspension from Florida, and by the end of that season, he made the decision to transfer. Grier landed in West Virginia, where he sat out the 2016 season and received a waiver to be eligible to play this fall.
JARRETT STIDHAM, AUBURN
Stidham was ranked in the top 100 back in 2015 and signed with Baylor out of high school over Oregon and Texas Tech, where he was once committed. After an injury forced him into action as a true freshman, he quickly lived up to his pre-college hype, completing 68 percent of his passes in 10 appearances before suffering his own season-ending injury. Following the scandal at Baylor Stidham elected to transfer, spending a year redshirting at a junior college before landing at Auburn. Stidham’s arrival at Auburn has created quite a bit of buzz regarding the Tigers' chances in 2017.
MALIK ZAIRE, FLORIDA
Zaire was one of the top quarterbacks in the class of 2013 but had to wait his turn to get his shot at Notre Dame. After redshirting and then waiting behind Everett Golson, Zaire finally got his shot in the team’s bowl game against LSU, leading the Irish to a victory and winning MVP honors in the process. After beginning 2015 as the starter, he injured his ankle in the second game of the season and never started a game for the Irish again. After flirting with several schools this offseason, Zaire finally settled on Florida, where he’s expected to solve the Gators' troubles at quarterback.
ANU SOLOMON, BAYLOR
A Rivals100 prospect in 2013, Solomon seemed like the perfect fit for Rich Rodriguez’s high-powered offense at Arizona and his made his commitment to the Wildcats early in the process. After redshirting his freshman year, he burst onto the national scene, leading Arizona to the Pac-12 championship game and later the Fiesta Bowl. But unfortunately for him and for Wildcats' fans, Solomon and the Wildcats took a step back during his sophomore year in 2015 and his 2016 was sidetracked by injuries. After losing his job, Solomon transferred to Baylor, where he will be filling a spot that was once Stidham’s.
BRANDON HARRIS, NORTH CAROLINA
Harris was one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in the class of 2014, and he elected to stay in state and attend LSU. After battling for the starting job, he eventually saw the field for the Tigers, showing flashes of talent that helped him become the full-time starter in 2015. But after another up-and-down year that season and a slow start to 2016, Harris was replaced as the Tigers' starter. After playing in just two games last fall, Harris announced his intentions to transfer. After weighing several options, he settled on North Carolina, where he will try to fill the shoes vacated by No. 2 overall draft pick Mitch Trubisky.