The Odyssey is delighted to return from 7 months of hibernation. We only feel half-alive until August comes around.
Aside from bad behavior from Big 10 coaches (Remember that “Meyer” rhymes with “liar”), perhaps the biggest storyline has to do with Alabama’s QB situation. Tua or Jalen? Jalen or Tua? As some subtle signs point toward Tua, Jalen may take his 26-2 record as a starter to another program in 2019.
The graduate transfer rule has enabled many QBs to avoid pine time by going to another school without having to sit out a year. This big trend will only get more momentum with new rules in regard to saving a year of eligibility: If one plays in no more than 4 games, a “redshirt” can still be granted. Thus, some graduate transfers will become more attractive if they have 2 years of eligibility remaining, as would be the case for Jalen Hurts if he does not play in more than 4 games for the Crimson Tide this fall.
The following QB’s all have new addresses this fall, showing both their old and new schools:
OLD NEW
Joe Burrow Ohio State LSU
K.J. Carta-Samuels Washington Colorado State
Jalan McClendon NC State Baylor
Evan Shirreffs Miami (Fla) Charlotte
Wilton Speight Michigan UCLA
Brandon Dawkins Arizona Indiana
Dru Brown Hawaii Oklahoma State
James Morgan Bowling Green FIU
Keller Chryst Stanford Tennessee
Gardner Minshew East Carolina Washington State
We offer one cheeky anecdote in regard to Keller Chryst. We were at last year’s San Diego State upset of Stanford, due, in large measure to a substandard performance by the Stanford QB. Overheard, as we left the festive celebration, by a Stanford fan: “Christ, he’s a killer.”