Four quarterbacks Georgia could target in transfer portal

Why Georgia could be looking for a transfer quarterback and the top four players they could target

After Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck’s injury in the SEC championship game, Georgia fans experienced a Georgia offense without Beck. Gunner Stockton performed admirably in his absence.

The Bulldogs also have Ryan Puglisi and Jaden Rashada waiting in the wings, but Georgia recruited a number of quarterbacks in the 2025 class indicating UGA may want to upgrade its quarterback room.

The Bulldogs could be looking for a quarterback addition via the transfer portal. Gunner Stockton will have a chance to audition for UGA’s starting role in the College Football Playoff, but he has zero career starts. We would not be surprised if Georgia looks for a more experienced option for the 2025 season.

Also, it should be noted that Carson Beck could return for the 2025 season. Before his injury, he was widely projected to enter the 2025 NFL draft.

Here are five quarterbacks Georgia could target:

Jackson Arnold

Arnold entered the transfer portal after a rough passing season at Oklahoma. On3 predicted him to land with the Mississippi State Bulldogs, but the recruiting site also mentioned Georgia and Alabama as probable destinations. Arnold would be behind one of the best offensive lines in the country, unlike in Oklahoma, where the offensive line was porous as the result of injuries.

The former five-star threw for 1,289 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, but he was sacked 34 times and had a QBR of just 48.0.

Conner Weigman

Georgia could target another SEC quarterback this year. Conner Weigman had a great deal of hype at Texas A&M coming into the year, but he was underwhelming with the Aggies, finishing with just 819 yards, three touchdowns, five interceptions and a 52.1 QBR.

The former five-star is a sophomore, so if Weigman goes to the Bulldogs, he could be a developmental project for Kirby Smart and Mike Bobo.

Kaidon Salter

Salter has the best stats of any of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal, but he doesn’t have much experience against Power Four opponents. In Liberty’s 2023 bowl matchup against Oregon, he threw for 126 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 24 attempts.

Still, Salter has had a spectacular statistical career with Liberty, with 5,887 yards, 56 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions in his four years with Liberty. He also has dual threat ability, with 2,013 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground.

Salter originally signed on with Tennessee in 2021, but Tennessee dismissed him from the program.

Miller Moss

Moss could be Georgia’s most surefire choice out of the transfer quarterbacks. Unlike Arnold and Weigman, who have struggled, Moss played decently with USC.

In 2024, he threw for 2,555 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his first year as a starter. He was benched in November for Jayden Maiava, but it’s more likely that it was due to Lincoln Riley trying to light a spark than Moss’s actual play.

There are a number of teams chasing Moss, including Michigan and Auburn, but Moss would fit well in Georgia’s system.

Oklahoma veteran offensive lineman enters transfer portal

Veteran offensive lineman Geirean Hatchett leaving Oklahoma for the transfer portal.

The [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] is heating up on the first day of the winter period. With a new direction on offense, the Sooners have seen a number of key players declare their intention to enter the portal over the past week. The latest to join [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and Nic Anderson is veteran offensive lineman [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag].

According to Pete Nakos of On3 Sports, Hatchett is entering the transfer portal.

Hatchett spent one year in Norman after transferring from Washington last offseason. He appeared in one game for the Oklahoma Sooners, starting at left guard before sliding to center in the early part of the game. Hatchett went down with an injury in the win over Temple and didn’t return.

He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.

The Oklahoma Sooners will return four of the five players who started along the offensive line at the end of the season, including interior offensive linemen Heath Ozaeta, Troy Everett and Febechi Nwaiwu. With young interior players Eddy Pierre-Louis and Eugene Brooks emerging, it may have been hard to find playing time for Hatchett.

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Former Sooners QB predicted to reunite with former offensive coordinator

On3 predicts former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold to land with Mississippi State and former OC Jeff Lebby.

Former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] may reunite with a familiar face via the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. On3’s Pete Nakos issued a prediction for Arnold to land with Mississippi State and former offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby.

Lebby recruited Arnold to Oklahoma, and shortly after his arrival in Norman, the former five-star quarterback committed to the Sooners. As a true freshman under Lebby, Arnold completed 75% of his passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 78 yards and a touchdown.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs went winless in SEC play in Lebby’s first year at the helm. The offense averaged 25.3 points per game, which was good for 14th in the SEC, one spot ahead of Oklahoma. The Bulldogs averaged 377.2 yards per game, which was 12th in the SEC.

For much of the year, Mississippi State was led by Michael Van Buren, who showed a great deal of promise in his first season in Starkville.

Reuniting with Lebby could be what the doctor ordered for Arnold. He struggled to throw the ball in the Sooners’ offense while working with a banged-up wide receiver corps and behind an inconsistent offensive line.

Arnold flashed his toughness in the win over Alabama and made several big throws, but like much of the offense, he couldn’t find a consistent rhythm throughout the season. With an opportunity for a fresh start, can Arnold find the talent that made him one of the best quarterbacks in the [autotag]2023 recruiting class[/autotag]?

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Oklahoma Sooners center enters the transfer portal

Oklahoma Sooners center enters the transfer portal.

The [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] has opened, and the Oklahoma Sooners have had several key players enter the portal, including quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]. On Monday, On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported center [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag] was also entering the portal.

Bates was a four-star prospect by 247Sports in the 2023 recruiting class and was the No. 3 player in the state of Colorado. He made five appearances for the Sooners and two starts in 2024. Amid inconsistency along the offensive line, the Sooners opted for the more veteran presence of [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag] during the second half of the season. Everett will return as an incumbent starter for the Sooners’ offensive line.

Out of Durango, Colorado, Bates held offers from Colorado, Colorado State, USC, Miami, Michigan State, Oregon and USC while in high school.

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Auburn named a potential landing spot for former USC quarterback Miller Moss

ESPN’s Max Olson believes Auburn has weapons that will allow Moss to succeed.

Auburn football has two young quarterbacks with bright futures in [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] and [autotag]Deuce Knight[/autotag]. However, following the departure of two-year starter [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], Auburn will need a “bridge year” to allow both quarterbacks to another season to develop.

Because of this, it is expected that head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] will look to fill the void by using the transfer portal. Several key names have declared their intention to enter the portal, including Washington State’s [autotag]John Mateer[/autotag] and Oklahoma’s [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag]. Ahead of the portal’s official opening on Dec. 9, ESPN’s Max Olson feels that one portal addition could fit in well at Auburn.

Olson suggests Auburn would be a great fit for former USC quarterback [autotag]Miller Moss[/autotag]. Moss, who has one season of eligibility remaining, passed for over 2,500 yards as a junior in Los Angeles last season and could find success by throwing to Auburn’s many targets at wide receiver.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze knows he needs to go get a transfer QB who can take the Tigers to the next level in 2025. Auburn has a ton of promising young talent to build around, especially at wide receiver, with standout true freshmen Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons and Perry Thompson. Their presence makes Auburn an appealing destination for QBs like Moss, who have one year left and are looking to put up big numbers next season.

Outside of Auburn’s targets, Moss fits the mold by having starting experience and one season of eligibility. Moss took over the starting quarterback role for Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams this season, where he passed for at least 200 yards and one touchdown in nine games played. However, following a tough stretch of games that included a loss to Washington, where he threw three interceptions, USC head coach Lincoln Riley pulled Moss in favor of Jayden Maiava for the final three games.

Moss is looking for a home he deems a “better fit.”

“There comes a point where there’s a time to move on to new opportunities,” Moss said in an interview with ESPN. “And I’m hoping to better myself as a person and a player.”

In four seasons at USC, Moss has completed 65.9% of his passes for 3,469 yards and 27 touchdowns with just ten interceptions. The winter transfer portal window officially opens on Monday, Dec. 9, and will close on Dec. 28.

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Georgia named as potential transfer destination for SEC starting QB

The Georgia Bulldogs are in the mix along with two more SEC teams for a highly-touted Oklahoma quarterback transfer

The Georgia Bulldogs have been named as one of three possible transfer destinations for Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold. Arnold, who intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens on Dec. 9, is coming off an up-and-down season with the Sooners.

On3 namesd Georgia, Auburn and Mississippi State as three schools to watch in Arnold’s recruitment.

Arnold’s sophomore season with Oklahoma did not go according to plan after he finished his freshman campaign on a promising note. Arnold was benched midway through the season.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound quarterback has good mobility and is a physical rusher. Arnold ran for 444 yards and three touchdowns on 150 carries this season.

Arnold played in 10 games this season. He struggled as a passer (partially due to the Sooners’ injured wide receiver room and porous offensive line) and never surpassed 225 passing yards in a game this season.

However, he saved an excellent performance for the Alabama game: He rushed for 131 yards on 25 carries. Oklahoma upset the Crimson Tide, 24-3.

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The Oklahoma quarterback posted modest numbers in the passing game. He completed 62.6% of his passes for 1,421 passing yards. He threw 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions, but was sacked 34 times. Arnold’s QBR of 48.0 is No. 89 in the country.

Auburn showing interest in transfer portal QB Jackson Arnold

Arnold has thrown for 1,984 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in two seasons with the Sooners

The Auburn Tigers are among the programs showing interest in former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold, per an On3 Sports report. Hugh Freeze and his staff will likely be linked to an abundance of transfer portal signal-callers throughout the winter and early summer with Payton Thorne set to move on from the Plains.

After starting the season as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback, and a ‘Heisman Trophy’ hopeful, Arnold struggled to flash the upside head coach Brent Venables thought he needed to compete in the SEC. The sophomore’s inconsistencies led to his benching mid-season in favor of freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., who lasted just three games as the starter after posing a 1-2 record.

Now 20 years old, Arnold still has two full years of eligibility remaining for whatever program he decides to join this offseason. He’d seemingly be a perfect fit for Hugh Freeze and the Tigers, as he could serve as a high-upside stop gap while recently signed five-star freshman Deuce Knight acclimates himself to the grind of the SEC.

In two seasons at Oklahoma, Jackson Arnold has thrown for 1,984 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. The Denton, TX native has also shown an ability to make plays with his legs, rushing for 560 yards and 4 touchdowns in 16 games. Other than Auburn, Georgia and Mississippi State are among the programs allegedly interested in bringing the 20-year-old to their campus next season.

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Oklahoma’s Ben Arbuckle has impressive quarterback track record

Oklahoma’s new offensive coordinator is something of a QB whisperer.

The search for the next Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator is over. Coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] hired Ben Arbuckle away from the Washington State Cougars to call plays and coach quarterbacks in Norman.

Though Arbuckle is just 29 years old, he has already called plays for three seasons. He cut his teeth under new Florida Atlantic coach and previous Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. He may be young, but he has earned a reputation as a quarterback whisperer in a very short time.

After Sooners fans suffered through a 2024 season of watching a broken offense and quarterbacks who weren’t handled or coached correctly, Arbuckle is a sight for sore eyes. Whether it’s [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] or a [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] quarterback who starts for the Sooners next year, they’ll have Arbuckle as his primary teacher.

But who has Arbuckle coached prior to landing in Norman? Here is each QB he’s tutored at the college level.

Bailey Zappe

Houston Baptist (FCS), 2018-2019; Western Kentucky, 2021

Arbuckle’s coaching career started as a quality control coach at FCS Houston Baptist in 2018 and 2019. It was there that he worked with Bailey Zappe, and was instrumental in the young QB’s development.

Zappe threw 58 touchdowns to just 28 interceptions over those two seasons. After a year in the high school ranks in Texas, Arbuckle found his way back to Zappe in 2021 at Western Kentucky. Arbuckle was an offensive quality control coach, and Zappe was once again the starter under center. They worked closely together again.

Zappe broke Football Bowl Subdivision records that season, throwing 62 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and almost 6,000 yards. He was drafted by the New England Patriots after the year, starting a few games for them over a couple of seasons.

That performance earned the OC, Kittley, the same job at Texas Tech. Arbuckle was chosen to succeed Kittley in 2022.

Austin Reed

Western Kentucky, 2022

In his first stint calling plays. Arbuckle worked with WKU’s Austin Reed. A 40-to-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2022 speaks for itself, but Reed also threw for 4,744 yards for one of the best offenses in college football. His yardage total led the nation.

Arbuckle left Tyson Helton’s staff to take the same job under Jake Dickert at Washington State. Reed stayed with the Hilltoppers, but saw his stats dip in 2023 without Arbuckle. He signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent and is in the midst of his rookie season.

Cam Ward

Washington State, 2023

In his first of two seasons in Pullman, Arbuckle mentored Cam Ward, a former Incarnate Word transfer. Ward threw for over 3,700 yards, 25 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, all improvements over his previous season with the Cougars.

Ward’s 2023 campaign made him a high-profile player and the new quarterback of the Miami Hurricanes after he transferred to South Florida for 2024. He’s been arguably the best quarterback in the country, leading Miami to a 10-2 regular season. He’ll likely be a Heisman Trophy finalist and a high pick in April’s NFL Draft.

After Ward transferred, Arbuckle needed another QB for the 2024 season.

John Mateer

Washington State, 2024

Arbuckle found his guy in unheralded three-star prospect John Mateer. Mateer has been a revelation for the Cougars this year. He has thrown for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He added 15 scores on the ground to lead the Football Bowl Subdivision with 44 total touchdowns.

The interesting part of this equation is Mateer is a candidate to enter the portal this offseason. OU and Arbuckle are a distinct possibility for a landing spot if he does. Other schools will certainly vie for his services as well, making Arbuckle’s next QB protégée still up in the air for 2025.

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QB Jackson Arnold expected to enter transfer portal per report

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold expected to hit the transfer portal per report.

Oklahoma quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] intends to enter the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag], according to a report from CBS Sports/247Sports Matt Zenitz.

The 2024 season didn’t go as planned for the Oklahoma Sooners on the offensive side of the ball. Injuries at wide receiver and along the offensive line and the relative inexperience and talent deficiency that came with that put a damper on what had a chance to be a good offense for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Arnold, was left to try to pick up the pieces of the offense. It was a rough season for the former Gatorade National Player of the Year, who struggled with turnovers and, at times, indecision as a passer. Arnold was benched in the first half of the loss to Tennessee after three turnovers in the first half.

He regained the starting job after a solid performance against South Carolina in relief of Michael Hawkins Jr., but could never put it together as a passer given the circumstances.

Still, he had some really good moments, particularly the win over Alabama, where he showed his toughness and running ability to lead the Sooners to the top 10 win.

Oklahoma’s struggles went well beyond the quarterback position, but with turnover at offensive coordinator, there was a chance you’d see some turnover at quarterback this offseason.

Arnold finished the 2024 season completing 62.6% of his passes for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also added 444 rushing yards and three touchdowns, highlighting his dual-threat ability.

Though there are more experienced quarterbacks in the transfer portal market, Arnold will have plenty of suitors. He’s got big-time ability and given the right situation, could have a resurgent year in 2025.

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Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Oklahoma’s 37-17 loss to LSU

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners 37-17 loss to the LSU Tigers to close the regular season.

There wasn’t a lot to like about Oklahoma’s performance in their 37-17 loss to the LSU Tigers. It was a letdown after what they did to the Alabama Crimson Tide the week before. It was an unfortunate way to end the season and now the Sooners will hope to find the answer at offensive coordinator and get some guys healthy ahead of the 2025 season.

As we await Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator decision and ahead of the opening of the early signing period and the transfer portal, here’s the final edition of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Oklahoma’s loss to LSU.

The Good: Defensive Line

The Oklahoma Sooners got their first score of the game when the defensive line created pressure, Gracen Halton forced a fumble, and then R Mason Thomas picked it up and ran into the end zone for the touchdown. The Sooners tied the game up at seven, and it looked like they would have a chance against the Tigers.

Later in the first half, Thomas registered his ninth sack of the season, when he cleanly beat the left tackle blasted Garrett Nussmeier and forced a fumble. LSU recovered the ball, and remarkably, Nussmeier returned to the game later in the second quarter and had a great game.

But the defensive line had a good game. Was it the best game they’ve had this season? No, but it was far from the biggest issue on the defensive side of the ball on Saturday night. The defensive front held LSU to 3.8 yards per carry and 110 rushing yards.

Brent Venables, Todd Bates, and Miguel Chavis have been working over the last few years to turn the Sooners defensive front into a unit that could create havoc in the SEC and they’re doing just that.

If the Sooners are able to talk Thomas into coming back for one more year that would be huge for a defense that will lose Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman, and Ethan Downs this offseason.

Up Next: Oklahoma goes from bad to worse

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