HCA: The case for and against taking another grad transfer QB

Whenever something good happens, people want it to happen again. Such is the case right now with the Washington State Cougars’ quarterback position, where some people are clamoring for another graduate transfer after the tremendous success of Gardner Minshew II.

And there are couple of big names on the market — Jalen Hurts (Alabama Crimson Tide) and Brandon Wimbush (Notre Dame Fighting Irish) being the most prominent — but there are plenty of others, including Eastern Washington’s Gage Gubrud, who reportedly has shown up in the NCAA transfer database. (The database is the first step toward transferring.)

Without even getting into a debate over who might or might not consider coming to Pullman, let’s just ask the first question: Does it even make sense to do it again?

The argument for

There still is a distinct lack of game experience from the backups. We’re not really in any different place than we were last year. Yes, both Trey Tinsley and Anthony Gordon got some courtesy snaps in games, but the same guys are on the roster now who were on the roster when Leach thought it was a good idea to bring in Minshew. Has that much really changed in a year?

It worked once before! Prior to Minshew’s arrival, we hadn’t even really considered the possibility of grad transfers. But since that one worked out so swimmingly, maybe it can work out again. And it’s worth remembering that Minshew was well-traveled before coming to Pullman, and wasn’t successful at a bad program in his immediately prior stop. Of the dozen or so guys who are transferring, there’s probably one in there who could be elevated by playing under Mike Leach.

The argument against

Minshew is unique. The reasons why Minshew worked out as a transfer this season are well documented. This is a guy who grew up in the Air Raid and made thousands of Air Raid throws before coming to WSU. He was more well acquainted with the offense than all but a small percentage of quarterbacks. He was ready to step in and run an offense that is notoriously difficult to master. It’s doubtful there’s a guy out there like this.

Leach has had success with guys like Tinsley and Gordon. At Texas Tech, Leach sandwiched a trio of fifth-year seniors between Kliff Kingsbury and Graham Harrell, all of whom threw for at least 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns as the team won at least eight games.

Grad transfer QBs rarely work out as well as Minshew. The list of highly successful graduate transfers includes Minshew, Russell Wilson and Vernon Adams. That’s pretty much the entire list. The others have ranged from flops to “meh.”

WSU would have six quarterbacks on scholarship. This is probably a minor concern, but it’s a concern nonetheless as WSU fills out the rest of its 2019 class.

What do you think?

Links

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