What the spring transfer portal window has told us about these unsettled QB situations

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The transfer portal always has a way of revealing a program’s true feelings about its roster. Spring practice reps also provide quarterbacks with a better understanding of where they stand on the depth chart.

We’re in the final stages of the spring portal window, a time when those two factors mentioned come to a head. While most Power 4 schools came into the spring fairly settled at quarterback, there were a few programs with questions remaining at the position.

Let’s evaluate what this spring’s transfer portal movement has told us about some previously unsettled quarterback situations.

Minnesota

Starter Max Brosmer exhausted his eligibility following last season, which left the Golden Gophers with two candidates for the starting job — redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey and Georgia Tech transfer Zach Pyron, who was signed during the winter portal window. Lindsey had a leg up because he already had a season in the system, but he attempted just five passes in 2024.

Pyron was more experienced. He appeared in 19 games and attempted 155 passes over three seasons at Georgia Tech, but he is extremely raw as a passer (56.8 career completion percentage, five touchdown passes and seven interceptions).

Well, the competition didn’t last long. Pyron entered the transfer portal last week, and the Alabama native landed back in his home state at South Alabama.

While Lindsey’s path to the starting role seems pretty clear, Minnesota will move forward with a fairly inexperienced quarterback group unless it adds a veteran.

Notre Dame

Steve Angeli, CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey were involved in a competition this spring to replace departing starter Riley Leonard. Angeli was the backup the past two seasons and played well in a pinch during the Fighting Irish’s Orange Bowl win against Penn State.

But he must’ve seen the writing on the wall that he wasn’t going to win the starting role because he entered the transfer portal last week, paving the way for a two-man race between Carr and Minchey. Both players are former four-star prospects, but both played just four snaps last season.

Notre Dame has started a transfer quarterback in each of the past two seasons. It’s off that carousel now and will roll with a pretty green starter no matter who wins the job. For what it’s worth, Carr is the favorite to start and impressed in the spring game.

North Carolina

This was one of the more compelling quarterback situations in the country, mainly because of the intrigue surrounding Bill Belichick and his vision for the program.

Max Johnson opened last season as the starter but suffered a significant leg injury in the first game, so it’s difficult to tell how he’ll bounce back. Four-star freshman Bryce Baker, a top-100 national recruit, has promise. Purdue transfer Ryan Browne spent a few months with the program before transferring back to play for the Boilermakers.

None of the options were super tantalizing, and — without saying it explicitly — the staff confirmed that by bringing in South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez, who passed for 2,559 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing for 463 yards and seven scores in 2024.

Lopez is experienced and the leader in the clubhouse for the starting role. His arrival will allow the staff to bring Baker along slowly.

Lopez’s transfer also opened the door for Pyron to land at South Alabama.

Excited and grateful, go Heels!🐏 @UNCFootball pic.twitter.com/1qpdXxsHXa

— Gio Lopez 7️⃣ (@lopezgio1) April 18, 2025

Syracuse

The Orange are another program with an inexperienced quarterback group. LSU transfer Rickie Collins seems to have a leg up, but redshirt freshman Jakhari Williams is also in the mix. The two have combined to throw seven passes in their college careers.

So it shouldn’t be surprising if Syracuse kicks the tires — at the very least — on quarterback options this spring. On3 reported that Angeli visited this week, and Syracuse is in the mix for the Notre Dame transfer.

Collins has a head start in the offense, which Angeli will have to overcome, but if he does end up transferring to Syracuse, it’s clear that coach Fran Brown wanted more competition at the quarterback position.

Tennessee

The Volunteers’ quarterback situation was settled. And then all of a sudden, it wasn’t when the Nico Iamaleava drama surfaced. Tennessee cut ties with Iamaleava, who transferred to UCLA.

The Vols had just two scholarship quarterbacks after Iamaleava’s departure — redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre. Merklinger attempted nine passes last season. So the position was short on bodies and experience.

Iamaleava’s transfer to UCLA led to a shakeup on the Bruins’ roster. Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar, who was UCLA’s projected starter, entered the portal Monday and the expectation is he’ll land at Tennessee. He’ll be by far the most experienced option but will have to compete with players who have more time in the system.

The Volunteers experienced their fair share of drama this spring but appear to be on stable ground.

(Photo of Steve Angeli: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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