O staff técnico da Ole Miss procurou em todo o país um quarterback de número 2, mas não o encontrou. Em dezembro de 2024, eles sediaram Mikey Keene, Beau Pribula e Anthony Colandrea, mas todos escolheram outros programas. Os Rebels acabaram encontrando Trinidad Chambliss, um transferência de Divisão II, que se tornou QB1 em três jogos.
Across major college programs, finding and keeping a quality backup has become increasingly difficult. Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and others are struggling with experienced starters who haven't performed well. Brent Venables and Mike Elko both decided against benching their QB1s, instead coaxing better production from them.
Elko stated it's 'impossible' to recruit depth from the portal, noting that SEC-level players aren't looking to back up established starters. Oregon is a rare exception, with Dylan Raiola providing a masterful performance off the bench at USC. Raiola, a former two-year starter at Nebraska, was willing to sit behind Dante Moore for a season.
Venables, despite considering benching John Mateer, is sticking with him. Oklahoma's backup plan, Michael Hawkins Jr., is now starring at West Virginia. The economics of college football make it difficult to find players willing to sit behind established starters, as quarterbacks want to play and earn more money.
Fonte: ESPN General · Resumido por HeadlinesBriefing