Shannon Dawson began coaching quarterbacks 20 years ago at Millsaps College, and he never expected to oversee an operation like the one he runs now as Miami's offensive coordinator. "Back then, you better get the guy to develop, and he better be the guy," Dawson told ESPN. "You can miss on a high school quarterback now and not lose your job. If people don't pan out the way you think they're going to pan out, then the transfer rules exist in a way where you can go get one."
Many FBS programs scour the portal each winter for quarterbacks, but only some pursue one-year transfers, accomplished QBs who are likely to spend a single season on campus before moving on to another team or the NFL. Miami has become the epicenter for such players, from Cam Ward (Washington State) to Carson Beck (Georgia) and now Darian Mensah (Duke). Since Ward arrived in 2024, Miami ranks second nationally in yards per play and third in passing and total QBR.
Indiana has followed a similar path. After bringing in Kurtis Rourke in 2024, the program hit the jackpot in 2025 with Fernando Mendoza, a Cal transfer who won the Heisman Trophy before being selected No. 1 in April's NFL draft. Coach Curt Cignetti had already secured his next one-year transfer, Josh Hoover from TCU, before Indiana's title run was over.
Other teams have found success, but few have done so season after season. Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, who has brought in several one-year QBs, said they are "hungry." "Sometimes, when you just have one year left, hey, they know the time is up," he said. "You've got to either produce, or eventually do something else."
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing