For many athletes, their college career is crucial if they seek a future in their sport. Recently a debate has risen on whether athletes should transfer colleges if it guarantees more experience and playing time. Most importantly this debate has arisen in the field of college football at the Universities of Alabama and Clemson.
It all began this past school year when both university's star quarterbacks were replaced. University of Clemson's former star quarterback, Kelly Bryant, was removed from his starting position by freshman Trevor Lawrence. Kelly Bryant spent his first two years at the University of Clemson playing backup to Deshaun Watson. It wasn't until Watson moved onto the NFL that Bryant became the starting quarterback for his junior year. The quarterback led the University to the ACC championship in 2017 and after losing to the University of Alabama he still remained until replaced this past season by Lawrence.
On December 4th, Bryant announced his final decision to transfer to the University of Missouri after spending his senior year starting less than half the games of the season. Bryant will spend his last eligible year as a Missouri Tiger instead of a Clemson Tiger.
Bryant's decision to transfer universities led to a domino effect on college football athletes, especially the University of Alabama's Jalen Hurts.
Jalen Hurts was the University of Alabama's starting quarterback for the entire 2017 season. Hurts was a true freshman during the season and Alabama's mysterious star up until the National Championship. Hurts was benched post-halftime of the game and replaced by Tua Tagovailoa another true freshman. After the win of the National Championship, the question hung who would start the following 2018 season for the University: the quarterback who led them to the national championship or the one who finished it? In the 2018 season, the decision was made and Hurts was replaced by current star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Currently, Hurt's debates the same decision Bryant made: whether to transfer for his junior year in the 2019 season to other Universities such as; Auburn, Oregon, Arizona, Texas A&M or Houston. The question is, should these quarterback's transfer or should they stick it out with the universities with whom they began with?
Bryant's decision may have already been made but Hurts still hangs in the air. Hurts is wanted among many universities who are potentially losing their star quarterbacks to the NFL. While the decision to transfer may bring experience, playing time and a chance to shine that the athlete may need to greater his chances in the future it also holds questions of possible negatives to accompany it.
As many understand, sports teams are as close as families. We must consider how this will have a repercussion on the individuals transferring and the teams impacted as a whole. We must take into account the loss of a coach as honored as Nick Saban and we must consider the potential likelihood of the same situation reoccurring at another university. Star quarterbacks can always be replaced if there is someone better so, is the potential glory worth the risk?
