Top transfer QBs to watch in 2017

The coaching carousel is slowing down, bowl season is just about to kick off, and the "WakeyLeaks" scandal is rocking the ACC, so it’s easy to lose track of transfers this time of year. That being said, programs are getting a major boost under center, as college football’s version of musical chairs plays out. Here’s a list of the top-five most impactful QB transfers on the market:

Jarrett Stidham, Auburn

It’s incredibly rare for a former five-star QB to end up going the JUCO route, but that’s exactly what Stidham decided to in the fallout from the Baylor scandal. Equally puzzling was his decision to enroll at McLennan Community College, which does not in fact have a football team. Despite just 109 career attempts at the FBS level, Stidham was easily the most sought-after transfer nationwide. After an uneven 2016 offensively for the Tigers, Auburn now enters next fall as a legitimate threat to in-state rival Alabama, thanks to Stidham’s commitment. The athletic quarterback gives Malzahn a bona fide pocket passer for the first time since he took over as the head coach on The Plains. We may also see a domino effect from Stidham’s decision, with John Franklin III potentially leaving the program in search of a starting position elsewhere.

Blake Barnett, Arizona State

Barnett is one several quarterbacks leaving Tuscaloosa now that Jalen Hurts has taken control of the starting job, as Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell have joined the quarterback exodus from T-Town in recent weeks. Barnett’s transfer utilizes an obscure NCAA loophole which will allow him to play for Arizona State by Week 5 of the 2017 season. After losing his starting job this fall to Hurts, Barnett decided to go the JUCO route at the end of September. Per NCAA rules, he will be ineligible to play at the FBS level in one year, which means he’ll be ready to suit up for the Sun Devils on Saturday, Sept. 30 against a Pac-12 opponent to be determined. This will make spring practice and fall camp all the more interesting as Barnett competes with Manny Wilkins and Brady White for the QB1 distinction in Tempe.

Cooper Bateman, TBD

Speaking of Alabama quarterbacks, Bateman may be best positioned to start for a Power 5 program in 2017. The Utah native played his high school football in Salt Lake City and was heavily recruited by the Utes back in 2013. It just so happens that Kyle Whittingham’s major weak spot in 2016 was at quarterback, as Troy Williams only completed 38 percent of his passes against ranked opponents this season. The possibility exists that Bateman could follow former quarterback coach and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to FAU, although the Owls recently signed De’Andre Johnson out of the now-famous East Mississippi Community College. Either way, Bateman won’t be short on suitors in the coming weeks.

Malik Zaire, TBD

It seems ages ago that Malik Zaire was tearing up Texas in Notre Dame’s 2015 opener. His 300-plus yard, three-touchdown performance against the Longhorns was a coming-out party for a soon-to-be superstar. Unfortunately, he was injured the following week against Virginia and lost his starting job in 2016 to DeShone Kizer. The talent is undoubtedly there for the former four-star recruit out of Kettering, Ohio, which means that a lot of programs are going to be knocking on his door. If he doesn't want to travel far, there are four programs that initially offered him scholarships out of high school that are all within 150 miles of his hometown (Akron, Cincy, Miami of Ohio, and Pitt). Pete Sampson of Irish Illustrated stated three weeks ago that Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, and Florida are frontrunners for Zaire.

Anu Solomon, TBD

Solomon was a highly decorated recruit out of Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman High School back in 2012, and he wasted very little time putting his stamp on RichRod’s program. But like many players on this list, issues staying healthy and a demotion followed a promising start. After a gangbuster freshman season (4,000-plus total yards, 30 total TDs), injuries and inconsistent play left Solomon buried on the depth chart. He’s an ideal second-chance candidate, which explains why so many programs out west are scrambling to make a run at him. An early favorite should be Tony Sanchez and UNLV. Sanchez coached Solomon in high school, and needs to win now to avoid getting axed. The Rebels started three separate quarterbacks last fall, meaning Solomon could walk onto campus and assume the starting role from Day 1.