If they're not starting, they're departing: The QB2 talent drain — SkimNews
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- Ole Miss flew in Mikey Keene, Beau Pribula and Anthony Colandrea for backup QB visits in December 2024, but all three chose starting opportunities elsewhere after concluding Austin Simmons would start; the Rebels then landed Division II transfer Trinidad Chambliss after doubling Temple's $300,000 offer, and he became QB1 within three games.
- Texas A&M coach Mike Elko told reporters it's "impossible" to recruit depth behind an established starter like Marcel Reed, a view ESPN said was echoed by general managers and front-office staffers surveyed across the sport.
- A Power 4 GM survey found the average No. 2 quarterback now earns more than $550,000 per year, with most Power 4 starters pulling in $2-3 million or more — and Utah's Byrd Ficklin is believed to be among the highest-paid backups as the Utes prioritized retaining both him and starter Devon Dampier for 2026.
- Only 14 of the top 50 quarterbacks in the 2024 recruiting class remain at their original school, and just five of the 26 ESPN 300 members in the 2025 class are currently starting — evidence of how quickly today's backups bolt for greener pastures.
- Close to 60 players transferred up to be Power 4 backups this offseason, with Oregon adding Elon's Landen Clark, Arkansas and Penn State taking Division II/III transfers, and Kentucky even finding a backup from Canada; 27 quarterbacks who earned G6 starting jobs this season were former Power 4 backups.
- Syracuse coach Fran Brown rotated through four quarterbacks in 2025 and went from 3-1 to 3-9 after losing Steve Angeli to injury, prompting him to bring in three experienced passers in January; Kennesaw State transfer Amari Odom delivered 335 passing yards and six total touchdowns in his debut start, an overtime win at UConn.
Why it matters: Backup QB depth is now an existential roster problem. With Power 4 starters earning $2-3 million and no willing understudies, a single injury can crater a season — Syracuse went 3-1 to 3-9 trying to survive without one. Programs are redirecting millions toward Division II and G6 scouting operations to find the next Chambliss before the next hit comes.
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