It has been a couple weeks since Indiana head coach Tom Allen said he wanted to add both a transfer and class of 2022 quarterback to his roster for the upcoming season.
Thus far things have been relatively quiet on that front. But with an early January visit period coming soon, we expect some new names to emerge. Earlier in the month new offensive coordinator Walt Bell described his ideal quarterback.
“Ideally you want somebody that is a top-line distributor, but somebody that also can expect plays and win with his feet, run situationally when called up to help the football team, whether that be third downs, red zone/score zone, because we are in a league that if you run these guys a lot, this is a really physical league,” Bell said.
Here are some available prospects to keep an eye on.
TRANSFER PORTAL
Ben Bryant, Eastern Michigan – Bryant arrived at Eastern Michigan this offseason from Cincinnati and became the starter. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound La Grange, Illinois product threw for 3,123 yards and 14 touchdowns against seven interceptions this season while completing 68.4% of his passes. Bryant has two years of eligibility left. He was a 3-star and the No. 30 pro style quarterback in the class of 2018.
Casey Thompson, Texas – Thompson started 10 games for the Longhorns in 2021. He began the season as the backup, eventually claiming the starting job. He threw for 2,113 yards and had 24 touchdown passes — tops in the Big 12 — and nine interceptions. The 6-foot-1 Thompson was a top-300 4-star in the class of 2018 and the No. 14 dual-threat quarterback. He has two years of eligibility left.
Emory Jones, Florida – Jones threw for 2,563 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for the Gators in 2021. He also ran for 768 yards and four touchdowns. The top-100 class of 2018 4-star hails from Franklin, Georgia. The 6-foot-3 Jones was the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2018. He has two years of eligibility.
Connor Bazelak, Missouri – A Dayton, Ohio product, this year Bazelak threw for 2,540 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. A four-star recruit in Missouri’s 2019 recruiting class, the 6-foot-3 Bazelak chose the Tigers over offers from schools like Boston College, Iowa, and North Carolina. Bazelak has three years of eligibility left.
Chubba Purdy, Florida State – Purdy played in one game in 2021 for the Seminoles against Bell’s UMass squad. In 2020 the 6-foot-2 Purdy appeared in three games with one start as a true freshman. He was 27-of-53 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 19 times for 57 yards. Purdy was a four-star dual-threat quarterback rated nation’s No. 6 dual-threat quarterback and No. 8 overall prospect in Arizona by 247Sports Composite.
Reece Udinski, Maryland – Stuck behind Tua Tagovailoa after transferring to Maryland, the 6-foot-4 Udinski as a junior (2019) broke his own Virginia Military Institute single-season passing record, with 3,276 yards, and he set single-season school records for total offense (3,155 yards) and completion percentage (63.9 percent). His 19 touchdown passes were the second-most in school history. He also set a record by throwing 344 consecutive passes without an interception. He has one year of eligibility.
Kyle Vantrease, Buffalo – Vantrease started 25 of UB’s 32 games in the last three seasons. In five seasons with the Bulls, Vantrease threw for 4,755 yards and 25 touchdowns on 387 of 654 passing, and was intercepted 13 times. The Ohio native was a 3-star in the class of 2017.
Peter Costelli, Utah – Costelli was a four-star recruit coming out of Mission Viejo High School in California. He was ranked the No. 10 dual threat quarterback in the nation in the 2021 class. He did not play as a freshman.
Zach Calzada, Texas A&M – Calzada beat Alabama this season and finished the 2021 campaign passing for 2,185 yards and 17 touchdowns against 9 interceptions. The 6-foot-4 Calzada was a top-500 3-star in the class of 2019. The Georgia native has three years of eligibility.
Cameron Ward, Incarnate Word – Ward led all FCS passers with 47 touchdowns to go along with 4,648 yards and a 65% completion rate. He has an IU offer but also has significant interest from several Power Five programs.
(Note: Wyoming’s Levi Williams was originally on the list but we pulled him off after he announced a commitment to Utah State. Vantrease, Purdy and Udinski were added.)
CLASS OF 2022 HIGH SCHOOL POSSIBILITIES
Treyson Bourguet (6-2, 3-star, No. 82 QB, Tucson, Arizona)
Adryan Lara (6-2, 3-star, No. 38 QB, Goodyear, Arizona)
Zion Turner (6-1, 3-star, No. 35 QB, Miami, Fla.)
Davin Wydner (6-5, 3-star, No. 68 QB, Cocoa Beach, Fla.)
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