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With the reports circulating that Tanner Mordecai is transferring, perhaps to Wisconsin, that leaves SMU with three scholarship quarterbacks: Preston Stone, Kevin Jennings and incoming freshman Keldric Luster. Many have suggested that the Ponies might add a veteran through the transfer portal to fill out the depth chart.

A lot of passers have found new homes, and maybe this list already is obsolete if others have landed elsewhere, but these guys reportedly are still available:

Brennan Armstrong (Virginia)
Austin Aune (North Texas)
Hank Bachmeier (Boise State)
Connor Bazelak (Indiana)
Davis Brin (Tulsa)
Zach Calzada (Auburn)
Sam Hartman (Wake Forest)
Malik Hornsby (Arkansas)
Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina)
Chance Nolan (Oregon State)
Chandler Rogers (UL Monroe)
Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State)
Mike Wright (Vanderbilt)

Some — including Armstrong, Brin, Hartman, etc. — are proven starters.

Aune will turn 30 before the end of the 2023 season.

So ... who do you want to see on the Hilltop?

Who is a reasonable target?

I would love to see Hornsby but no way we get him. He wants to be the starter. He is fun to watch.

Also we do have the Pulaski Academy from Little Rock. He is not bad and I would think if we lost 3 QBs for the season that we might as well give up anyway

My first thought when reading this was to think about Stone, but he seemed to understand competing with Mordecai, so maybe he would embrace more competition. You want all QBs (or all players at any position) to want to start. But based on what we have seen, in admittedly small sample sizes, we have 2 returning QBs who hopefully could play long-term, if called upon.

I'm assuming most of those guys want to start and earn NIL money so I don't necessarily see them as backups to Stone. I think in Stone and Jennings we have a duo that can compete in the AAC. Coaches have a challenge finding QB depth if Stone and Jennings both get hurt

Hopefully they can have some RPO plays for Jennings to run. With Lavine and all those talented speed backs, that could be lethal change of pace. Maybe Lashee can get Niumatolo’s playbook.

I wonder if we might be able to get someone like Aune. Someone looking for a good grad degree, knows he isn't going to the NFL. OK with playing as a backup to get that degree. I'd look for us to bring in someone who has been a solid backup who is looking for a good grad degree and is okay with being third string.

JasonB wrote:I wonder if we might be able to get someone like Aune. Someone looking for a good grad degree, knows he isn't going to the NFL. OK with playing as a backup to get that degree. I'd look for us to bring in someone who has been a solid backup who is looking for a good grad degree and is okay with being third string.

Agree. I was even thinking someone from a lower division school who might at least have playing experience