Notre Dame QB2 Brandon Wimbush has now made it official that he’s going to transfer out, and find a place where can start next season. This development was expected, as news of a potential transfer emerged heading into the Cotton Bowl semifinal. Wimbush started four games this season, and 12 last season, becoming just the third quarterback in Notre Dame history with more than 1,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing in the same season.
Sometimes, but not always, transfers pick a location close to home for their final season and thus we start the listicle with two destinations that aren’t far from Teaneck, New Jersey (home town of the Isley Brothers BTW!).
No, he is definitely not going to Rutgers!
Syracuse
With Eric Dungey gone an opening is provided for Wimbush is a system that fits his style. Given all the ACC opponents on the schedule for ND in recent years, some of the scouting work will have already been done. His track record of success against the ACC will make an attractive target for the Cuse.
Penn State
With Trace McSorley now graduated, PSU will need experience at the QB position in order to try and keep up with Michigan and Ohio State next season. The Nittany Lions have recruited well in recent years at most positions, so State College can provide Wimbush with a destination where he would have a great chance to win in his final collegiate season.
Michigan State
This is the “they need him more than he needs them” item on our list. MSU badly needs a change at offensive coordinator and quarterback, as this season was utterly disastrous at both positions. Still Mark Dantonio believes in a ground-and-pound first kind of offensive philosophy, and thus a mobile QB like Brandon Wimbush would, in theory, be excellent in East Lansing.
That theory is of course contingent on Dantonio making the OC switch, and then installing a system which is attractive in the transfer market. The supporting cast at the other positions is pretty much there, and we’ve seen the Spartans offense do big things when it’s had a dual threat QB.
Arizona
Obviously, this hinges on Khalil Tate transferring out, and there is plenty of chatter out there that he might. Head coach Kevin Sumlin and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone run an offense that is perfectly suited to Brandon Wimbush
Kansas
KU getting the mad hatter Les Miles was the coup of the offseason, now imagine what the Jayhawks could be if could they land one of the transfer market’s best signal callers not named Jalen Hurts. (It’s still up in the air what Hurts will do, but it is thought he will transfer, and if he does, he’ll be just about everybody’s top target).
However, KU is still a massive mess, and Wimbush is obviously in win now mode as an immediately eligible grad transfer
Georgia Tech
See the Syracuse item in regards to the ACC connection. As GT now gets a new offensive system, one that actually originated during the age of modernity, a QB like Brandon Wimbush would be ideal for running it.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.