With the NCAA football season rapidly approaching, let’s take a look at some of the headlines around the sport over the last week.
Hampton Gets Former Seminoles QB
Despite how close the season is to starting, it doesn’t mean that some movement isn’t still going on around the college football scene. On Friday, Hampton welcomed their newest quarterback as Deondre Francois, a graduate transfer, has joined the team after transferring from Florida State. The Seminoles had actually dismissed the quarterback at the beginning of the year when a video was posted that eluded to a domestic disturbance between Francois and his girlfriend. This was not the first time that Florida State had issues with the quarterback, though, and decided it was best to move on.
For Francois, his best season with Florida State came back in 2016 when he went 235 for 400 for 3,350 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. After an injury in 2017, he came back and won the starting position last season but struggled to the tune of 227 for 396 for 2,731 yards while throwing 15 touchdowns versus 12 interceptions. He will look to regain his 2016 form with Hampton, which went 7-3 last season in large part to a six-game winning streak to finish the season.
TCU Kicker Could Miss Season
“Sometimes you have luck, and sometimes you have no luck at all.” That is how TCU coach Gary Patterson explained the situation with kicker Cole Bunce. Bunce is expected to miss the entire season this year after being hit while riding his motorized scooter to the stadium. Upon being hit by the car, he was rushed by ambulance to the local hospital where he had emergency surgery (although the exact surgery has not been reported at the time of this writing). Last season, Bunce went 12 for 12 on extra points and was 4 of 9 on field goals. Still, he was expected to be a special teams starter this year, and the Horned Frogs will now likely turn to senior Jonathan Song to take over all kicking duties this season.
Anoma Going To Houston
Former five-star recruit Eyabi Anoma has reportedly found a new home and will leave the Alabama Crimson Tide in his rearview mirror. Anoma, who had been dismissed by Alabama, has decided to go to Houston to continue his playing career. In 2018, Anoma had nine tackles, including two for a loss. While it certainly hurts Alabama’s depth, the Crimson Tide had already decided to move on, and now Houston hopes to get the most out of the former top-ranked recruit.
Cox Enters Transfer Portal
While Anoma has found a new home, another former five-star recruit has started searching for a new college. Linebacker Brenton Cox, who reportedly had agreed to part ways with coach Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs, has entered his name into the NCAA student-athlete transfer portal. This is a pretty big loss for the Bulldogs as Cox had success last season for Georgia. Cox played in all but one game and finished the season with 20 tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss. He also had three passes defended. For Georgia, they will be looking to try to replace his production while Cox will be looking to find a new home.
Texas Gets Five-Star Recruit
From former five-star recruits to current ones, the Texas Longhorns were able to rein in a verbal commitment from one of the best five-star recruits in the country. Running back Bijan Robinson, who is from Tucson, Ariz., is seen as the third-best running back in this year’s class and seen as the 20th best player in the class overall. In his junior year, he had 2,400 total yards and a whopping 35 touchdowns. With several solid recruits already for the Longhorns, this one may top the list.
Werts Back On Playing Field
In a rather odd (yet concerning) report, Shai Werts had been suspended last week by Georgia Southern when he was arrested for cocaine possession. Werts had been pulled over for speeding, and when he was pulled over, the police tested a substance found on the outside of his car and reported that it tested positive for cocaine. While Werts argued that it was bird poop, he was still apprehended and subsequently suspended by the school. Despite that, Werts agreed to take a drug test with the school and passed it. As a result, they have reinstated him from the suspension. Last season for Georgia Southern, Werts was 69 for 116 for 987 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had 908 yards and 15 touchdowns on 182 carries in 13 total games. Hoping to avoid any more problems moving forward, Werts looks to build off of last season in 2019.
Baldwin Loses Transfer Waiver Request
In a day and age where transfers are becoming more commonplace, especially with the student-athlete transfer portal, the risk sometimes becomes whether transfers will have immediate eligibility or not. In the case of former Ohio State quarterback Matthew Baldwin, it appears that he will not be getting to play this season. After losing the starting quarterback competition with Justin Fields, Baldwin transferred to TCU to continue his career. It appears that TCU will be appealing the decision; however, after undergoing offseason knee surgery, it appears that Baldwin might not be ready for the beginning of the season regardless. Still, it appears likely that he will have to sit out the entire season and can continue his career next season.
