SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai is the latest big-name college player to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Mordecai is reportedly set to transfer to Wisconsin, where he will compete for the starting gig under new head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo. He is the second quarterback to transfer to Wisconsin this offseason, along with Nick Evers, a four-star recruit in the class of 2022 out of Flower Mound, TX, who spent one season at Oklahoma.
Mordecai had two successful seasons at SMU after transferring from Oklahoma, where he backed up Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and Spencer Rattler.
In his first season with SMU, Mordecai posted 3,628 passing yards on 308 completions with 39 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
In 2022, he passed for 3,524 yards, completed 288 passes, and scored 33 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
In a game against Houston this season, Mordecai set school and American Athletic Conference records when he passed for nine touchdowns and ran for another in a 77–63 win that also notched the mark as the highest combined score of any college game in NCAA history.
The Mustangs finished the season with a 7–6 record and a loss in the New Mexico Bowl to BYU 24–23.
The decision to enter the transfer portal came as somewhat of a surprise as Mordecai had previously indicated that he intended to enter the NFL Draft in 2023, foregoing his final year of college eligibility.
Along with Mordecai and Evers, Wisconsin will likely enter 2023 with a bevy of options at quarterback, though the now-former SMU quarterback brings the most experience.
Mordecai and Evers will compete with senior Chase Wolf for starting reps. Wolf led the Badgers to a 7–6 record and a 24–17 win over Oklahoma State in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in 2022.
SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee will enter his second season with his quarterback options being Parish Episcopal product Preston Stone and South Oak Cliff product Kevin Henry-Jennings. Stone started one game in place of Mordecai this season as a redshirt freshman, completing 28-of-48 for 288 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Henry-Jennings saw the field in two games as a true freshman, completing 17-of-22 passes for 205 yards. SMU also added three-star McKinney quarterback Keldric Luster as part of their 2023 recruiting class.
Among other area colleges, Baylor saw two cornerbacks — former three-star recruits Alfahiym Walcott and Mike Harris — enter the transfer portal this week.
Oklahoma announced that defensive end Trace Ford would be transferring to the Sooners after three seasons with arch-rival Oklahoma State. In those three seasons, Ford tallied 59 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 16 pass deflections, and three forced fumbles.
Texas Tech secured its first transfer acquisition this offseason in Austin Peay wide receiver Drae McCray. The speedy receiver collected 1,888 yards through the air in two seasons at Austin Peay to go with 17 touchdowns.
