Notre Dame Football: Brandon Wimbush transfer part of college football’s new normal

Notre Dame football benched quarterback Brandon Wimbush in favor of Ian Book. Wimbush, the loser of the quarterback battle, will transfer from the program.

There is only one Jalen Hurts. Notre Dame becomes the latest in a long line of college football programs to lose a premier starting quarterback to the transfer market. Brandon Wimbush, who was the starter for the Irish for the majority of 2017, will look to play out the rest of his eligibility elsewhere. After graduating in December, Wimbush will be eligible to play in 2019.

The news about Wimbush comes on the heels of Justin Fields‘ announced transfer from Georgia. Like Wimbush, Fields was a former blue-chip recruit who seeks the chance to be a starting quarterback after being beat out for the job this fall.

Both players are part of the increasing trend of quarterback transfers in college football. Unlike wide receiver, linebacker and offensive line, there can only be one quarterback on the field at a time. The shallow pool of starting spots doesn’t align well with the vast amount of players who are vying for those jobs. If a player doesn’t win the job in one place he’s prone to keep looking until he can.

So far, only Alabama’s Jalen Hurts stands out as the exception to the rule. Benched for freshman Tua Tagovailoa in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game last season, Hurts had every opportunity to move on when Tagovailoa won the starting job in fall camp. He stayed, and was eventually called upon to play meaningful minutes in the wake of Tagovailoa’s injuries this season.

Has the door been slammed shut for Wimbush at Notre Dame? Maybe not. But regardless, he’ll be sporting different colors in 2019 as he looks to make his way as a starting quarterback elsewhere.