The Daily Stampede - #ALLTHETRANSFERS 2013: The Search For QuarterbacksMeanwhile, in Tampa...https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50067/v5-fav.png2013-05-23T16:42:20-04:00http://www.thedailystampede.com/rss/stream/40780772013-05-23T16:42:20-04:002013-05-23T16:42:20-04:00USF Gets Former Penn State QB Steven Bench
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<img alt="Bench at Penn State's spring game in April. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eulyY8bpQzlr7Te38GbjtxBCwEE=/0x34:4000x2701/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13564703/20130420_krg_bm2_020.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bench at Penn State's spring game in April. | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>USF's world-wide search QB competition ends with Penn State Steven Bench announcing his transfer to the Bulls. </p> <p>Former Penn State QB <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159718/steven-bench" class="sbn-auto-link">Steven Bench</a> announced on Twitter today that he's transferring to USF.</p>
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<p>I’ve decided to attend the University of South Florida and become a bull!! <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23DoSomething">#DoSomething</a></p>
— Steven Bench (@SBench12) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBench12/status/337574993422589952">May 23, 2013</a>
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<p>Bench announced last month that he was transferring, as he didn't want to fulfill his surname behind JuCo transfer <a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">Tyler Ferguson</a> and five-star freshman Christian Hackenberg.</p>
<p>USF was in play with a number of immediately eligible transfers, including <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114265/clint-trickett" class="sbn-auto-link">Clint Trickett</a> (bound for WVU), Brandon Mitchell (headed for NC State). What makes Bench more desirable than Mitchell and Trickett is that they're relative short-timers. Trickett has two years of eligibility, while Mitchell is a one-and-doner. He'll play for a year at his destination, and if it goes well, great -- but if not, you've sent the program back a bit, and have to hope a freshman or underclassman can step into the QB position the next season.</p>
<p>Bench, on the other hand, is not a one-and-done. As a redshirt sophomore, Bench has three years of eligibility, as Penn State's sanctions allow all Nittany Lions players to transfer with immediate-eligibility until July. He has a chance to grow with the program.</p>
<p>Does Bench shoot straight to the first string? Every QB on the roster will have to get used to Taggart's offense, so no one will have the leg up knowing the playbook. However, Bench has a season of coaching in Bill O'Brien's pro-style offense, which isn't dissimilar to the offense Taggart's bringing in, while Skip Holtz's "go out there and make a play" offense might be a hindrance for incumbent QBs <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114454/bobby-eveld" class="sbn-auto-link">Bobby Eveld</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134264/matt-floyd" class="sbn-auto-link">Matt Floyd</a>. Freshman Mike White is also in the mix</p>
<p>Taggart's willingness to pursue transfer QBs doesn't bode well for the incumbents. Eveld is a less-mobile, pocket-passer type, so will he fit with the power-running, pro-style offense that Taggart is bringing in? As for Matt Floyd, he'll have the same chance to grow with the program, but he'll have to show that last season's performance, 57-for-110 with no TDs and 5 INTs, was just freshman growing pains.</p>
<p>What Eveld and Floyd do have is much more game experience than Bench. Floyd played in seven games last season, and Eveld has played in 13 games, going 82-for-150, with 3 TDs and 7 INTs. Both will have to show they can take care of the football if they want a chance for the starting spot.</p>
<p>As fans, all we can really hope for is competition at all positions, and Taggart bringing in Bench shows that he'll go to extra lengths and won't settle for who we have in-house. Let the competition begin.</p>
https://www.thedailystampede.com/football/2013/5/23/4360014/taggart-gets-his-qb-ex-penn-stater-steven-bench-to-transfer-to-usfAndrew P.2013-05-20T21:14:12-04:002013-05-20T21:14:12-04:00N.C. State Adds Brandon Mitchell; Bench Down To Two<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9296290/former-arkansas-qb-brandon-mitchell-transferring-nc-state">N.C. State Adds Brandon Mitchell; Bench Down To&nbsp;Two</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>According to ESPN's Joe Schad, Brandon Mitchell will transfer from Arkansas to North Carolina State. </p>
<p>This likely eliminates NC State from the competition for the services of former Penn State QB Steven Bench. Bench visited USF last week, NC State over the weekend, and Mississippi State this week. Temple and FIU are also interested in Bench.</p></p></div>
https://www.thedailystampede.com/2013/5/20/4350096/n-c-state-adds-brandon-mitchell-bench-down-to-twoGary Stephen2013-05-13T16:02:17-04:002013-05-13T16:02:17-04:00PSU's Steven Bench to visit USF<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/12/steven-bench-plans-out-his-tour-of-visits">PSU's Steven Bench to visit&nbsp;USF</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>NBC Sports, citing the <a href="http://blogs.clarionledger.com/msu/2013/05/11/former-psu-quarterback-bench-will-visit-msu-may-20-21/">Jackson Clarion-Ledger's Mississippi State blog</a>, says the Penn State QB will visit USF on May 13-14, MSU the weekend of the 18th, and North Carolina State May 20-21.</p></p></div>
https://www.thedailystampede.com/2013/5/13/4327650/psus-steven-bench-to-visit-usfGary Stephen2013-05-13T15:51:59-04:002013-05-13T15:51:59-04:00Oklahoma State's Lunt Not Considering USF<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9270716/ex-oklahoma-state-cowboys-qb-wes-lunt-considering-5-schools-transfer-source-says">Oklahoma State's Lunt Not Considering&nbsp;USF</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>ESPN's Joe Schad says Wes Lunt has narrowed his list to five schools, and is "very likely to choose one of the five schools and not expand his search." Those schools are Illinois, Louisville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Southern Miss. </p>
<p>The first four schools are all near Lunt's home state of Illinois, while USM head coach Todd Monken worked with Lunt at Oklahoma State.</p></p></div>
https://www.thedailystampede.com/2013/5/13/4327608/oklahoma-states-lunt-not-considering-usfGary Stephen2013-05-10T09:00:05-04:002013-05-10T09:00:05-04:00Oklahoma State QB Wes Lunt Transferring
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Unlike the other transfer quarterbacks on the market, Lunt can't help USF this year, which makes it a long shot that he ends up in Tampa.</p> <p>There's another transfer quarterback on the market -- Oklahoma State's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/89128/wes-lunt" class="sbn-auto-link">Wes Lunt</a>, who started five games as a freshman last season, but fell to third on the Cowboys' depth chart this spring and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/5/9/4316990/wes-lunt-oklahoma-state-transfer">decided he wanted to leave Stillwater</a>.</p>
<p>Since there's already a Bat-Signal over USF with a symbol of a quarterback on it, I imagine the Bulls will give Lunt a look. But two things might work against them here. The most obvious one is that Lunt is not a graduate transfer, and would have to sit out a year before playing for a new team. USF needs quarterback help right now, so Lunt wouldn't fill their need.</p>
<p>The other is that Lunt is coming out of an Air Raid system, and there's no shortage of teams running that system (or something close to it) that might be a more appealing fit for him. And with Lunt having to sit out a year anyway, it brings a whole other group of schools into the mix that wouldn't have been interested in someone like <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159718/steven-bench" class="sbn-auto-link">Steven Bench</a> or Brandon Mitchell, who can both play this season.</p>
<p>Lunt is likely the most talented and proven (relatively speaking) of the transfer quarterbacks out there, but right now he appears to be the least likely to end up at USF.</p>
https://www.thedailystampede.com/football/2013/5/10/4318048/oklahoma-state-qb-wes-lunt-transferring-would-usf-want-himchuckycrater2013-05-09T19:47:56-04:002013-05-09T19:47:56-04:00Former Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell Not Considering USF?<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9254739/ex-arkansas-razorbacks-qb-brandon-mitchell-mulls-5-schools">Former Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell Not Considering&nbsp;USF?</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>ESPN's Joe Schad, who originally reported USF a possible transfer destination for Mitchell, has a new post that adds Michigan to Mitchell's list of choices, but no longer includes USF. Northwestern State and Louisiana Tech are still listed, though.</p></p></div>
https://www.thedailystampede.com/2013/5/9/4317146/former-arkansas-qb-brandon-mitchell-not-considering-usfGary Stephen2013-05-08T21:27:44-04:002013-05-08T21:27:44-04:00Former Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell Considers USF
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<img alt="Brandon Mitchell from last month's Arkansas Spring Game. Looks good in green!" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S3z112C69oM-mhxEhn4Dp9Uxc1Q=/0x380:2660x2153/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/12890871/167105683.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brandon Mitchell from last month's Arkansas Spring Game. Looks good in green! | Wesley Hitt</figcaption>
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<p>Former Arkansas QB/WR Brandon Mitchell is transferring and has USF on his list of possible destinations. He's also on track to graduate and could be eligible to play in 2013. Is the third time the charm for the Bulls?</p> <p>Former Arkansas QB/WR <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/85446/brandon-mitchell#stories_tab">Brandon Mitchell</a> is transferring and considering a move to USF, <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9254739/ex-arkansas-razorbacks-qb-brandon-mitchell-mulls-5-schools">according to Joe Schad</a>. Mitchell is on track to graduate this summer, and will use the NCAA's graduate transfer exemption to become immediately eligible to play in 2013. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/5/6/4305726/arkansas-football-brandon-mitchell-transfer">Three other Arkansas players are also transferring</a>, if you're interested.)</p>
<p>Along with USF, Mitchell has listed NC State, UAB, Louisiana Tech (hi Skip!), and Northwestern State, an FCS school.</p>
<p>In a word, Mitchell is a house. He measures 6'4" tall and weighs 236 pounds. (Look at that photo! GUNS). In spot duty over the past three seasons, Mitchell has completed 25 of 43 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns. The versatile and athletic Mitchell played most of last season at WR, catching 17 passes for 272 yards. He also threw a touchdown on a reverse pass against Auburn.</p>
<p>Most of Mitchell's time under center was in 2011, in <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/87277/bobby-petrino" class="sbn-auto-link">Bobby Petrino's</a> spread-ish offense, so he might also be a good fit for USF with Willie Taggart bringing in a more pro-style attack. However, former Arkansas assistant Garrick McGee is now the head coach at UAB, and Schad says the two have a close relationship, so perhaps that tamps down USF's chances at landing Mitchell.</p>
<p>Last season, with Tyler Wilson entrenched as Arkansas' starting quarterback, Mitchell moved to wide receiver. After Bret Bielema arrived in December, Mitchell moved back to quarterback and played there in Arkansas' spring game. However, Mitchell apparently had trouble with the new coach's offensive terminology, and lost out on the starting job.</p>
<p>Mitchell also was suspended for four games in 2012 for a violation of team rules. Must've been a biggie because four games is a long punishment for a team rules violation.</p>
<p>This is the third graduate-transfer passer who has considered USF this spring. Ex-FSU backup <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114265/clint-trickett" class="sbn-auto-link">Clint Trickett</a> listed USF but ended up choosing West Virginia. Ex-Penn Stater <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159718/steven-bench#stories_tab">Steven Bench</a> is also interested in USF, but <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9254381/steven-bench-considering-transferring-north-carolina-state-wolfpack-source">added NC State to his wish list</a> today.</p>
<p>The concerning part of these potential transfers is that it seems like Willie Taggart isn't confident in his present quarterback situation. Is Taggart so not sold on <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134264/matt-floyd" class="sbn-auto-link">Matt Floyd</a> or <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114454/bobby-eveld" class="sbn-auto-link">Bobby Eveld</a> running his offense that he put out an APB for anyone who can play this year? Or does Taggart just want to bring in his own guy?</p>
https://www.thedailystampede.com/2013/5/8/4313826/all-the-transfers-ex-arkansas-qb-wr-brandon-mitchell-considering-usfAndrew P.2013-05-03T17:20:53-04:002013-05-03T17:20:53-04:00Penn State QB Steven Bench Interested In USF
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Penn State QB and Georgia native Steven Bench is transferring, eligible to play in 2013, and interested in USF. Florida offensive lineman Jessamen Dunker will transfer as well, if the Bulls are interested in pursuing him.</p> <p>Former Penn State backup QB <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159718/steven-bench" class="sbn-auto-link">Steven Bench</a> is transferring and has listed USF along with Mississippi State as his potential landing spots, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bulls/another-transfer-qb-to-watch-steven-bench/2118948">this Greg Auman blog post</a>.</p>
<p>There are many plusses to bringing in Bench:</p>
<ul>
<li>Like Clint Trickett, Bench is eligible to play immediately, in his case because of the Sandusky sanctions. With USF's lack of depth at the position, he would be a welcome addition who can contribute this season. He's also from nearby Georgia.</li>
<li>Bench has three years of eligibility left, and a redshirt year as well.</li>
<li>His mobility and experience in the pro-style offense at Penn State last season would mesh well with the incoming offense of Willie Taggart.</li>
</ul>
<p>On the minus side:</p>
<ul>
<li>We don't really know how good he is. At Penn State he was set to be the third-string QB, beaten out by a JUCO transfer and a true freshman. He's thrown eight passes, completing two of them, so he's not very experienced.</li>
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<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/63488/jessamen-dunker-transferring-from-florida" target="_blank">Another available transfer</a> is Florida's Jessamen Dunker, a redshirt freshman guard. He was arrested in January for <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8850572/jessamen-dunker-florida-gators-arrested-scooter-theft" target="_blank">allegedly stealing a scooter</a>, which he claims he purchased and didn't know it was stolen. Then in March he was cited for driving with a suspended license. At that point, Gators coach Will Muschamp was ready to turn the page.</p>
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<p>"He and I just felt like he needed a fresh start. He felt like he needed a fresh start and I didn't disagree with him," Muschamp said.</p>
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<p>A native of Boynton Beach, Dunker was the #5 OG recruit in the country last year, and also practiced with UF last spring as a December 2011 high school graduate. His redshirt was burned last season, so he would have to sit out the 2013 season and then have three years of eligibility left.</p>
<p>Dunker's potential landing spots are unknown. USF doesn't necessarily have a need at guard, but if his off-field issues can be settled, adding in-state top-five positional recruit would be a great opportunity.</p>
<p>(Also if we get this guy, I have an unending supply of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUha0pSuvfk">DasEFX </a>jokes.)</p>
https://www.thedailystampede.com/2013/5/3/4297480/usf-football-possible-transfers-steven-bench-jessamen-dunkerAndrew P.