Texas A&M football: Nick Starkel reveals short list of schools for transfer

By Jeff Shull | Jan 23, 2019

(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Nick Starkel has decided to transfer from Texas A&M football, and today revealed his short list of schools that includes his former head coach’s.

The ball drop most people could see coming finally dropped on Tuesday night when Texas A&M football backup quarterback Nick Starkel announced his intention to transfer after graduating in June. It leaves Jimbo Fisher without an experienced quarterback to backup Kellen Mond, but the Aggies should be just fine at the quarterback position for the next couple of years.

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The reason most assumed Starkel would transfer is he and Mond have the same years of eligibility left. Simply based on his play from this season, it wouldn’t be out of this world to assume Mond will play out each of those final two seasons. He does not appear even close to ready for the NFL.

The transfer means Connor Blumrick, James Foster and incoming freshman (already on campus) Zach Calzada will compete for the backup job.

Starkel did an interview with MyAggieNation and revealed a short list of schools he plans to visit before hopefully transferring to one of them (check out the linked article for more quotes from Starkel. It’s a good one). They are Duke, SMU, Ohio State and Arizona.

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One of these is not like the other. Ohio State seems like a dream scenario for Starkel, but one thing he has to consider is Justin Fields — No. 2 overall recruit from the 2018 class — recently transferred to the Buckeyes. Starkel’s only hope in this case would be if Fields is not granted a waiver to play immediately.

The other three are very understandable and reasonable options.

Duke is searching for a starting quarterback after Daniel Jones left, and has a head coach known for being a quarterback guru. They don’t have much of a succession plan for Jones in place, at least not one Starkel couldn’t interrupt and take over. SMU starter Ben Hicks didn’t set the world on fire in 2018 and the program would certainly welcome a player of Starkel’s talent.

Finally, there is Arizona. Kevin Sumlin took over the Wildcats after he was fired from Texas A&M. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise Starkel would have interest in the coach who recruited him initially. Things didn’t end the way they both envisioned and there is most likely a feeling of unfinished business.

Khalil Tate is currently Arizona’s starter and the 2018 preseason Heisman candidate isn’t going anywhere. Starkel would be the backup for a season and take over in 2020 in his final year.

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Wherever Starkel lands, that program will be getting a helluva player and an even better person. Thanks and Gig ‘Em, Nick.

Jeff Shull is the Site Expert for the Gig Em Gazette on FanSided. Follow him on Twitter, and be sure to follow the Gig Em Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.