Breaking Down the Patrick Towles Transfer

Breaking Down the Patrick Towles Transfer

By Anthony Iati

On Friday, Boston College received its second 5th-year quarterback transfer in the past three seasons. Former University of Kentucky QB Patrick Towles announced he will play out his final year of eligibility with the Eagles. Towles, who also graduated from Kentucky on Friday, will immediately be thrown into a quarterback competition with incumbents Darius Wade, Jeff Smith, John Fadule, and Troy Flutie, as well as incoming freshman Anthony Brown.

What Towles BringsForget the 2015 statistics for a minute, because Towles brings experience. He started 22 of his final 24 games with the Wildcats. His three years as an active player at UK, excluding his redshirt season, are only two years fewer than the combined active seasons of Wade, Smith, Flutie, Fadule, and Brown. Though he comes from one of the weakest programs in the Southeast Conference, Towles has faced stiff competition from what most agree is college football’s best conference. His ability to prepare, read defenses, and utilize pocket presence are skills that BC’s quarterback depth chart previously lacked. Statistically speaking, Towles finished his Kentucky career with 5,009 passing yards, 443 rushing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, 11 rushing touchdowns, and 24 interceptions.

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Why Towles Chose BCOne has to think that Towles noticed two things in the past couple of years: first, that BC had a quarterback conundrum on its hands and that the time was ripe for a transfer, and second, that ex-Florida Gator QB Tyler Murphy transferred to BC in 2014 for his 5th year and had electrifying moments in a winning season, complete with a Pinstripe Bowl appearance. Murphy already set this precedent for Towles. Coach Steve Addazio and offensive coordinator Todd Fitch certainly seem to prefer experienced, older quarterbacks when possible, which Towles clearly noticed: “It just kind of felt right,” Towles said in a YouTube video announcing his decision, “I fell in love with their coaches the first time I met them.” Speaking about his time at Kentucky, Towles continued, “I felt like I gave all that I had to this place. Although I wanted it to end a different way, at the end of the day you’ve got to be a little selfish and make a decision for yourself and for your future. I think if I still want to play in the NFL that was the best decision for me.”

What It Means for BC’s Roster: Simple addition tells you that BC now has too many bodies at the quarterback position. If everyone stays in Chestnut Hill, there will be six players competing to take the first snap of the 2016 opener versus Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland. Here is how they break down in terms of class year next September: a 5th-year senior (Towles), a junior (Wade, who might be able to get a medical redshirt and remain a sophomore), a redshirt sophomore (Flutie), two true sophomores (Smith and Fadule), and a true freshman (Brown). My bet is that Jeff Smith transfers out of the program, and that he will not be alone. Flutie may be tempted to pursue more playing time elsewhere, but he, of course, has the legacy and name recognition going for him at BC. If the acquisition of Towles signals the switch to a more pro-style offense, then Flutie may be a better fit than he was in the option-style.

When all is said and done, I think Smith and possibly Fadule head to smaller schools to become the undisputed starters, and the Eagles redshirt Anthony Brown. That would leave Towles and Wade to fight for the starting job, with Flutie as the 3rd stringer. If Towles wins the job as expected, he becomes the one-year stopgap before Wade and Brown duke it out for the job in 2017. It creates a cycle in which BC does not have to use Wade until he is at least a junior. Then if BC gets two years out of the southpaw, Brown does not have to see the field until he is a junior, too. The idea fits Addazio’s preference of older, experienced signal-callers and gives the Eagles a name to pencil in at QB through 2020.

Don’t forget, BC is also likely to look for running back transfers to replace the trio of departed backs. Of those who remain, sophomore Jon Hilliman has already expressed his excitement about Towles’s transfer via Twitter. The offseason overhaul is far from over on the Heights.