After failing to hold onto his starting spot as Texas’ QB during the first two games of the 2011 season, it became obvious that Garrett Gilbert’s career trajectory would look much different. It was not well-known that Gilbert had suffered a tear in his throwing shoulder during the Rice game that would make him unavailable for the remainder of the 2011 season.
Following his surgery, and the corresponding emergence of young QBs David Ash and Case McCoy, Gilbert has asked for, and been granted his request to transfer away from Texas to finish out his collegiate football career at another school.
If Gilbert is granted a medical hardship redshirt for the 2011 season– which is likely– he will have two years of eligibility remaining and will be able to suit up for a program in 2012 without any loss of eligibility which those who transfer for non-medical reasons typically are burdened with.
Several sources, including the well-known SMU-focused site Pony Pride, reported today that Gilbert was seen at an SMU football practice in Dallas today.
Is Gilbert considering transferring to SMU to play for former Hawaii head coach June Jones?
This transfer would make sense on a couple of levels. Jones depends on a traditional pocket quarterback to throw, and throw often, without necessarily having to make plays on their feet. This type of system could be a nice fit for Gilbert if he has the protection necessary to make the throws.
Behind junior QB Kyle Padron– who has had to fight to keep his starting job throughout the season to this point– there are three freshmen QBs who don’t figure to be all that much competition for Gilbert in his work to become the starter for SMU.
SMU has done a strong job of recruiting the type of skill players over the past few years from the Metroplex and beyond which should make them one of the up-and-coming programs in the state as the next few years go by– talent that was on display during the Mustangs’ dismantling of the TCU Horned Frogs last Saturday.
Either way, whether he succeeds or not, the timing was right for Garrett Gilbert to request a transfer and move on with his life. Texas had nothing left to offer him and he was smart enough to realize that his only option to continue a football career was to do it somewhere else.
Whether Gilbert will actually land at SMU– or if he was just “checking things out”– is yet to be seen, but we can all be sure that Gilbert’s new destination will come sooner than later.
There isn’t anymore time to waste.
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