Matt Joeckel transfers from Texas A&M, Allen and Hill to compete for QB job
The competition to be Johnny Manziel‘s successor at quarterback with the Texas A&M Aggies was reduced by one this morning with senior Matt Joeckel deciding to transfer, leaving Kenny Hill and Kyle Allen at the top of the team’s depth chart.
Texas A&M QB Matt Joeckel will transfer for his final season, per release. Has graduated, eligible for another FBS team in 2014.
— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) April 16, 2014
“I have loved my four and a half years at Texas A&M,” Joeckel tells Aggieathletics.com. “I am glad I had the opportunity to play for Coach Sumlin, Coach (Jake) Spavital and the rest of the coaches. I am proud to have my degree from the Mays Business School and I’ll always consider myself a member of the Aggie family.”
TCU and SMU have been mentioned as two likely destinations for Joeckel who has attempted 48 passes in his college career with two touchdown passes. He started the season opener last year when Manziel was suspended for the first half.
Hill is currently suspended indefinitely following an arrest in late March for public intoxication. He appeared in five games last season in reserve duty as a freshman with 183 passing yards on 16-of-22 passing and a touchdown. The 6-1, 215-pound signal-caller was a four-star recruit out of Southlake Carroll high school in 2013.
Allen is a departure from the style of play that Manziel brought to the field and what Hill has the potential to sustain and is more of a classic pocket-passer at 6-3, 205-pounds. According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Allen was the No. 10 overall recruit and the No. 1 pro-style quarterback coming out of Desert Mountain high school in Scottsdale, Az.
The U.S. Army All-American who has been compared to Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan threw for 2535 yards and 29 touchdowns and 0 interceptions on 186-272 passing. After enrolling early in the winter, Allen was the beneficiary of learning the playbook of offensive coordinator Jake Spavital and adjusting to college life to give him a head start on the quarterback competition.
With Joeckel out of the picture and Hill suspended, the door is wide open for Allen to stake his claim as the successor to Manziel and lead the Aggies as their starting quarterback as a true freshman. He has a great arm, all the intangibles you look for in a field general and has enough athleticism to extend plays with his legs.