Kyler Murray Transfer Looming? Freshman QB Misses Practice After Meeting With Coach Sumlin
ByTexas A&M head football coach Kevin Sumlin may buy into the "if you have two quarterbacks, you don't have one" theory, but he may soon go from having two to having none.
In the two seasons since Johnny Manziel's departure from Texas A&M, Sumlin has used three different starting quarterbacks while also recruiting some of the nation's highest-rated passers. And in each of the past two seasons, one of those QBs transferred.
Citing unnamed sources, TexAgs.com's Billy Liucci reported Wednesday afternoon that Kyler Murray intended to transfer after meeting with Sumlin that day. Sumlin and his staff have been working since then to make sure the five-star freshman stays.
Per multiple sources, Kyler Murray's intention as of one hour ago and following a meeting with Kevin Sumlin was to transfer from A&M
— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) December 16, 2015
Since that time, I've been told the Aggies have been in the process of attempting to change Murray's mind and keep him in College Station — Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) December 16, 2015
According to The Houston Chronicle, Sumlin told reporters after practice Wednesday that Murray took the day for personal reasons. He also said he expects the freshman to practice Thursday and start at QB for the Aggies' bowl game.
"I met with the (Murray) family before practice, he's going through some things and didn't feel well," Sumlin said. "I told him to stay home today. I expect him to be back out here (Thursday). We had discussions about all kinds of things."
If Murray does transfer, he will be the second Aggie QB to do so in as many weeks, following Kyle Allen out of College Station. Last season, it was Kenny Hill who left Texas A&M after being benched mid-season in favor of Allen.
In Allen and Murray, Sumlin had a five-star quarterback in two straight recruiting classes, yet the Aggies were having trouble finishing season as strongly as they started them. In each of the last two seasons, Texas A&M started out 5-0 before finishing the season with a sub-.500 record.
But true to form, Sumlin has another five-star QB commit incoming. Tate Martell recently discussed with 247 Sports the possibility of graduating high school early and enrolling right away at Texas A&M in order to be eligible to play next fall.
Martell does not seem to be waning on his commitment to Texas A&M, but the class of 2017 prospect indicated in a tweet that he would play his senior high school season. That would leave Sumlin with Jake Hubenak, a junior college transfer, as his only QB under scholarship if Murray decides to leave.
