Michigan transfer QB opportunity: TX 4* Hudson Card
Hudson Card, the backup quarterback to Quinn Ewers at Texas, announced he is entering the transfer portal. He has three years of eligibility remaining and is a redshirt sophomore. In the Class of 2020, he was the #59 national recruit in the 247 composite, and the #2 dual threat QB.
Michigan offered Card, but he chose to stay home and sign with Texas. He then got displaced when Quinn Ewers transferred from OSU to Texas and claimed the starting job this year.
Card comes out of the Austin-area Lake Travis program, which also produced Baker Mayfield, Garrett Wilson, and numerous other NFL players. Pete Thamel of Yahoo news dubbed Lake Travis "the country's top high school QB mill." (Incidentally, Lake Travis' Austin archrival, Westlake, produced Drew Brees, Nick Foles, and Cade Klubnik).
Given that we whiffed on Dante Moore, and with Cade transferring, we could use another starting-caliber QB to compete with Davis Warren for backup duties (and for the starting job when JJ departs for the NFL), why not take Card? According to ESPN, Card is "targeting a Power 5 school as his next destination, and he's prioritizing a winning program and the opportunity to develop."
November 30th, 2022 at 3:16 PM ^
How that kid is a 5 star can’t miss 3 and to the league player is beyond me.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:05 PM ^
Would he want to transfer into another backup situation though?
One would think he would go somewhere he was guaranteed or at least more than likely to start, otherwise why transfer?
November 30th, 2022 at 1:05 PM ^
I think we wait to get a serious grad transfer after the 2023 season to compete with Warren for the starting job for 2024 while Jadyn is a true freshman. If we wanted to bring in a depth transfer this year like an Alan Bowman, then sure.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^
We also have two freshman QBs who aren't 5 stars but aren't walk-ons either. Orji and Denegal both needed some work coming in, but maybe we are overlooking their potential a bit. I expect Davis to come in and compete right away in '24 but those guys exist and may surprise us next year in the spring game and beyond.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:07 PM ^
hard pass. we're good.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:08 PM ^
Are we going to do this for every transfer that would have zero interest in coming here? Gosh I hope not.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:16 PM ^
Agreed. At a bare minimum can everyone at least apply a basic "Does this make any sense?" test before posting on every random talented player that transfers?
Rule 1 would be if someone is transferring because they are a back-up, they will almost certainly not transfer to a school with an established starter at their position.
That could have saved us from this pointless thread.
November 30th, 2022 at 5:26 PM ^
"Gosh I hope not"
Whoa, settle down the aggression there, buddy.
November 30th, 2022 at 9:37 PM ^
yes, we are. just like we did last summer, and just like we did for every assistant coach in the country when harbaugh was talking to the vikings.
there a few people that can and will take just about anything they read and create a supposed connection to michigan out of thin air.
most of these kinds of board posts suck, is what i’m saying.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:11 PM ^
I'd like to give Davis Warren a shot, but sure, load up on good football players who want to fight and win. I guess I'm saying take him only if he is a cultural fit.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:13 PM ^
Lol he didn’t want to sit behind one 5* so he comes here to sit behind another 5* with another probably on the way ? Nope not a chance
November 30th, 2022 at 1:33 PM ^
The one difference is that Texas is bringing in a 5* QB in 2023 so that's an even more daunting depth chart than at UM with a hole in 2023. You can squint and believe that if McCarthy leaves after 2023 you're only competing against Warren/Orji/Denegal in 2024 for the starting role vs. an Arch Manning who probably got a bunch of opportunities to get ramped up in 2023.
November 30th, 2022 at 2:29 PM ^
Exactly.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:15 PM ^
He probably wants to play and if we Get Davis in ‘24…Warren/Davis/Denegal/Orji will be fine.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:15 PM ^
Can we not make this a trend on the board where every highly ranked player who enters the portal is a "Michigan transfer opportunity?" If there's smoke about us pursuing them then go ahead and post it, but this is a slippery slope
November 30th, 2022 at 1:19 PM ^
Isn't it correct that Michigan's admission policy makes it nearly impossible to accept non-grad transfers?
I feel like the transfer portal is a net loss for Michigan. Easy for players to leave and zero benefit in getting transfer players into the program. Grad transfers could play immediately before the portal, and Michigan rarely accepts undergrad transfers.
November 30th, 2022 at 2:08 PM ^
This is not correct.
Transfers, even upperclassman transfers, can be admitted. The issues are:
- Michigan, like many schools, will only accept 60 transfer credit hours. It requires at least 60 hours at Michigan for a degree. A certain portion of those (like 30-40 hrs) must be in 300-400 level classes with a certain portion in the department a degree is sought.
- Michigan also has rigorous credit comparison standards, so Freshman English from another University may not be accepted for credit.
- Some other schools, e.g. West Virginia and Kansas State, only require 30 hours from their school for a degree and accept nearly unlimited hours.
The result of this:
- For upperclassmen transfers with 1-2 years of eligibility remaining, they will need 1.5-3 years at UM to complete a degree. They would have to pay out of pocket a semester or year to graduate, uncovered by scholarship. They may have to retake classes they have already taken, both general electives and pre-reqs, but also in their degree program. They could be admitted, but why would they go to Michigan in that scenario when they can go somewhere else and not pay out of pocket to graduate?
- For lowerclassmen transfers from a good school, this isn't an issue. See Ty Isaac.
A sophomore from UT could easily transfer to UM as a junior. Assuming 60 credit hours completed, they would probably transfer 56-60 hours. UT is a comparable school. A sophomore from a school like BAMA with 60 hours would probably transfer 45-50 credits - almost losing a semester. They would have to make these up in summer session, or stay an extra Fall semester after their scholarship has expired to graduate.
It has nothing to do with admissions.
I'm in favor of being more lenient with transfer credits for lowerclassmen. I'm not in favor of lowering the 60 credit hour at UM requirement. A UM degree needs to mean something.
November 30th, 2022 at 2:16 PM ^
Excellent post, Ouldsod. I did not know the specifics of this until now.
November 30th, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
Great post/info. I feel like this should be stickied somewhere.
November 30th, 2022 at 3:39 PM ^
Thanks for the information. I agree that a Michigan degree should be worth something. My original post could have been presented better, but doesn't the same point still stand? It seems like the vast majority of transfers Michigan gets are grad transfers (Shea Patterson excluded). The portal doesn't seem to have benefited Michigan like it has other schools. Anyway, just my observation in relation to the OP.
November 30th, 2022 at 2:14 PM ^
This is the key point, Omaha. +1 to you. With very few exceptions, the only kind of transfers Michigan gets are grad transfers. I have a gauzy understanding of why this is -- it seems to have to do with UM registrars turning up their noses at transcripts from other schools and denying credits for courses taken elsewhere.
This, and the department-wide prohibition on 100% remote classes, are two systemic problems M faces in attracting the best players. Fortunately, these barriers don't seem to deter Harbaugh from finding kids that love football, love competition and are teachable and unselfish, and therefore, win championships! Hail!
Edit: after the other post on this subject, my understanding is less gauzy!
November 30th, 2022 at 1:27 PM ^
I don't think it's in the Cards...
November 30th, 2022 at 1:30 PM ^
I have to assume he's not dying to play behind a guy who's younger than him. I know Manning is coming to Texas next year so that's a different depth chart than UM but he'd still be a solid #2 behind McCarthy. And I caught Card in a couple of games and he's a bit rough as a passer; there would be a learning curve with him at UM that might further push him behind McCarthy.
Obviously if he's interested UM should extend an offer but I'd be a little surprised if he wound up going to UM compared to a half-dozen spots with clearer paths to starting.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
he's prioritizing a winning program and the opportunity to develop."
Translation: He wants to start!
.... and preferably at a good school.
November 30th, 2022 at 2:02 PM ^
I disagree. Developing clipboard skills is extremely important.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:40 PM ^
Regardless of what the article says, Card is transferring because he isn’t starting. Why would he come to Michigan to do the same? It’s not like UM is turning out NFL QB’s every 2-3 years. I hate to say it but he would probably consider osu if Stroud leaves before UM.
November 30th, 2022 at 3:44 PM ^
OSU has a 5* QB entering his 3rd year next season that has been behind Stroud. So Card would likely have to battle for his job there and I’d assume he wants something a little more certain.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:40 PM ^
(Incidentally, Lake Travis' Austin archrival, Westlake, produced Drew Brees, Nick Foles, and Cade Klubnik).
I cannot be the only person to not know who Cade Klubnik is and how he got name-dropped along side two Super Bowl winning starting QBs.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^
He's the next great 5* QB at Clemson.
November 30th, 2022 at 2:38 PM ^
#1 national prospect last year.
November 30th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
He's not coming to be an obvious backup for at least another year
November 30th, 2022 at 1:58 PM ^
Dude, this is two days old and anyway Card isn’t transferring to be a backup again. Think before you post.
November 30th, 2022 at 2:04 PM ^
No chance for 2 reasons:
1. Won't start next year (as many have covered)
2. Since he's a RS SO and our admissions department will only take 60 credits, he would be set back an academic year
November 30th, 2022 at 2:11 PM ^
Adrian Martinez should have 7 years of eligibility left.
November 30th, 2022 at 2:15 PM ^
It's going to be difficult to land a qb with JJ having at least one more year of eligibility. Above that, NIL issues, not sure why they haven't opened the money cannon among our donors and alumni but, that is where we are.....
November 30th, 2022 at 2:17 PM ^
Insight from a Texas board, on what Card is actually looking for. Maybe Michigan does make sense for him. I don't know if he makes sense for Michigan though, but he could be the new Bowman, a practice QB that just wants a really good education.
He plays school.
- I think it's a genuine rift between him and the coach it doesn't really make sense outside of that.
November 30th, 2022 at 3:23 PM ^
Problem is, Card is a much better QB than Bowman and can go somewhere where he could start AND get a good education (Wisconsin anyone?)
November 30th, 2022 at 7:48 PM ^
I suggested Iowa or wiscy and Iowa got shot down pretty quickly by the UT guys. Wiscy seems like it makes so much sense, but who knows Fickell may have his eyes one someone he knows to come in.
November 30th, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't college football players want to, y'know, actually play football? Why would he want to go to a place where he'll just be holding a different clipboard? I'm sure he wants to play on a P5 team, but then, so does everybody. Why not go to a MAC or American or Sun Belt team if it gives you a better opportunity to get on the field?
November 30th, 2022 at 3:04 PM ^
We also have Alex Orji on our roster. Assuming that Kayde leaves after next year, Orji will be in his third year in the program. Why are people writing him off? Kid has a ton of potential.
November 30th, 2022 at 3:21 PM ^
we could use another starting-caliber QB to compete with Davis Warren for backup duties
So why would a “starting caliber QB” that is currently a backup transfer here to… be a backup… when he could simply transfer somewhere else and actually start?
Michigan doesn’t throw the ball nearly enough to entice a starting caliber QB to transfer here and wait his turn. Not to mention, I don’t think it’s a guarantee that JJ only sticks around for one more year.
November 30th, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
i'm more concerned about CBs next year. We have pretty great depth in most places, but a real chance to lose Turner, Green, and Sainristil. That leaves us with Will Johnson and,...? Jaden McBurrows? Quentin Johnson (really a safety?) Kody Jones? I'm hoping we can find a transfer to bolster this if we lose all three of those guys (which seems quite possible).
November 30th, 2022 at 3:31 PM ^
I agree. He's not coming here. Why would he. He wants to compete for the starting gig. Here JJ and Jayden will be leading the pack.
November 30th, 2022 at 4:24 PM ^
Great name for a QB. I'd take him.
November 30th, 2022 at 4:28 PM ^
He’s not coming here, he wants to be a starter.
November 30th, 2022 at 4:35 PM ^
Can the mods just start deleting threads like this? I mean the amount of terrible threads in the past few days is near postgame levels. There is absolutely no fucking way Hudson Card transfers to be a backup. He's already a backup. He wants to start. Holy fucking shit I know I'm being over-the-top angry but I'm so over all these bullshit threads.
November 30th, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
Can Davis Warren run the ball? I don't recall seeing it one way or the other in the spring game or in his mop up appearences.
November 30th, 2022 at 6:21 PM ^
Yes. Like JJ, no. But like Shea 2018. Which was enough!
Can Warren make downfield post snap reads?
November 30th, 2022 at 5:36 PM ^
Per Austin relatives who have been following Card's high school and UTexas football forever:
"Like him but no loss. Dude cannot release the ball. Always goes through 4 progressions then gets sacked - bad formula"
November 30th, 2022 at 6:35 PM ^
This is the kind of move that makes sense - a guy who can learn the system, get some reps, and be ready to start for 2 more seasons. JJ, if he develops even more next year, essentially did this for us. Two year starter then go pro. Card would know he will always have a great line and big time games. Heck, he'd even start at Texas in 2024 and Oklahoma in 2025!