Speaking of the Southland

Jim Dunaway, an anchor on the Birmingham CBS affiliate and a member of the "The Roundtable" on JOX 94.5 FM has reported via [URL=http://twitter.com/jimdunaway]his Twitter account[/url] that "Auburn redshirt freshman quarterback Tyrik Rollison plans to transfer to Sam Houston State".

Not long after Dunaway's tweet, an [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4941474]ESPN article[/url] appeared confirming the story from Rollison's father.

[quote] "He wants to come closer to home," Michael Kelly said. "It's a go. He was just unhappy there. I think that's the reason they went out and got another quarterback."[/quote]

Kelly continues on stating that his son plans to wrap up classes before heading to SHSU in time for the season to start.

According to his [url=http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rollison_tyrik00.html]Auburn athletic bio[/url], Rollison completed 315-of-428 passes for 4,728 yards and 51 touchdowns during his senior season of high school. He also rushed for 1,094 yards on way to being selected to participate in the U.S. Army All-American All-Star game.

If there is one person that Rollison knows, it is that one of his playmakers from his prep career, wide receiver [url=http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92958&SPID=11345&DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=3749198&Q_SEASON=2009]Jace Jackson[/url].

Jackson caught 105 passes for 1,550 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior in teaming with Rollison to lead Sulphur Springs to the Texas Class 4A Division II state championship. Jackson ranked amongst the top five in receiving yard in Texas and No. 9 in the nation.

• • •

The starting quarterback position was already open to competition in wake of [url=http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92958&SPID=11345&DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=204769335&Q_SEASON=2009]Blake Joseph's[/url] departure, after the signal-caller exhausted his eligibility..

In fact, the only thing known as far as the position goes is that Willie Fritz was already looking for a new starting quarterback. After that, there is not much known as Fritz is entering his first year at the helm of the program, having taken over for Todd Whitten in December.

Current members of the roster that could potentially compete with Rollison for the job are a pair of quarterbacks who came off the bench to relieve Joseph last year. [url=http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92958&SPID=11345&DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=1483747&Q_SEASON=2009]Brian Randolph[/url] appeared in 11 games last season and [url=http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92958&SPID=11345&DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=1282632&Q_SEASON=2009]Jeff Welch[/url] was also available at the tailend of the season, appearing in one.

The team redshirted two highly-touted quarterbacks in [url=http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92958&SPID=11345&DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=3749204&Q_SEASON=2009]Kyle Webster[/url] and [url=http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92958&SPID=11345&DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=3749032&Q_SEASON=2009]Tyler Copeland[/url], in addition to having a JUCO transfer in [url=http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92958&SPID=11345&DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=204772883&Q_SEASON=2009]Greg Sprowls[/url] listed on the roster.

SHSU has a reputation of taking in transfers from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. Despite the reputation, the number of FBS transfers on the team as a whole is lower than most institutions in the Southland Conference. The difference for SHSU is that the transfers have typically been at the high-profile quarterback position and coming from some of the "upper echelon" schools of the FBS level.

Two of those one-time FBS transfers - Dustin Long and Josh McCown - have led the Bearkats into the playoffs. Others such as Chris Chaloupka and Rhett Bomar have made their imprint in the record books, but have failed to take the team to the 'promised land' of Division I postseason play.

If there are any differences between some of the other FBS transfers to come in at quarterback, the main difference may be the length of eligibility for Rollison, who could have four years of playing time left after redshirting during the 2009 Auburn campaign.