The LA Times is reporting that he is transferring. Has 2 years of eligibility remaining and was a 4* and #76 ranked player in the country in 2011 according to rivals. Although he has no ties to our current coaching staff, he went to the same school (Mater Dei) as our long snapper. He's also a pro-style QB which Loeffler prefers. What are your thoughts? Think the coaches will take a look?
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Doubtful, but you never know.
We're bringing in 2 decent QB's this year, with at least 2 targets in 2015, both 5* if I'm not mistaken.
Yeah, I figured it would be a long shot. But with Loeffler already recruiting top 2015 guys it makes you think that he's always looking for talent. And Wittek is a guy who can play immediately since he already has his degree.
Assuming he graduates in the spring, I could see Loeffler at least giving him a shot. Like you said, that way we could shut Ford and Durkin down for a year and get them better prepared for the future.
Though, there has been some discussion of scholarship limits for the coming class, I'm not sure how that works with transfers. There's a good chance we just don't have room.
If he had graduated and is eligible to play immediately great! Redshirt Ford! If not, meh.
will graduate
AP's Ralph D Russo reports Tech has contacted him: http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/transferring-usc-qb-max-wittek-vas....
Being able to play next season and having two years of eligibility makes him all the more desirable. (Is there a better word to use there?)
Would add an interesting wrinkle to the QB battle. Probably closer to the Ford-style quarterback (and Michigan Loeffler), if we think in terms of current/committed QBs, and has the benefit of having playing time experience (probably more so than Leal). Could be very interesting if he ends up here.
Here's what I wrote up on it. To be clear, I've got no insider info at this point about VT's interest in him or his interest in VT.
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/columns_and_blogs/blogs/andy_bitter_virgin...
Andy Bitter replied to one of my posts!
Great gif from a great movie.
Well, he has a very strong arm, but with two All-American caliber receivers he wasn't impressive in two of 2012 starts (one of which ended as a 21-7 bowl loss to a 7-7 Georgia Tech team that the Hokies thumped in the opener.)
You decide.
That Sun Bowl was windy as hell if I remember right.
Yep. It was very windy. He defintely has a strong arm, but to put up seven on that GT defense with Woods and Lee? I take pause. His other start was against Notre Dame (who made it to the National Championship Championship Game). USC lost 22-13. Wittek was 14/23 for 186 yards, a touchdown, and two INT's.
I have not watched yet. Here is the film.
It's awesome to be able to just click on YouTube and watch whatever game film you need.
To his cordite though he did have lane kiffen as a head coach.
I'm not a fan of adding another QB to the Leal-Ford-Durkin-Motley-Hodges-McMillan race. USC or not, the suspense is killing me.
I am, we've got a lot of quantity but the quality is as suspect as it has been at VT in 13 years.
Hodges is a TE now. Durkin probably going to redshirt and I imagine that McMillan is either a redshirt or position switch by the end of summer practice. That leaves the race Leal, Ford, Motley ranked in no particular order.
What makes you think Durkin probably redshirts and Ford presumably doesn't?
The most likely outcome right now is Leal starting and if anything (and I'm not advocating for this) I could see some limited packages put in place for Durkin (a la Tebow as a frosh) in a back-up role to Leal.
Say what you want about Durkin, but he is physically ready for D1 football.
Going to guess its that Ford has already enrolled while Durkin has not. If we're talking full time starter, I have to think Ford has the advantage over Durkin. I agree durkin could ultimately see the field sooner with a specialty package though.
Specialty package is the only way I can see Durkin hitting the field next year. His mechanics are too raw.
I agree, no matter who starts next year I don't think Max would be a HUGE upgrade over the next guy.
He graduates in May, so he doesn't have to sit for a year. He has two years left to play.
What was wrong with his play? Two words - Lane Kiffin.
He is immediately eligible under the NCAA exemption. After getting an undergrad degree, a player/student can transfer to any school without sitting out a year.
Someone told me around a month ago that Loeffler could take a transfer QB. Guess it could end up being true.
I would imagine if he is transferring for playing time, he would take a serious look at the odds (competition for the spot). The job is definitely open, but he would have to beat out a number of other challengers. So question #2 for him should be 'where do I want to go for grad school the next two years'. His degree will be in psychology. How does this work...is he also eligible for scholarship?
His dad says he is interested in Pitt; Pitt says they are shallow but aren't looking (no pun intended):
Link: Pitt among schools former USC QB Wittek considering
Taking a QB like that for one year suggests that we are on a position to win big immediately and that QB is the only position we are missing (see Badgers, Wisconsin and Wilson, Russell).
I think the argument that I have against this guy is the same argument I have against Leal. Why have another QB play this year that will be gone and take away development time from one of our younger guys? I really really want a 3/4 year starter.
Just my .02
He would have 2 years of eligibility left.
He has 2 years of eligibility.
I stand corrected.
Wittek was a top 100 player coming out of high school. But, he was not impressive when he started for USC. If Loeffler is looking for a pro-style QB, he might as well take a better look at A. Ford whos accurate and the other QB on the roster who havent been ruined by any other system.
I seem to be a little more positive about this than most. I think this would make make the QB situation easier. This would give the coaches more time to work with the new recruits and no one likes to throw a true freshman QB into the fire. Keep in mind I am not exactly expecting an awesome season in 2014.
Take him...if he wins the job, fair and square, he deserves it....the more competition the better.
He would be a great addition. USC was awful under Kiffin, so it is unfair to judge his performances.
This upcoming season is where we could really use a transfer. I'm all for this and I hope he chooses VT.
Yep. I really hope he chooses VT also. Dude has a ton of talent and unlike Kiffin I'm pretty sure Loeffler knows how to utilize that talent.