Move over, Dayne Crist. You have some company in the “free agent” quarterback market.
In a press release, BYU announced that sophomore quarterback Jake Heaps has decided to transfer from the school after being given a release from his scholarship. No official reason was given for the decision, “although “losing his starting job” would be a good place to start.
“Jake has decided to leave the program in pursuit of a fresh start for he and his young family,” head coach Bronco Mendenhall said in a statement. “Jake is a great young man with tremendous potential and someone I deeply care about. I am sorry to see him leave this wonderful institution yet anxious to follow his future development and success.”
Heaps started the final 10 games of the 2010 season and the first five in 2011 before being benched in favor of Riley Nelson. Heaps started one game after the benching, but that only came as a result of an injury -- broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung -- suffered by Nelson.
For his career, Heaps completed 363 of 635 passes for 3,768 yards, 24 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He was a four-star member of the Cougars’ 2010 recruiting class and the No. 1 pro-style QB in the country according to Rivals.com.
As for where Heaps, who hails from Sammamish, Wash., may ultimately land, the current buzz is that he might wind up at Washington State with new head coach Mike Leach.