Mark Richt has a (very classy) policy of permitting his transferring players to move onto any other institution they desire with no restrictions, including another SEC school. One former Bulldog may be on the verge of taking full advantage of the latter part of that policy.
According to ESPN.com‘s Joe Schad, Jacob Park will visit Alabama this weekend. After speculation of a potential had been mounting, Georgia confirmed exactly two weeks ago today that the quarterback would be leaving Richt’s football program.
If Park were to transfer to the Tide, he wouldn’t be eligible to play in 2015 because of NCAA transfer rules. He would, though, have three years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2016.
At that time, however, he’d be an interesting -- and talented -- addition to the Tide’s quarterback mix.
A four-star member of UGA’s 2014 recruiting class, Park was rated as the No. 12 pro-style quarterback in the country; the No. 4 player at any position in the state of South Carolina; and the No. 229 player overall according to Rivals.com.
This year, Florida State transfer Jake “Jacob” Coker is the presumptive front-runner, although redshirt freshman David Cornwell played well this spring and emerged as a viable starting threat. Coker, a senior, would be out of the mix if/when Park were to transfer and play for the Tide next season, leaving Cornwell, four-star 2013 signee Cooper Bateman, five-star 2015 signee Blake Barnett and 2014 No. 3 quarterback Alec Morris as part of next year’s competition. The Tide also has a verbal commitment from four-star 2016 prospect Jalen Hurts.
Before Everett Golson landed at Florida State, Alabama was also interested in the former Notre Dame signal-caller. Park’s decision to leave UGA came after the Bulldogs added Virginia graduate transfer quarterback Greyson Lambert.