Expected to be Arkansas’ backup quarterback, Rafe Peavey is instead on the move.
Following up on speculation that began surfacing earlier in the day, Peavey confirmed Tuesday night that he will be transferring from the Razorbacks. Not only that, but the redshirt sophomore also revealed his destination: SMU.
Peavey, who will have to sit out the 2016 season with the Mustangs and will have two years of eligibility remaining thereafter, said he came to the decision "[a]fter much prayer and consideration,” although he didn’t give a specific reason for the move.Thank you to the state of Arkansas!! pic.twitter.com/4W1rUZokcl
— Rafe Peavey (@IThrowFootballs) August 24, 2016
Peavey was hampered by a back injury that required surgery in the middle of last month. At the time the surgery was announced July 14, it was described as “minor” in nature, but its lingering nature caused him to fall behind redshirt freshman Ty Storey and true freshman Cole Kelley since the start of camp.
“We have a lot of guys in the program who do everything right, but that doesn’t automatically guarantee them a spot in the two-deep. We’ve got to earn it,” head coach Bret Bielema said following a scrimmage this past Saturday in which Peavey didn’t play a snap.
Peavey, a three-star prospect, took a redshirt as a true freshman in 2014, then didn’t see the field in 2015. After Austin Allen was named the Hogs’ starter exiting spring, Peavey was viewed as his backup entering summer.