Steve Campbell reported on Friday that the potential least-surprising transfer in college football history may be a done deal.
Multiple people close to the situation said freshman quarterback Terrance Broadway has decided to transfer from UH. One person close to the program said Broadway has been saying his goodbyes to teammates in recent days. Another person close to the situation confirmed Broadway has been talking about leaving and said UH coaches are trying to convince him to reconsider.
Broadway was expected to take a redshirt this year, but when both Case Keenum and Cotton Turner suffered season-ending injuries during Houston's game at UCLA, Broadway was thrust into the spotlight. He played well in the closing minutes of that game, and earned a start the following week against Tulane. He had a mediocre performance in what would end up being his only start of the season, turning the ball over three times, taking five sacks, and not accounting for a touchdown. Behind strong performances by the defense and running game, Houston earned a 42-23 win.
Things went south for Broadway after that, however.
He made only two more garbage-time appearances, playing well in both instances, but never getting another shot at the starting job. Even when starter David Piland threw four first half interceptions against Tulsa, head coach Kevin Sumlin stuck with his man.
Obviously, the Cougars would like Broadway to stay. He is undeniably talented, and has the raw athleticism to play anywhere on the field. Even though I have full faith in Piland moving forward, I'd like to see the Cougars spend the off-season coming up with some ways to utilize Broadway on offense. But it's hard to blame him if he chooses to look elsewhere. He could use this coming season as a redshirt while transferring, and potentially be a three-year starter elsewhere. If he stays at Houston, he'll be a back-up, or he'll switch positions. It would certainly be understandable if he moves on.
If Broadway does end up going the transfer route, watch for the heat to be turned up even further on Sumlin this off-season. The Cougar fan base showed up in unprecedented numbers in 2010, selling out the team's first five games, only to wonder why the team continually came out of the gates slowly, often building up early deficits, and ultimately finishing with a losing record. It's no surprise that Broadway was the fan favorite to win the starting quarterback job, so expect more than a little pressure for the Cougars to win early and often with Piland under center next year.