Why two elite quarterbacks signed with Ohio State, and why this could become more common

Welcome to a new age in recruiting.

Ohio State signed two quarterbacks Wednesday, and this wasn’t just signing a star and an afterthought who will provide depth. Two top-25 quarterbacks inked letters of intent with the Buckeyes, knowing full well that only one quarterback can play at a time.

C.J. Stroud, the No. 6 quarterback in the 2020 class according to 247Sports, and Jack Miller, the No. 25 quarterback in the 2020 class, are both Buckeyes. Both are four-star recruits. Both are good enough to eventually be the starting quarterback. Both will probably not be in Columbus three years from now.

It makes perfect sense for Ohio State to take in two elite quarterbacks, obviously, because why wouldn’t it want as many good players as possible? But it also makes sense for Stroud and Miller. In this era of transfer quarterbacks, it isn’t about where you start your career, but rather, it’s about where you end your career.

Joe Burrow’s well-chronicled journey from an Ohio State backup to an LSU star may as well be a roadmap for future recruits. Battle for the starting job for a few years and if you don’t get it, transfer. At least when you transfer several years into your college career, you’ll have a better idea of the quarterback situation at the desired program. And for now, at least you’ll be in a top program that has just in the last three years developed a Heisman Trophy winner and a first round pick (plus a current quarterback who could be both of those things next year).

That’s the new trend in college football. According to The Athletic, if a top-50 quarterback from 2014-17 didn’t start a game in his first two years on campus, he transferred almost 75 percent of the time. And even if he does start a game, he still transferred 45 percent of the time.

Take a look at the top 25 quarterbacks from the Class of 2016, a group that should either be seniors or redshirt juniors right now. Only four of them (Dwayne Haskins, Jarrett Guarantano, Jawon Pass and Seth Green) didn’t transfer. So there’s a strong chance (probably near certainty) that either Stroud or Miller winds up elsewhere.

And that’s OK. They are going to one of the best programs in the country where they will hone their skills and be ready to step into a starting role in two years. They actually have a great situation at Ohio State, as they’ll be competing with someone their own age instead of battling an upperclassmen for the job.

It’s easier than ever to transfer in college football, with the transfer portal and the prominent transfers who have shown this can be a successful model. It’s certainly noteworthy that the three quarterbacks at the Heisman Trophy ceremony were all transfers. There is no stigma attached to these transfers, as Justin Fields, Jalen Hurts and Burrow are all rightfully being celebrated.

I don’t want to minimize the excitement of Signing Day, because it is a fun day for every college football fan to geek out to and where recruits fulfill their dreams, but it has a very fleeting feeling in today’s college football. This is not a permanent commitment, and that’s to the benefit to both college programs and the athletes.

So, for next year, Stroud and Miller can battle to be Justin Fields’ backup. Then in two years, they can battle for the starting job. One of them will most likely leave after that. Heck, both of them may leave — we just can’t project two or three years down the road anymore.

All we know is that if recent history shows us anything, one of them won’t be finishing their career at Ohio State.

Ryan O'Gara

Ryan O'Gara is the lead columnist for Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @RyanOGara.