Syracuse football: Mississippi State QB Garrett Shrader transfers to Orange

Given the unique nature of the 2020 college football season, there was bound to be plenty of athletes transferring to different schools. The Syracuse Orange looked to be one of the programs looking for new blood into the team, and on Saturday night, Dino Babers got his first big transfer. Former Mississippi State quarterback Garrett Shrader announced on Twitter that he’ll transfer to Syracuse.

Shrader started in four games as a freshman for the Bulldogs in 2019, featuring in 10 contests overall. He threw for 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns. Shrader also ran for 587 yards and six touchdowns. He got moved to wide receiver prior to the 2020 season with Mike Leach’s unique air-raid offense in place. Then, Shrader announced he would transfer in October, indicating that he wanted to play quarterback once again.

The Charlotte, N.C. native was a four-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN and was ranked the seventh-best dual-threat quarterback in 247’s composite rankings. Syracuse had submitted an offer for Shrader back in high school, but the Orange had to fight a number of top programs, including Alabama, Florida, Penn State, and West Virginia, among others.

Shrader will have three years of eligibility remaining. The NCAA is currently still reviewing a a free-transfer waiver or the 2021 season, so it remains to be seen if he’ll be immediately available for the Orange. His dual-threat running style will bring memories of Eric Dungey, who saw so much success in Dino Babers’s offense. That inevitably signals a quarterback competition heading into camp with Tommy DeVito.

Welcome to Syracuse, Garrett!