Jarrett Stidham (3) is leaving Baylor. Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback Jarrett Stidham will transfer from the scandal-plagued Baylor football program, he announced Thursday on Twitter.
According to Ben Baby of the Dallas Morning News, Stidham will transfer to McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, and will have three years of NCAA eligibility remaining.
“After careful thought and consideration, I am announcing my decision to transfer from Baylor University,” Stidham tweeted. “I would like to thank my teammates, friends, family and fellow students for the support throughout my career thus far. Also, I want to thank the coaching staff that brought me here and gave me this opportunity to play.
“This has been a difficult decision, but I wish nothing but the best to my teammates and Baylor Football in the future.”
The Baylor football program is reeling from reports that it mishandled allegations of sexual assaults by players, charges that led to the firing of coach Art Briles in May and the hiring of ex-Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe as his replacement.
In the wake of Briles’ ouster, numerous Baylor recruits decided to go to other schools.
Stidham initially planned to stick with the Bears, posting on his Instagram account after Briles was fired, “Can’t wait to get back on that grind tomorrow with my brothers. This year is going to be different than the rest in many ways, but either way we will make a statement to everyone. Excited for the opportunity God has presented this team with to overcome adversity and become even closer as a family. Stick with us Baylor nation, we got this.”
Stidham made three starts for Baylor as a freshman last fall. In 10 games overall, he completed 75 of 109 passes for 1,265 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. An ankle injury kept him out of Baylor’s last two regular-season games and a Russell Athletic Bowl win over North Carolina.
The only two quarterbacks currently on the Baylor roster are rising senior Seth Russell, whom Stidham replaced at midseason in 2015, and freshman Zach Smith.
Russell sat out much of spring practice due to a pectoral injury, so Stidham served as the No. 1 quarterback in drills and in the spring scrimmage.
