I don't disagree with you, but a lot of those kids who go to schools like Bama don't think that they will ever ride the bench, somebody does but they never think it will be them. He will most likely transfer to a mid level FBS school.
If he graduated then that means he can use the Vernon Adams Rule and start immediately in FBS, right? Because if so then that right there kills our chances.
Yes and no. He has to thread the needle ... a good program will usually have QBs, he doesn't't want to get buried at a bad program, a scholarship has to be available, he won't go to a program that runs the veer, etc.
You beat me to it...no way. Let's see, I'm a QB on the number 1 team in the country, I can transfer to any D-1 without sitting out, but I'm going to some FCS in California that doesn't even have a study hall. Sorry, but there are better odds my wife is giving me that super-car I drooled over last weekend in SF for Christmas. Yeah, it's possible she might finance a car with monthly lease payments that equal our house payment, but sadly, not probable.
"You beat me to it...no way. Let's see, I'm a QB on the number 1 team in the country, I can transfer to any D-1 without sitting out, but I'm going to some FCS in California that doesn't even have a study hall...."
... and this QB hasn't thrown a pass in 3 years, and since he is graduating early, probably doesn't need a study hall. ... Anyway, phone calls are cheap these days... maybe he was a fan of Hawk's on ESPN... if he took us into the second round of the FCS playoffs, that would be another selling point for him to the NFL. ... and we're in Caleee-forni-aaaaa, not Bosman or Fargo.
And Hawkins isn't really someone who played for Bama with a coaching staff chalk full of former and future name brand head coaches. He will transfer to a place like Cal that had had success with grad transfers and a proven receiving corps.