Jarrett Stidham is leaving Baylor.
Rumors swirled the past few days that the talented sophomore quarterback was mulling a transfer, and Stidham made it official on Thursday.
— Jarrett Stidham (@Jarrett_Stidham) July 7, 2016
Stidham was a top 100 recruit in Baylor’s 2015 recruiting class and quickly moved to No. 2 on the Bears’ depth chart last season. When starter Seth Russell went down with a neck injury, Stidham stepped in as a true freshman and started three games in impressive fashion. His season ended when he suffered a broken bone in the back of his ankle in a November 21 win over Oklahoma State.
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Though Russell is back to full strength and slated to start for the Bears in the upcoming season, the loss of Stidham is still a significant one for the program. Stidham appeared in 10 games and threw for 1,265 yards, 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions. His best game was his first start against Kansas State when he put up a whopping 419 yards and three scores in a 31-24 win. He would have almost certainly taken the starting quarterback reins once the eligibility of Russell, a senior, expired after the upcoming season.
Now the Bears are left with only one other scholarship quarterback on the roster – true freshman Zach Smith, a four-star recruit from Grandview, Texas.
Stidham is the latest in a long list of players to leave the program (including 12 of 22 class of 2016 signees) under various circumstances in recent weeks after the removal of head coach Art Briles. Briles was fired in late May after the summary findings of an independent investigation into the school’s handling of sexual assault accusations – including several involving Bears football players – was released. The investigation found “specific failings within both the football program and athletics department leadership” and said there were “significant concerns about the tone and culture within Baylor’s football program as it relates to accountability for all forms of student-athlete misconduct.”
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Former Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe was hired as the team’s acting head coach to replace Briles. He said Thursday on ESPN Radio in Waco that Stidham’s decision was mostly based on playing time.
Jim Grobe on Stidham: I don't think he was happy backing up Seth Russell so he's decided to move on and find a place to get more snaps.
— Craig Smoak (@CraigSmoak) July 7, 2016
Stidham still has his redshirt season available, so he could have three years remaining at his next school. If he opts to play at the junior college level for the 2016 season, he would have two years remaining wherever he lands in 2017.
Grobe said the team is down to about 70 scholarship players headed into preseason camp.
Jim Grobe says team is sitting around 70 scholarships with medicals, transfers, academics, etc coming into play.
— Craig Smoak (@CraigSmoak) July 7, 2016
The Bears open the season on Sept. 2 at home against FCS Northwestern State. Baylor went 10-3 in 2015.
For more Baylor news, visit SicEmSports.com.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
