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Around the same time LSU got the good news of a new 2015 commitment, there came a bit of a stunner with reports that redshirt freshman quarterback Hayden Rettig appears to be on his way out:
When contacted by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, Rettig said he was transferring but would not elaborate further. An LSU official confirmed that Rettig is transferring. One possible destination is Boston College, where his brother, Chase, was a three-year starter from 2011-13.
Via this NOLA.com report.
It makes sense in a lot of ways. Rettig has always been behind the pack on the QB depth chart. He fell comfortably behind classmate Anthony Jennings in both spring and summer of 2013, leading to a redshirt, and when Brandon Harris arrived this spring it didn't take long for him to jump ahead of Rettig either (and he just might jump Jennings next). Rettig was recruited by Steve Kragthorpe, and by most accounts doesn't fit what Cam Cameron is looking for at quarterback. That likely played a role as well.
With senior Stephen Rivers having already transferred out, this hurts. The Tigers now have all of two scholarship quarterbacks available for this fall. Rettig might have been the decided No. 3, but you can never have enough depth. Reports on walk-ons Brandon Bergeron and Jake Clise have been relatively positive, but take that doesn't translate to making anybody expendable.
Of course, there's always Rob Bolden. Technically he's thrown more passes in actual college games than anybody else on the roster. Perhaps he'll move back to the position after switching to receiver this spring.
Honestly, its a bit of a surprise to me. Every report I've ever gotten from people close to the program was that Rettig was incredibly happy in Baton Rouge. Former players like Matt Flynn had often spoke to him on the virtue of patience, especially with the current "three-and-out" trend. Even with Jennings & Harris, there would be a enough separation for Rettig to have a chance to play beyond them. But those thoughts don't appear to be holding up. I'm told Rettig has his release, but hasn't left school yet. I don't know where he'd be eyeing but as a California native I would guess he'd head west.
This move also brings home the importance of landing a quarterback in every recruiting class -- and cements the need for LSU to find one for 2015. LSU has a few offers out, but look for that to pick up through the summer camp season.
It didn't work out for Rettig, but he was an important recruit that came to LSU at a time when the program wasn't a great sell for quarterbacks. Its a shame that it hasn't worked out, but lets wish him best of luck in future projects.