Transfer Portal: What Spots Make Sense For QB Zion Turner?

Last week, UConn quarterback Zion Turner entered the transfer portal. Turner, a Florida native who went to Fort Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas, where he totaled a 37-2 record. 

Turner chose UConn after holding plenty of power five offers. In his first season with the Huskies in 2022, he led them to a bowl game where he threw for 1,407 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Turner also had a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in 2022.

In 2023, Turner was not the Huskies' starting quarterback and opted for a redshirt year. He has three years of eligibility remaining. UConn went 3-9 this past season.

Throughout his initial recruiting process, Turner received offers from Coastal Carolina, Miami, FIU, Texas A&M, Louisville, Toledo, Kentucky, LSU, Arkansas, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville State, and Temple, in addition to UConn. 

When it comes to 2024 and beyond, most of those schools that originally offered Turner are in need of a quarterback in either the short or long term, especially on the G5 side.

Coastal Carolina lost both Grayson McCall and Jarrett Guest to the portal. Temple would need a replacement for EJ Warner, should he opt not to return. Toledo could use someone to replace the production lost from DeQuan Finn. FIU could also use someone else in the quarterback room alongside rising sophomore Keyone Jenkins. 

If Turner were to return close to home and join FIU, that brings in more competition to an already loaded up quarterback room. Just like Jenkins, Turner has three years of eligibility remaining and just like the Miami Central product, he is a dual-threat quarterback.

Turner could also fit in a two-quarterback system, which some schools have found ways to run effectively. Notably enough, Jacksonville State has been running a two-quarterback system with seventh-year senior Zion Webb and junior Logan Smothers. Webb will exhaust his eligibility with the conclusion of Jacksonville State's bowl game. 

Turner could hold out for a P5 position as well. However, a quick look around shows there's plenty of G5 landing spots that could certainly use him.