Jacolby Criswell is leaving the UNC football program to spend his final season of eligibility at East Tennessee State in the FCS.
BREAKING: North Carolina transfer QB Jacolby Criswell has signed with ETSU, @PeteNakos_ reports.
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) January 22, 2025
The Bucs signed Iowa transfer QB Cade McNamara over the weekend. https://t.co/kSYG7dYADj pic.twitter.com/sfhtvvzmHU
Criswell is the first person to transfer out of the UNC football program and then transfer back in. He left after his redshirt sophomore season when Drake Maye won the starting quarterback job. Originally from Morrilton, Arkansas, Criswell transferred to the University of Arkansas but failed to win the Razorback QB1 job.
Criswell returned to Chapel Hill and joined the football program to provide back-up depth, never expecting to be the starting quarterback for Mack Brown. But after Max Johnson broke his leg in the season opener, and Conner Harrell didn't play at a high enough level, the door opened for Criswell to finally become North Carolina's quarterback.
Criswell finished the season with 2,459 passing yards and 18 touchdowns (15 passing) against six interceptions. Hardly bad numbers, but also not elite like North Carolina has ben used to for the last five seasons.
With new coach Bill Belichick coming in and Purdue transfer Ryan Browne and five-star freshman prospect Bryce Baker already on campus, now seems as good a time as any for a fresh start. At East Tennessee State, Criswell won't be guaranteed the starting job. The Buccaneers also brought in former Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara. He didn't post eye-popping stats at Iowa, but the Hawkeyes had a bare-bones offense.
Criswell won't have anything handed to him at ETSU, but he's already used to having to compete for every opportunity he's earned. There's no doubt he'll make the most of his final season of college football eligibility.