MOBILE, Ala. — Oregon State quarterback Brennan Sim is transferring to South Alabama and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Jaguars, head coach Joey Jones announced, adding an experienced passer to a roster preparing for the program’s first season of college football.
Sim spent three years at Oregon State, redshirting during his freshman season. Jones announced the transfer on June 1.
Quarterback Competition Ahead
Jones said the starting job will go to whichever quarterback performs best once preseason camp opens.
“The most important thing is that we are going to play the best quarterback,” Jones said. “I expect there to be great competition in preseason camp.”
The coach said the staff had been looking for a quarterback with more experience to lead the team.
“We were looking for someone with a little bit more experience to come in and lead the team,” Jones said. “If Brennan can come in and do that then he will be the guy. With his experience being part of a Division I program for three years, I think Brennan will have a maturity level that would be higher than most newcomers.”
Jones also pointed to Sim’s arm and leadership. “He throws the ball very well and is a good leader,” he said. “We know from his visit here that he’s a great kid. We’re very excited about the possibility of Brennan coming in and helping us out immediately.”
South Alabama is scheduled to play its first-ever football game on Sept. 5, with home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile. Jones was hired to build the program from the ground up.
Athletic Director Search Continues
South Alabama is also still searching for a new athletic director. Joe Gottfried is scheduled to retire from the post on Aug. 1.
Those closest to the search have said little publicly about candidates. The university has roughly six weeks before Gottfried’s retirement takes effect, though it is not required to have a successor in place by that date. The timing coincides with final preparations for the inaugural football season, which begins about five weeks after Gottfried’s scheduled departure.
The Jaguars compete in the Sun Belt Conference.
