Georgia football’s pursuit of a quarterback in the transfer portal has hit a snag as they’ve missed out on two key targets. Despite active recruiting, the Bulldogs were unable to land either Deshawn Purdie or Fernando Mendoza, two quarterbacks they had their sights set on for the upcoming season.
Purdie, a transfer from Charlotte, committed to Florida just days ago. While losing out on Purdie stings, it may not be a major blow for Georgia. Purdie struggled with a completion rate of only 50% this season at Charlotte, and many Georgia fans weren’t overly excited about his potential fit in the SEC. So, while it’s a loss, it doesn’t significantly impact the Bulldogs’ quarterback plans.
The bigger blow came with the commitment of Fernando Mendoza, the highly-rated Cal transfer who chose Indiana over Georgia. Mendoza, ranked as the No. 2 quarterback in the transfer portal by On3, had an impressive season with 3,004 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. Many were hoping Mendoza would bolster Georgia’s quarterback room, but his decision to join Indiana is a tougher pill to swallow.
However, this setback might not be as dire as it seems. Georgia has several strong quarterback options already on the roster, with the possibility of Carson Beck returning for another season. This makes adding a quarterback through the portal more of a want than a need for the Bulldogs.
While Georgia misses out on these two quarterbacks, their focus may shift to adding more talent at wide receiver, a position where they have been more active in recruiting. With a solid foundation at quarterback, the Bulldogs can look ahead to building a stronger offensive arsenal for next season.
