Tulane football just added BYU transfer Jake Retzlaff, making him the *fifth* quarterback they’ve signed this transfer window. Yes, five.
Kadin Semonza. Donovan Leary. Brendan Sullivan. T.J. Finley (suspended). Now Retzlaff. At what point does this stop being roster building and start looking like panic?
This isn’t how winning programs manage the portal, but it’s how Tulane’s GM, Cole Heard has chosen to move.
Tulane Keeps On Signing Quarterbacks In The Transfer Portal
Here’s a quick rundown of who they’ve brought in:
- Kadin Semonza – Ball State starter. Decent arm. Good upside. He should’ve been the developmental guy to groom.
- Donovan Leary – Illinois backup. No real tape. Filler at best.
- Brendan Sullivan – Northwestern/Iowa journeyman. Big Ten experience, but doesn’t move the needle.
- T.J. Finley – Suspended for allegedly driving a stolen vehicle. Now back in the portal. Complete waste of time.
- Jake Retzlaff – BYU starter. Has tools. Enrolling as a walk-on.
What Is GM Cole Heard Doing?
This is where you have to ask some real questions. Cole Heard is Tulane’s general manager. He was brought in to handle roster strategy. What exactly is the plan here?
- Are they just collecting bodies?
- Is there any evaluation happening?
- Why chase Retzlaff after already taking Sullivan and Semonza?
This feels like a fantasy football manager chasing waiver wire QBs after a bad week, not a coordinated staff with a strategy.
How Does a Five-QB Transfer Class Affect Team Chemistry?
In college football, a revolving door at quarterback affects every level of team development. Wide receivers don’t know who’s throwing to them. Offensive linemen can’t build rhythm. Coaches are splitting reps.
That makes for a messy fall camp. Even if Retzlaff was brought in to be the starter, this kind of turnover tends to erode trust.
Is There a Plan at Quarterback for Tulane Football?
If there’s a long-term vision here, it’s not clear.
Each of the five QBs signed brings different traits, but the collective doesn’t add up to a coherent strategy. Semonza is a developmental play. Sullivan is a stopgap. Leary is insurance. Retzlaff is the late-arriving wildcard. Finley didn’t even make it to the field.
A well-run program picks a direction and commits to it. Tulane is throwing darts, but at least they’ll have plenty in the tank if they get some injuries at the position!
What Does This Say About Tulane’s GM Strategy?
GM Cole Heard’s job is to identify needs, manage roster flow, and work with the coaching staff to build depth. But right now, it looks like quantity over quality.
When you sign five quarterbacks in a single offseason, it’s poor decision-making at the most important position in the sport.
Will Tulane Name a Starting QB Before the Season?
Eventually, yes, but that might not fix anything.
Whoever wins the job will have done so after a crowded, fragmented offseason. That makes cohesion harder to build. You can’t simulate live reps with so many QBs rotating.
More importantly, the guys who don’t win the job? Some of them will leave. Retzlaff only has one year of eligibility left, so he will definitely be gone. Tulane might have to start the whole process over again next spring.
Tulane’s QB Moves Look Like Bad Management
Tulane isn’t the only school trying to upgrade at quarterback. But no one else at the FBS level signed five transfers in one window to compete for the same role. It looks chaotic because it is.
And at some point, someone in that building, whether it’s Jon Sumrall or Cole Heard will need to own that. Because this isn’t forward thinking. It’s a mess.
