Former Palmetto quarterback Jack Allison narrows transfer options after departing Miami

Jack Allison is nearing a decision for his next college destination, and a decision should come by the end of next week, the former Palmetto quarterback’s father said Tuesday. Sean Allison said his son, who was an Under Armour All-American in 2016 before redshirting this past fall at Miami, will decide between West Virginia or Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, a junior college program in Perkinston, Miss.

Allison’s decision could come as early as June 7 and shouldn’t come any later than June 10, his father said.

Allison was a four-star prospect coming out of high school, according to 247sports.com’s composite rankings, and chose Miami over Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, Baylor, Florida, Florida State, South Florida and Central Florida. He remained firm with his commitment to the Hurricanes even after Al Golden was fired as head coach, but a change in the direction of Miami’s offense under new head coach Mark Richt left Allison searching for more opportunities elsewhere. Now he has wildly diverging options.

With the Mountaineers, Allison would follow a relatively standard transfer’s path. He would have to sit out the 2017 season before competing to play as a redshirt sophomore — and academic junior — in 2018. WVU will have a first-year starting quarterback this coming fall after Skyler Howard, who started all 13 games for West Virginia in 2016, graduated.

At Mississippi Gulf Coast, Allison would have a chance to play and regroup before transferring back to the Division I level.

“It would open up more options,” Sean Allison said.

Allison would only have to spend one semester in Mississippi before getting back on a D-I campus for the following spring. He was an early enrollee in Coral Gables, meaning he has three full college semesters under his belt, plus time in the summer.

“He’ll be able to graduate after one semester,” Sean Allison said.

MGCCC does have a tradition of serving as a stopgap for players before catching on at the D-I level. Notable alumni include former Ravens defensive tackle Terrence Cody, NFL running back Vick Ballard, 49ers safety Don Jones and former Texas A&M safety Justin Evans, who was the 50th overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft by the Buccaneers.

This story was originally published May 30, 2017 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Former Palmetto quarterback Jack Allison narrows transfer options after departing Miami."