Arizona has added a commitment from USF transfer quarterback Jordan McCloud today. The redshirt sophomore is now the Wildcats' most experienced quarterback on the roster as he has made 16 starts in his career including seven starts during the 2020 season. He passed for 1,341 yards and nine touchdowns last season with his best game coming in the final game of the season as he threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns against UCF. This move comes as a bit of a surprise considering the word has been that UA had been looking for someone older to add to the mix that would allow for the program to have an extra scholarship for 2022. However, McCloud will have three more seasons to play with the Wildcats.
The Florida native is the younger brother of Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Ray-Ray McCloud, and he picked the Bulls over offers from Oregon, Maryland, Iowa State and Boston College among others. Interestingly enough, Arizona was one of the programs interested in him out of high school when Rich Rodriguez was still the head coach. He is someone who can run the ball as well as pass it with over 350 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground in his career.
The process came together quickly with McCloud and he decided to make things official today. He entered the NCAA transfer portal back in December after a bit of an inconsistent season.
He thew for 1,429 yards with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2019 during his first season as a starter when he took over the job from Blake Barnett. He cleaned up the interceptions in 2020 as he had just two picks as a sophomore.
The addition of McCloud gives new head coach Jedd Fisch some options at the position as he is certainly more similar to someone like Will Plummer with his ability to run the ball and his size at just 6-feet tall. It also will make the quarterback competition more interesting considering he is entering the race as the most accomplished college player of the bunch.
Here's what Rivals.com national recruiting director Mike Farrell had to say about the new UA quarterback earlier in the winter.
"He’s shown dual threat ability at the Group of Five level so you’d think that’s where he’d land but it all depends on room. At worst he’s a starter at the FCS level but I see bigger things than that for him."
