The Big Ten wanted no part of Missouri in its latest expansion push. But would the league be interested in a Mizzou quarterback?
Missouri announced Monday that quarterback Tyler Gabbert will be transferring from the school. While things seemed to work out well for Gabbert's big brother, Blaine, Tyler will be pursuing his career elsewhere.
Gabbert's father tells the Sporting News that several teams, including Iowa and Northwestern, already have been in touch about a potential transfer. Tyler Gabbert had the Hawkeyes along with Nebraska, Oregon and Wake Forest in his final pool of teams before choosing Missouri.
While both Iowa and Northwestern are in the mix for Gabbert's services, Nebraska reportedly is an unlikely destination for the quarterback.
Certain news reports already have identified Nebraska as a front-runner for Gabbert’s services. Tyler -- just as his brother Blaine had -- verbally committed to the Huskers as a high schooler before changing his destination to Columbia, Mo. Any talk of Gabbert, who was a redshirt freshman last season, zig-zagging back to Lincoln, Neb., is premature at best.
Northwestern and Iowa run very different offenses and Northwestern's system is a lot closer to what Missouri employs with its spread scheme. Gabbert would need to be committed to a pro-style system if he comes to Iowa City, but he obviously had some interest in the Hawkeyes the first time around.
The Wildcats will have a vacancy at quarterback after the 2011 season -- Gabbert won't be eligible until 2012 -- while Iowa's projected starter James Vandenberg is entering his junior year this fall.