Cam Ransom, once Georgia Southern's QB of the future, announces entry in transfer portal

The great potential for cannon-armed quarterback Cam Ransom will not be realized — at least not at Georgia Southern.

Ransom, who threw for a touchdown on his first collegiate pass as a true freshman last season, announced Tuesday on his Twitter account that he is entering the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder from Armwood High School in Florida was viewed as the Eagles' quarterback of the future while paying his dues in his first season in 2021.

However, new head coach Clay Helton and offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis brought a new offense to Statesboro, and recruited sixth-year graduate transfer Kyle Vantrease as a veteran to run that offense this fall.

Ransom appeared this spring to fall on the depth chart somewhere behind Vantrease and perhaps redshirt-sophomore Connor Cigelske. The 2022 recruiting class included early enrollees Zak Rozsman and David Dallas (out with an injured shoulder).

Spring game: Georgia Southern football team's new offense is more up in the air, and that's on purpose

Previously: Who is Georgia Southern's starting QB, and other issues in Clay Helton's first spring

Ransom was 4-of-6 passing for 44 yards, including a long of 22 yards — as one of five quarterbacks playing in the annual Blue vs. White Spring Game last Saturday at Paulson Stadium. Vantrease played in the first half and was 16 of 25 for 217 yards and one TD.

With Vantrease looking, in April anyway, as the starter and Cigeske (8 of 16, 44 yards) as the next man up, Helton was asked after the game about the quarterback battle.

"We're not going to announce a two-deep (roster) until that Friday before the game," Helton said of the season opener Sept. 3 against Morgan State. "I think Connor has really progressed in this camp. I thought he really deserved to go out there today early. He's been very productive."

Helton, who has praised Ransom for a strong work ethic, lauded all five quarterbacks for their decision making as the offense and defense played in an unusual format for the spring game.

"Connor has had a tremendous camp, but there are 25 more (fall practices) to go," Helton said. "We've got to be able to evaluate off of those 25 and put the best kids in the moment out there first, second, third when we line up in that first game in September."

Last season, Ransom played in nine games, starting two, and was 38 of 83 (47%) for 494 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

He came off the bench in the season opener, a 30-25 victory over Gardner-Webb. His second play was a fourth down from the Gardner-Webb 17, and the left-hander rolled left and hit tight end Chase Hancock for a TD on his first pass.

Preview: Quarterback battle, new offense on display for Georgia Southern spring football game

Ransom, alternating with starter Amare Jones (a converted running back/receiver), completed his first six passes that afternoon and finished 8 of 13 for 90 yards and the score.

His season totals included 38 carries for 113 yards in Georgia Southern's run-heavy version of an option offense. He was injured in his first start in Game 2 at Florida Atlantic, and returned, only to miss the final two games of the 2021 campaign due to injury.

He had signed to play for then-head coach Chad Lunsford without having visited the campus because of restrictions due to COVID-19.

Ransom returned this spring to a crowded quarterback room, though it already was without Justin Tomlin, a seven-game starter last fall who did not participate in camp and entered the transfer portal on April 15.

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"First off I would like to thank my teammates that I have met along this journey as an Eagle. Y'all are forever my brothers," Ransom said in a tweet posted on his account Tuesday. "I want to thank all the coaches that were a part of my career at Georgia Southern from HEAD COACH to the assistants. It's nothing but love shown to me and my family. Also giving me the opportunity to play for this amazing program.

"Last but not least, I would like to thank The fans and the supporters that showed nothing but love through it all. Forever love for Eagle Nation. With that being said, I WILL ENTER THE TRANSFER PORTAL with 3 years of eligibility left. Hail Southern."

More Eagles in the transfer portal

Tuesday was a busy day for Georgia Southern players in the transfer portal, which is expected to see a high volume of movement nationally with players having until May 1 to enter this academic year. Those in the portal can transfer after that date. The portal will shut down until reopening on Aug. 1 for the 2022-23 academic year.

Under the current rule, players can transfer once to a program at the same level in the NCAA without having to sit out a year, as was the previous rule.

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Also entering the portal from GS are rising sophomore linebacker Michael Edwards III, who played in 11 games and made 27 solo tackles and 32 assisted tackles for 59 total (third on the team); junior tight end Sean Pelkisson; redshirt-freshmen cornerback Josh Trice and defensive lineman Nick Mercer, who each played in two games and were able to redshirt; and redshirt-sophomore wide receiver Jordan Bennett, who did not see game action the past two seasons.

On Wednesday, redshirt-sophomore safety Chalon Howard, who did not see game action the past two seasons, entered the portal.

Freshman safety Montae Maxwell, who played in three games last season and was able to redshirt, entered the portal on April 19.

Freshman Eldrick Robinson II, the second-leading tackler last season with 75 in 11 games, entered the transfer portal Feb. 25.

Nathan Dominitz is the Sports Content Editor of the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com. Email him at ndominitz@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @NathanDominitz

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia Southern Eagles quarterback Cam Ransom freshman transfers