Ex-Arizona St., Notre Dame QB Drew Pyne to transfer to Missouri

In a phone interview with ESPN on Sunday, former quarterback Drew Pyne, of Arizona State and Notre Dame, announced his transfer to Missouri.

Pyne stated that he promised to travel to Columbia this weekend, the only location he had ever been. After the spring semester, he plans to enroll and anticipates having three years left of eligibility.

Arriving as an ESPN 300 prospect, he went 8-2 as a starter at Notre Dame to open his career. In addition to studying as a regular student and working out five days a week with a trainer, he returned to Notre Dame this semester to receive his degree.

Pyne said the time away from a program gave him the opportunity to look for the “right situation,” which he said he found at Missouri.

He told ESPN, “Missouri stood out from the beginning.” “The program is gaining significant traction as one of the best in the SEC and the nation. Having visited the school and spoken with the coaches, I can see why they had such a successful season the previous year.

“They are going to be a major player in college football, in my opinion. In any way I can, I hope to help with it.”

In 2024, Pyne’s most likely role will be to support multiyear Missouri starter Brady Cook. Cook was described by Pyne as a “good buddy” who he had met at Manning Passing Academy. After that, he anticipates having two more years of eligibility and will compete for the first position.

Pyne is one of the most productive backup quarterbacks in the SEC going into the 2024 campaign. With 11 starts, he has passed for 2,530 yards in his career. He had a 4-1 record versus AP Top 25 opponents while attending Notre Dame. In 2022, he completed 64.6% of his throws and scored 22 touchdowns with six interceptions.

Injuries marred his only season at Arizona State in 2023, as he played in just two games, including a lone start against USC, and completed 49 passes. He had emerged in camp as the favorite to start, but his season quickly got derailed by injuries and didn’t play again after throwing for two touchdowns against the Trojans on Sept. 23.

After the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal and made the unusual, academic-based decision to return to Notre Dame to finish his degree in American studies, with a minor in business economics.

He called the semester back at Notre Dame “a good little recharge.”