Parker Leise transfer portal: Top 3 landing spots for Florida QB ft. FAU

Florida Gators quarterback Parker Leise will enter the transfer portal after two years, On3’s Pete Nakos reported on Monday. Leise, who joined the program as a preferred walk-on, could not see the field in his time in Gainesville and decided it was time to move on.

With freshman DJ Lagway firmly getting a hold of the starter job and a crowded quarterback room, Leise was in a tough spot. The pro-style quarterback from Prairie Village, Kansas, still has four years of eligibility left.

The Gators (7-5) are preparing to face the Tulane Green Wave (9-4) in the Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 20 after finishing the season strong. Florida won its last three games of the season, including victories over ranked opponents LSU and Ole Miss.

Here are three places where Parker Leise could land in the transfer portal.

Parker Leise transfer portal: Top 3 landing spots for Florida QB

#3, NC State Wolfpack

Freshman CJ Bailey has already confirmed he will be staying at the Wolfpack for next season. But both Bailey and backup Lex Thomas are freshmen and didn’t set the world on fire as NC State averaged 232.8 passing yards per game, 60th in the country.

Parker Leise could come in and challenge for playing time. Having spent some time at a program like Florida could also give him an edge over the more inexperienced options. There also isn’t a blue-chip prospect signing yet, giving the IMG Academy product a more direct shot at competing.

Finding a spot and playing time with the Wolfpack could take some patience, but Leise would be closer to taking the field, and any sort of injury or drop in playing level by Bailey would open the door quicker than in many other programs

#2, Purdue Boilermakers

There might not be a Power Four team in more need of players than the Boilermakers, and that includes the quarterback position. Quarterbacks Ryan Browne and Marcos Davila have entered the transfer portal, and Hudson Card’s eligibility is over, leaving the starting job open 2025.

While three-star signee Sawyer Anderson will be joining, he's not yet a polished product, and Parker Leise could take the field immediately. The situation in West Lafayette might be far from ideal, but playing for a Big Ten team would allow Leise to stick around a power conference team and take the field at once.

#1, Florida Atlantic Owls

If Parker Leise wants to resurface and find some playing time, Florida Atlantic looks like a good destination. The Owls have redshirt junior Cam Fancher on the roster. His season ended in November due to a broken clavicle, but he wasn’t having the best year before that either, with six touchdowns and six interceptions.

The Owls trotted out four different quarterbacks during the season (although Carson Cruver threw a single pass). Yet, they combined for 2,503 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Their 208.6 passing yards per game were only 89th in the nation.

Tyriq Starks and Kasen Weisman have already entered the transfer portal, so there should be an opportunity for Parker Leise to join the team this year and perhaps contribute on the field. After not playing a down at Florida, this is as good an opening as he’s going to find.