So if former Florida State and Nebraska quarterback redshirt sophomore Chubba Purdy – yes, 49ers’ quarterback Brock’s younger brother – is transferring to San Jose State, then what does that mean for SJSU redshirt sophomore quarterback Jay Butterfield?
Could this be the end of Butterfield’s time at SJSU after transferring from Oregon in 2023?
Both SJSU quarterbacks have two years of college eligibility remaining. Butterfield may decide to hit the portal now to sneak a spot on another roster and save a year of eligibility. Or he could take on Purdy in a bonafide quarterback battle in spring and fall training camp.
Committed! @SanJoseStateFB pic.twitter.com/ai1ok6ugwk
— Chubba Purdy (@chubbapurdy) January 14, 2024
Upon transferring in 2023 from Oregon, the tentative plan for Butterfield was to back-up then SJSU quarterback Chevan Cordeiro in 2023 and take over in 2024.
And throughout that 2023 season, Butterfield appeared to do what was asked of him. He was dogged in practice, supportive of Cordeiro and was a pillar of SJSU’s quarterback room. After the Spartans fell in the 2023 Hawaii Bowl, Cordeiro said, “The two years that I’ve been here I never thought that the best part would be the film room just joking around.”
In a limited amount of reps, Butterfield impressed in 2023. He finished 7-for-11 with 80 passing yards and threw a touchdown in the waning moments of a blowout loss to Oregon State.
So what motivated SJSU to deviate from that original plan for Butterfield?Did they feel Purdy’s shiftiness and experience offers it a better chance at continuing the rebuild?
Because if one thing’s for sure, Purdy didn’t transfer to SJSU to back up Butterfield for two years. Or solely for the proximity to Brock.
A former four-star from Gilbert, Ariz., Purdy boasted offers from Cal, TCU and North Texas after entering the portal on Dec. 21.
In Purdy’s two-year career at Florida State he totaled 317 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, 147 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. Then, in two years at Nebraska, he threw for 529 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions while also rushing for 353 yards and three scores. He was 0-4 as a starter.
Look at Brock Purdy’s younger brother Chubba Purdy turn on the burners 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/GbNYExCQjR
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) November 19, 2023
Although not remarkable, did SJSU feel Purdy’s Power 5 experience offers it a better chance at continuing the rebuild than relying upon Butterfield, who has thrown 15 passes in his career?
What makes the Butterfield angle so fascinating is that SJSU was his first offer in high school. But the Spartans quickly fell by the wayside as Butterfield piled up offers from several schools of the formerly known PAC-12. Few could blame Butterfield for not committing to SJSU in 2019 after the Spartans won a combined three total games in its previous two seasons.
But now, several years later, it may be SJSU who has found a better option.
Let the quarterback battle begin.
