Ex-Ariz. St., ND QB Pyne to transfer to Missouri

Drew Pyne throws 37-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Thomas (0:35)

Pete Thamel, ESPNMar 10, 2024, 01:59 PM ET

Former Arizona State and Notre Dame quarterback Drew Pyne is transferring to Missouri, he told ESPN in a phone interview Sunday.

Pyne said he committed on a trip this weekend to Columbia, the only place he has visited. He will enroll after the spring semester and expects to have three years of eligibility remaining.

He began his career at Notre Dame, where he went 8-2 as a starter after arriving as an ESPN 300 recruit. He returned to Notre Dame this semester to graduate with a degree from the school, and is spending the term as a regular student while also working out five days a week with a trainer.

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.

“From the beginning, Missouri stood out,” he told ESPN. “The program has great momentum as one of the best in the SEC and to be one of the best in the country. Being on campus and talking to the coaches, I understand why they had such a great season last year.

“I believe strongly that they are going to be a big-time player in college football. I’m hoping to contribute to that however I can.”

The likely scenario for Pyne will be to back up multiyear Missouri starter Brady Cook in 2024. Pyne called Cook a “good buddy” whom he’d met at the Manning Passing Academy. From there, he expects to have two years of eligibility remaining and will contend for the starting job.

Pyne will enter the 2024 season as one of the SEC’s most productive backup quarterbacks. He has thrown for 2,530 career yards, with 11 starts. While at Notre Dame, he went 4-1 against AP Top 25 teams. In 2022, he threw for 22 touchdowns with six interceptions while completing 64.6% of his passes.

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.”

“I’ve been able to find my real motivation, I have a real itch to play again,” Pyne said. “After going and seeing Missouri, I can’t wait to play again and throw on a helmet.”

Missouri went 11-2 last season, including a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State. Along with Cook, one of the SEC’s most established quarterbacks, the Tigers have the country’s top wide receiver in Luther Burden III.

Missouri is expected to start the 2024 season ranked in the top 20. But one of the team’s needs was an experienced backup behind Cook, as sophomore quarterback Sam Horn is expected to miss the 2024 football season after Tommy John surgery.

Pyne said he clicked instantly with Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz and offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, and said that after meeting them for dinner at Shiloh Bar & Grill on the night of his first visit he was ready to commit. That was before even seeing the football facility or getting a full look at campus.

“Being in a room with Coach Moore is going to be incredible,” Pyne said. “His offense all makes sense. I think it’s very similar to the offense that I played in at Notre Dame. I thought it was a perfect fit.

“I’m really excited because the plays are somewhat similar to Notre Dame, and the way Coach Moore teaches it is simple for the quarterback to know what the reads are on every play.”

Pyne said he plans to graduate from Notre Dame this spring and enroll at Missouri in late May.