Around college football

ESPN reports Nebraska backup quarterback Cody Green is transferring.   Lost the competition for the starting job to Taylor Martinez, then lost reps as the backup to Zac Lee.

It's tough for a program, particularly a spread offense program, to lose quality backups to transfer.  Quarterback depth is critical, and when players who are a couple of snaps away from starting opt out, it demoralizes a team.  Now the Huskers are a couple of snaps away from the every-down Wildcat formation, having the backup tailback or a converted wide receiver running the offense.  It's a bad situation to be in.

It's understandable that Green wants a shot to show what he can do as a starter, but it puts his teammates in a squeeze.  They're trying to compete for a Big Ten title, and he's giving them a handicap going in.  Duck fans will remember two years ago when Cody Kempt and Justin Roper transferred out, and by midseason Chip Kelly was down to one healthy scholarship quarterback and a freshman redshirt.  Even last year the Ducks were short-handed at qb.  Defections ripple through a program, and can ruin seasons.

Up in Seattle, Husky fans are excited about the arrival of touted receiver recruit Kasen Williams, a former Duck target in the recruiting derby that was a Husky lean from the beginning.  Williams just broke the Washington prep state record in the triple jump, and also won the long jump at the 4A state meet, displaying athleticism and versatility to rival Oregon recruit Oshay Dunmore, who won't arrive on campus until 2012.  Williams could contribute as a true freshman this fall for the Dawgs, and looks to be a good one.  Too bad the Ducks missed out on him, but they did land four good ones of their own.