Stanford QB K.J. Costello to enter transfer portal
K.J. Costello will not enter the 2020 NFL Draft and is instead set to leave Stanford as a graduate transfer, giving him the chance to rebuild his stock.
K.J. Costello is reportedly to enter the transfer portal, eschewing the NFL for another year after a 2019 season decimated by injuries.
The Stanford quarterback entered his senior season as a potential riser in the 2020 class after a 2018 campaign that saw him named second-team All-Pac 12 after he threw for 3,540 yards and 29 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
However, injuries limited him to just five games in 2019 as the Cardinal endured a dreadful season, finishing the year 4-8.
Costello threw for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions. However, in an impressive quarterback class likely to have reasonable depth, declaring for the draft on the back of a campaign that will surely have raised questions about his durability was never a wise idea.
Instead, according to Matt Zenitz of AL.com, Costello will enter the transfer portal and aim to rebuild his stock with a strong year akin to his 2018 season.
It is an astute move. Though Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields will unquestionably be the cream of the 2021 crop, playing another year in college will offer Costello the chance to secure his place at the top of the next tier of quarterbacks.
With his 2018 exploits still relatively fresh in the memory, Costello is likely to draw plenty of interest from teams looking to harness the upside he demonstrated as a junior.
Should he land with a program that can make the most of his obvious potential and stay injury-free, then Costello will command the attention of plenty of NFL teams in 2021 as a prototypical pro-style passer.
Next. 2020 NFL Draft: D’Andre Swift denies he’s declaring. dark
It has been a frustrating year for Costello that has led him to delay his jump to the NFL. However, should he return to his 2018 vintage, then the decision to wait one more year will be vindicated.