With The First Pick
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Former OSU, TCU QB Matthew Baldwin retiring from football

By Cory Kinnan

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Quarterback Matthew Baldwin #18 and wide receiver Karson Ringdahl #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs signal plays during the second half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 16, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Quarterback Matthew Baldwin #18 and wide receiver Karson Ringdahl #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs signal plays during the second half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 16, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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TCU QB Matthew Baldwin has decided to hang up his cleats

Just a year ago the TCU Horned Frogs landed a pretty high profile transfer recruit in the form of Matthew Baldwin. A Texas native, Baldwin decided to transfer closer to home from Ohio State after the news of Justin Fields’ immediate eligibility came through for the Buckeyes.

This past season, Baldwin sat out due to a knee surgery to repair a lingering injury from his high school days. That surgery took place last July, and now it is that same knee, along with his back, that have forced the Lake Travis alum to hang up his cleats for good.

A former four-star recruit from the same high school as Baker Mayfield and many others, Baldwin was a highly recruited pro-style quarterback. At 6-3 and 195 pounds, Baldwin was known for his big arm and ability to let it rip down the field.

In a text sent by Baldwin, he stated he was:

"“Very thankful to TCU for the opportunities and will be involved with the program and help as much as I can” (Baldwin via 247 Sports)."

The Matthew Baldwin timeline

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Originally committing to Colorado State University over the likes of Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, and some smaller schools, Baldwin decommitted at the end of November of 2017. While North Carolina made a last ditch effort to land the Lake Travis quarterback, it was Urban Meyer who was able to lock down Baldwin’s services.

However, just one year later and Meyer had retired as the head coach of the Buckeyes, Ryan Day took over, former Georgia five-star quarterback Justin Fields transferred and Tate Martell had transferred to the University of Miami. That is a ton of change for one program to endure in a short period of time.

It seemed as though Baldwin was waiting out to see if Fields would gain his immediate eligibility, a waiver the Heisman finalist then received; after that, it was curtains for Baldwin’s time in Columbus as well. Entering the transfer portal, Baldwin found his way to TCU.

Baldwin’s one season at TCU

Unfortunately for Baldwin, he did not receive a waiver for immediate eligibility initially, then his appeal went through. It was too bad his knee surgery held him out as he would have, with little doubt, taken over as the starter, throwing to first round receiver Jalen Reagor. Given the struggles of freshman quarterback Max Duggan, the Horned Frogs would have loved to have had another option under center.

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Now, TCU’s search for a long term quarterback must continue if they do not see the appropriate development from Duggan in 2020. A chaotic recruitment process and no career snaps of live college football, Matthew Baldwin makes the hard (but likely smart) decision to step away from the sport of football.

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