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Per a report from popular podcast, Pardon My Take, former Western Michigan quarterback Tom Flacco is transferring to Rutgers.
SOURCES: Tom Flacco, younger brother of Elite(?) NFL QB Joe Flacco is transferring to Rutgers University. MUST CREDIT @PardonMyTake pic.twitter.com/lz1krn7T3w
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) July 27, 2017
The report was later confirmed by Rutgers beat writer Sam Hellman of Scout.
Sources confirm, former Eastern star QB Tom Flacco transferring to Rutgers. @PardonMyTake 1st https://t.co/xanug6xBWW
— Sam Hellman (@SamHellmanScout) July 27, 2017
His name may be familiar to you for a couple of reasons. First, he is the younger brother of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. Second, Tom was a star at Eastern high school in Voorhees, New Jersey. The 6’0” signal caller will sit out this season per transfer rules and will then have two seasons of eligibility remaining after that.
Flacco was a reserve for two seasons at MAC power Western Michigan for former Rutgers assistant and now Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck. He announced his departure from the Broncos program last week. Flacco also played under former Rutgers offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, who was in the same role under Fleck at Western Michigan. Ciarrocca followed Fleck to Minnesota, so Flacco would have played under an entirely new staff.
During his freshman season, he completed 10 of 12 passes for 188 yards and 1 touchdown. While he attempted just one pass in 2016, Flacco was utilized for his mobility in special packages and rushed for 266 yards on 28 carries for a 9.5 yard per rush average. He did run for 2 touchdowns as well. His versatility is a good fit for the new look offense under Rutgers OC Jerry Kill.
Adding depth at the most important position on the football field is something that Rutgers has struggled with over the years. Despite head coach Chris Ash’s defensive background, he has made a point to focus on adding talent and options to the quarterback room. While Louisville grad transfer Kyle Bolin will battle incumbent starter Gio Rescigno and incoming freshman Johnathan Lewis for the keys to the offense for the 2017 season, adding Flacco gives the program another competitor for the starting job in 2018.
Welcome to the banks, Tom Flacco!
Update: NJ Advance Media’s Ryan Dunleavy confirmed Flacco will walk-on at Rutgers, but still has to sit out the 2017 season with two more years of eligibility remaining. For more details on that, click here.