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Texas A&M QB Matt Joeckel decides to transfer; competition to replace Manziel down to two

Texas A&M QB Matt Joeckel decides to transfer; competition to replace Manziel down to two

The competition to replace Johnny Manziel as Texas A&M’s starting quarterback is down to two.

Texas A&M announced Wednesday morning that senior Matt Joeckel has decided to transfer and play his final season of eligibility at another school. Joeckel, the younger brother of former A&M All-American tackle Luke Joeckel, graduated from the Mays Business School in December and will be immediately eligible at his next school.

“Matt is a great Aggie and he has decided to transfer,” A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said in a release. “We wish him all the best.”

Joeckel, who started in the 2013 season opener against Rice when Manziel was suspended, appeared in eight games in his Aggies career. He completed 27-of-48 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns.

“I have loved my four and a half years at Texas A&M,” Joeckel said. “I am glad I had the opportunity to play for Coach Sumlin, Coach (Jake) Spavital and the rest of the coaches. I am proud to have my degree from the Mays Business School and I’ll always consider myself a member of the Aggie family.”

With Joeckel out of the equation, the quarterback battle comes down to Kenny Hill and Kyle Allen.

Hill appeared in four games as a true freshman for the Aggies, completing 16-of-22 passes for 183 yards and one touchdown. He also showed his mobility with 37 rushing yards on seven attempts, but had a setback this offseason when he was arrested and charged with public intoxication on March 28 after passing out in a planter of full of rocks and plants where police found him at 3 a.m.

Hill was indefinitely suspended from the team following the incident.

Allen, an early enrollee from Scottsdale, Ariz., was the No. 7 overall recruit and the top pro-style quarterback in the class of 2014 according to Rivals.

Beyond Hill and Allen, the Aggies have walk-ons Conner McQueen and Jordan Traylor on the depth chart at quarterback.

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Sam Cooper

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