Colorado is adding a veteran to its quarterback room.
On Sunday night, former Tennessee quarterback JT Shrout announced that he will transfer to CU. He will have three seasons to play.
“Excited to announce I will be furthering my academic and athletic career at The University of Colorado! Go Buffs!” he wrote on Twitter, while attaching a graphic of himself in a CU uniform at Folsom Field.
Shrout, listed at 6-foot-3, 213 pounds, has been mostly a backup at Tennessee the past three seasons, but split time with freshman Harrison Bailey during the final three games this season. He announced his decision to transfer after the Volunteers’ finale against Texas A&M on Dec. 19; he threw for 104 yards and a touchdown in that game.
After redshirting in 2018, Shrout completed 37-of-69 passes (53.6 percent) for 494 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions during the past two seasons with the Vols. He appeared in eight games, including one start in 2019.
A three-star recruit coming out of William S. Hart Senior High School in Newhall, Calif., in 2018, Shrout had 10 scholarship offers, including from California and Colorado State.
Shrout, 21, will become the fourth scholarship quarterback for the Buffs (4-1), who are scheduled to play No. 20 Texas in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Tuesday.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, all players have been granted an extra year of eligibility, so senior starter Sam Noyer can return for a sixth season. He went 4-1 in his first season as a starter and earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors.
The Buffs are also expected to have true freshman Brendon Lewis and incoming freshman Drew Carter.
Earlier this month, junior Tyler Lytle, who had been the top backup this season, put his name in the NCAA transfer portal.
