CU starting QB Sam Noyer departs from the Buffs to enter NCAA’s transfer portal
Colorado’s starting quarterback Sam Noyer informed CU football coaching staff on Monday, June 7 that he will enter the NCAA transfer portal. He is departing from the organization and this is the conclusion to his four-year career with the Buffs.
Noyer was a member of CU’s 2016 recruiting class and the following season he redshirted. The next two seasons he played backup to Steven Montez (now with the Washington Football Team) before switching to safety and special teams in 2019. In December of that year, Noyer graduated with a degree in Strategic Communications and entered the transfer portal. However, after discussions amongst CU’s new coaching staff about Noyer filling the quarterback position, he decided to stay with the team. Dorrell named Noyer as the Buffs’ new starting quarterback for the 2020 season.
“Sam came back when he didn’t have to after graduating over a year ago and helped the program greatly get back on the right track,” CU head coach Karl Dorrell said in a Buffs media release. “As a veteran, he offered us some stability and depth at the position. We all wish him well and while we’re sad to see him leave, the parting is certainly amicable.”
In the pandemic-ridden season, Noyer started all six games, propelling the team with a 4-0 start, a No. 21 national ranking and earning second-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors. In his 1,000 yards during the regular season, Noyer completed 80 of 137 passes, including six touchdowns and five interceptions. He was CU’s second leading rusher, on 45 attempts he gained 191 yards and five scores. Through his 39 true rushing attempts for 222 yards, he averaged 5.7 yards per carry. Those carries brought the Buffs to the Alamo Bowl, yet Noyer only completed 8 of 23 passes for 101 yards.
In the second game of the season against Stanford, Noyer experienced a hindering shoulder injury, but continued to play the rest of the season.
“I’ve obviously enjoyed my time here at CU, and deciding to come back here was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Noyer said. “The season was everything I thought it would be and more. But at the same time, I didn’t finish the season well, partly due to my shoulder injury. So now I’m looking forward to a new opportunity and a fresh start, a place where they need a veteran quarterback who has the added experience of playing on both sides of the ball.”
Noyer’s withdrawal from the Buffs leaves Dorrell and company with five quarterbacks on the roster, three on scholarship: sophomore J.T. Shrout and first-year students Brendon Lewis and Drew Carter. Two others are walk-ons with first-year eligibility, Grant Ciccarone and Jordan Woolverton.
Out of the five men, Lewis is the only player who has played outside of practice. His debut was against the Texas Longhorns in the 2020 bowl game. Lewis completed 6-of-10 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. He rushed nine times for 73 and put up one more score for the buffs in the 55 – 23 defeat.
As new young Buffs emerge onto the field, Noyer searches for new pastures with the hopes to make it to the National Football League.
“It’s not that I felt that I was needed at CU, I just want a new opportunity, hopefully in Division I and even in the Pac-12 if possible, knowing that I can compete at a high level in a Power 5 conference,” Noyer said in a statement. “But I am willing to go wherever I can play that will help make me better and give me an opportunity to fulfill my dream to play in the NFL.”
