Colorado Buffaloes QB Sam Noyer enters the transfer portal

Colorado Buffaloes QB Sam Noyer has entered the transfer portal, per reporting by Brian Howell of Buffzone.

Noyer was the starting QB for the Buffs during the 2020 season. As a fifth-year senior, the kid from Beaverton, Oregon led the team to a 4-0 start to the season, before losing to Utah in the finale and Texas in the Alamo Bowl. He was named All-Pac-12 and led the Buffs to their second bowl game since 2007.

When healthy, Noyer was a dual threat stud, with the toughness to run through defenders and the accuracy to pick apart secondaries over the middle of the field. The issue, though, was that his health lasted for about three quarters of football, before a shoulder injury against UCLA affected him the rest of the season. He was still effective, mostly as a fullback-style QB, but clearly was not his best.

Noyer’s story makes him a Forever Buff, regardless of what happens next. He was a long-time backup to Steven Montez, always challenging him in practice and building more fan support with every Montez interception. Entering his junior year, Mel Tucker’s staff converted him to play safety, partly because they didn’t think he was good enough to play QB, and partly because they were desperate for secondary depth.

Noyer entered the transfer portal after his junior season, but Karl Dorrell and staff convinced to return and compete for the starting QB job. He impressed with his toughness and leadership, ultimately winning the competition in Fall Camp. It’s not often you see a QB-turned-safety-turned-QB, but it all made total sense watching Noyer play with an almost reckless tenacity.

Back again in the transfer portal, the super-senior will have plenty of suitors for an experienced QB with his reputation of character. Whether that’s at a Power Five school, or somewhere else entirely, we will know before long.

For the 2021 Buffaloes, this signals that Dorrell has already decided on starting either Brendon Lewis or JT Shrout. Not only is this a transition year in which building experience is tantamount, but both underclassmen surpassed Noyer during Spring Camp. That’s not Noyer’s fault, because he was still recovering from the injuries he sustained in 2020, but the Buffs have a brighter future with someone else under center.

We wish all the luck (and health) to Sam Noyer. He’s a Forever Buff, cult hero to remembered fondly, and an absolute badass wherever he ends up.