Tom Savage was a starter at Rutgers for most of his freshman season.
Photo by Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE
Former Rutgers starting quarterback Tom Savage will begin his official recruiting visit to Arizona on Tuesday.
This will be his first recruiting trip since deciding to transfer after last season.
“I have always wanted to go out there and take a look,” Savage said Monday. “I really want to find a home and I’m just looking forward to getting out of this cold.”
Savage, from Springfield, Pa., outside of Philadelphia, said he does not have any other visits set.
“There is definitely a reason why I’ve visiting them first,” Savage said of Arizona, “but I’m going to take one visit at a time. I’m just going to worry about this visit.”
Savage declined to mention any other schools in which he might have interest in visiting.
Savage would have to sit out the 2011 season as a transfer and would have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Some of the initial attraction of transferring to Arizona was that the Wildcats have three senior quarterbacks in 2011 and would be without any experience at the position in 2012.
Recently, coach Mike Stoops has talked about trying to redshirt backup Matt Scott this season in order to have him available for 2012. But, as quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo told us last week, Scott has to prepare in the offseason as if he’s going to play, and an injury to returning starter Nick Foles could scuttle redshirt plans for Scott.
Either way, Savage said a potential redshirt for Scott “really doesn’t affect anything,” in terms of how he feels about Arizona.
“It’s a team sport and you have to do whatever is best for the team,” Savage said.
“I know there is going to be competition wherever I go. … I just want to make sure I look at the school, see if I’m comfortable there, and make a decision off that.”
Savage had been one of two high-profile quarterbacks on the transfer market, but former Michigan starter Tate Forcier announced last week he will attend Miami.
Savage (6-5, 226) was a Freshman All-American in 2009, becoming a starter in the second game and being voted the team’s Offensive MVP for the season. He completed 149 of 289 passes for 2,211 yards, with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
He was ineffective early in the 2010 season, suffered a hand injury and then didn’t play much the rest of the way. As a sophomore, he was 43 of 83 for 521 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions.