Ex-Pitt QB Chad Voytik says he's transferring to Arkansas State
Former Pittsburgh quarterback Chad Voytik won’t transfer to Eastern Kentucky, after all.
After announcing his intent to transfer to EKU last month, Voytik has had a change of heart and told the Cleveland (Tenn.) Daily Banner that he will instead play his final season of college football at Arkansas State. Voytik made the decision after taking an official visit to campus on Saturday.
“I’m completely decided and 100 percent going there,” Voytik told the Daily Banner, his hometown paper. “The whole staff was extremely welcoming, and while every staff is like that when you’re on an official visit, there was something different about this staff that really drew me in and made me want to play for them.”
Voytik recently graduated from Pitt and will be eligible immediately for the Red Wolves. He started every game for the Panthers in 2014, but was beaten out by Tennessee transfer Nathan Peterman for the Panthers’ starting gig two games into the 2015 campaign. He made the decision to transfer in January.
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Voytik threw for 2,233 yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing for 466 yards and three scores in 2014. In 2015, Voytik completed 16-of-24 passes for 112 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also had 37 yards and a score rushing. He did not play in the team’s final seven games.
At Arkansas State, Voytik will have a solid chance to step in as the team’s starter. The Red Wolves lost last year’s starter, Fredi Knighten, to graduation while backups James Tabary (dismissed by coach Blake Anderson) and Cameron Birse (transfer) are both no longer with the program.
Voytik will likely compete to start with Justice Hansen, a junior college transfer who began his career at Oklahoma. The Red Wolves also have quarterbacks redshirt freshman D.J. Pearson and true freshman Logan Bonner on scholarship.
Voytik said he is looking forward to learning the Red Wolves’ system and getting acclimated to life in Jonesboro.
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“Jonesboro is a college town, which is something that I haven’t really experienced in the past four years,” he said. “There’s a stadium right on campus that holds 30 thousand and sells out for their games. It just seems like an experience that I want to have for my (final) year.
“It’s a great opportunity for me. They just had some quarterbacks leave recently and are surrounded by some athletes that are the top in the nation as far as their abilities. I’m being surrounded by a great defense, great supporting cast, great coaches and a great town, so I’m happy about all the pieces. They’re a no-huddle, spread offense that utilizes the quarterback’s legs and arm. I’m excited about how dynamic the offense is.”
Voytik said he will arrive on campus on June 1, when summer classes begin.
Arkansas State went a perfect 8-0 in conference play in 2015 to win the Sun Belt. Overall, the Red Wolves finished 9-4 and lost to Louisiana Tech in the New Orleans Bowl.
For more Arkansas State news, visit RedwolfReport.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
