JT Shrout enjoys opportunity with CU Buffs football

Take a look at this post by Brian Howell from The Denver Post talking about several important news items this week. Brian Howell recently published the article and I decided it was worth syndicating on this website.

Although it was expected, JT Shrout breathed a sigh of relief and celebrated a bit last week when the NCAA Division I Council voted to allow players to transfer schools one time without sitting out a season.

After three seasons at Tennessee, Shrout enrolled at Colorado in January and is now in the midst of spring practices as he competes for the starting job at quarterback.

BOULDER, CO – April 16, 2021: Colorado Buffaloes quarterback JT Shrout during spring football practice. (University of Colorado Athletics)

“I was actually super pleased to hear the news that they’re going to pass (the transfer rule),” Shrout said. “At Tennessee when I was transferring, the compliance officers told me that should be passed and I’d be good to go. Just hearing the news that it’s gonna get passed and I’ll be good to play this season, super happy and excited to be able to compete with my boys here.”

A 6-foot-3, 215-pound sophomore, Shrout has three seasons of eligibility remaining and is angling to make the most of those seasons.

CU’s 2020 starter, Sam Noyer, is returning but is not participating in spring practices after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. This spring, it has been Shrout and returning freshman Brendon Lewis splitting reps with the first-team offense.

During the Buffs’ second scrimmage of the spring on Friday, Shrout shook off an early interception to throw two touchdown passes.

“He is quickly digesting our information,” CU head coach Karl Dorrell said. “For a guy that hasn’t been here with us in the fall and he came in January and getting roots reestablished here, I think he’s put in the time to really digest our information very well. You can tell that his comfort level is really starting to get noticed because he’s being more accurate, he’s being efficient with the football, he’s taking advantage of the things that he sees. I’m very pleased with where JT is.”

Shrout, who grew up in Santa Clarita, Calif., might be new to Colorado, but he’s certainly up to date on the history of the quarterback position in this state, as it’s no mistake that he’s wearing the No. 7 that John Elway made famous with the Denver Broncos.

“I wore 12 at Tennessee, so that was my number, but B-Lew’s got that and that’s all him,” Shrout said, referring to Lewis. “My dad actually mentioned that we’re in Denver Broncos country and he’s like, ‘Hey, Elway wore 7, so you should wear 7’ and that was one of the numbers they had.”

KNOXVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 05, 2020 – Quarterback J.T. Shrout, left, Tennessee Volunteers during the game against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Shrout has transferred to Colorado.

Shrout isn’t focused on trying to be Elway, though. He just wants an opportunity, and that’s why he left Tennessee last winter.

“I felt like it was a good opportunity to come in and play right away,” he said. “That kind of was the biggest factor for me. But yeah, I’m just happy that I’m here now, and getting to compete and build relationships with all these great coaches and all my teammates.”

The opportunity was one factor in his choice to come to CU, but he also built a good relationship with Dorrell, offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini and quarterbacks coach Danny Langsdorf.

In Shrout, the Buffs add a talented quarterback with some experience. With the Volunteers, Shrout played in eight games, with one start, completing 37-of-69 passes for 494 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.

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“Obviously it was super fun, just getting to play,” he said. “Out there, you’re playing in a good conference, playing with some of the best teams in the country and it’s just always good experience to have under your belt.

“I think just the game experience is something you can’t really teach, you can’t really get in practice. You can get something similar but it’s not the same, so having those few games that I got to play in was really awesome and it is going to be something that’s going to really help me in the future, I think.”

Shrout admitted he’s still getting used to dealing with snow, but he’s enjoying his teammates and the competition in the quarterback room.

“I love the school, love the atmosphere out here,” he said. “I’ve been getting to go hang out with guys outside the facility and built relationships with them. Then I just spend a lot of time in here with the coaching staff, trying to catch up on the playbook and everything. It has been a good transition and I’m loving it so far.”