C.J. Carr’s emergence for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish put Kenny Minchey in a position to decide what he wanted for his future. After losing the quarterback battle, Minchey saw limited time this year and is now on the move.
He’s an interesting portal prospect for multiple teams, and many of them need a starter for 2026. So where will he land?
Virginia Tech
James Franklin takes over a struggling Virginia Tech program, aiming to turn it around quickly. After being fired at Penn State, Franklin promptly found a new landing spot and now turns his attention to the staff and the roster.
Minchey brings a sturdy frame to the Hokies’ offense. While Kyron Drones didn’t work out for them, Minchey comes with more potential to help the offense. Franklin’s had success with quarterbacks at Penn State, and this could give him another in his lineage.
Tennessee
Joey Aguilar kept things steady for the Tennessee offense this year, but there are concerns about his ceiling. It won’t be a surprise for the Volunteers to look for a transfer portal quarterback, and a guy they went after in high school could help them elevate their potential.
Josh Heupel’s offense makes life easy for his quarterbacks. The wide splits make it easier for the signal-caller to decipher what the defense is doing, and this system typically results in quality seasons from the position. If Aguilar can thrive, many believe Minchey would take the offense to a new level.
Vanderbilt
Diego Pavia can return to Vanderbilt next year, but it doesn’t seem likely that will happen. The Commodores knew they’d be in the market for a quarterback after Pavia’s Heisman run, and they could hit the portal to address the position.
Clark Lea’s staff landed five-star quarterback Jared Curtis this year, so that could be the route they choose. However, Minchey gives them a quarterback with experience that could help Curtis get more acclimated before taking over the offense.
Memphis
After Ryan Silverfield left for Arkansas, Memphis moved quickly to hire Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff. One of his first tasks will be addressing the roster, and the quarterback position will be a top priority. Brendon Lewis will be gone, and backup Arrington Maiden hit the portal.
While he’ll have Power Four options, he may have to choose the Group of Five route if he wants to ensure a starting spot. Memphis’ NIL situation allows it to compete with a number of other teams to land a big name, and Minchey would be a good fit with this offense.
Kentucky
New head coach Will Stein brings a quality track record when it comes to quarterback development, and the Kentucky Wildcats hope that continues in his first season. He’s coached Dante Moore and Bo Nix at Oregon, while helping develop UTSA star Frank Harris, too. Minchey could be next.
The Wildcats’ offense struggled moving the ball through the air this season, meaning they’ll need a more reliable player behind center. Stein’s tutelage gives fans hope, and it’s a big reason why portal quarterbacks might choose to take their talents to him.
