The transfer portal can taketh, and the transfer portal can giveth back.
Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne football both lost starting quarterbacks to FCS programs following successful 2024 campaigns. But both D2 schools have been the beneficiaries of transfer quarterbacks coming in from the FCS ranks in recent weeks.
Wingate picked up a commitment from graduate transfer Luke MacPhail, formerly of Utah Tech and Syracuse. Lenoir-Rhyne secured a pledge from signal caller Max Blanc, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Youngstown State.
The Bulldogs and Bears finished 1-2 in the South Atlantic Conference’s Piedmont Division this past season. Wingate won the league outright and the head-to-head meeting, finishing 9-2 overall. Lenoir-Rhyne, the 2023 SAC champion and national semifinalist, enjoyed a 10-win campaign and advanced to the second round of the D2 playoffs.
Luke MacPhail set New England prep school passing marks
MacPhail announced his intentions to join Wingate in a social media post earlier this week.
“Honored by all the coaches that reached out,” MacPhail wrote on Twitter/X. “My experiences at Syracuse University & Utah Tech have prepared me. I’m excited to announce my commitment to Wingate University. I will pursue a second master’s degree. Let’s win a conference & National Championship.”
MacPhail saw little game action during his three years at Syracuse and this past season at Utah Tech. His 2024 stat line included completing 5 of 14 passes for 52 yards in games against Montana State, UNLV and Northern Arizona in August and early September. His only pass attempt while at Syracuse resulted in an interception against Georgia Tech. He was an All-ACC academic honor roll performer.
This opportunity could be what unlocks him at the college level. MacPhail built an accomplished prep resume while playing for Dexter Southfield High School in Massachusetts. He was named the 2019 New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class B player of the year in 2019. He earned first-team All-NEPSAC status four times.
MacPhail left Dexter Southfield as the NEPSAC career record holder in passing yards (7,195) and touchdown throws (85). He threw for 2,545 yards and 32 scores as a senior, garnering Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic recognition.
247Sports rated MacPhail as the No. 19 player in Massachusetts and the No. 100 pro-style quarterback. He boasts a solid frame at 6-4, 225.
Wingate’s offense has been powered by Brooks Bentley the past two seasons. Bentley earned 2023 SAC freshman of the year honors and collected first-team All-SAC this past season after throwing for 2,039 yards and 15 touchdowns across 11 games.
Bentley entered the transfer portal at season’s end and landed at New Hampshire, an FCS program that competes in the CAA.
Counting Bentley, Wingate had seven quarterbacks on its roster in 2024, Graduate student Noah Bell appeared in nine games, rushing for four scores and throwing for another. Redshirt freshman Elijah Holmes was the only other quarterback to throw a pass, finishing 2-for-2 for 14 yards.
Max Blanc Stands Tall In The Pocket
Max Blanc spent the past three seasons as a reserve quarterback at Youngstown State, which competes in the FCS Missouri Valley Conference. He redshirted in 2022.
The sturdy 6-5, 210-pounder completed 3-of-4 passes this past season, including a couple of completions in a spot appearance at Pitt. He went 7-of-12 in Youngstown’s spring game, including seven of his last eight.
Blanc earned second-team Class 5A Allegheny Six all-conference honors as a prep senior at Bethel Park High School in Pennsylvania. He threw for 1,348 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Blanc will be among those vying to replace prolific 2024 Lenoir-Rhyne quarterback Jalen Ferguson, who committed to Campbell in December. Ferguson was among the statistical leaders in North Carolina college football this past season, throwing for 3,276 yards and 19 touchdowns. He enjoyed a career day in the playoff win over West Alabama, finishing with 411 passing yards and three TD strikes.
The Bears’ quarterback room featured six players on the roster in 2024, including North Carolina prep standouts Andrew Attmore (Greensboro | Dudley HS) and Khamoni Robinson (Monroe | Monroe HS).
Attmore piloted Dudley to a 14-1 record and an appearance in the 3A state title game in 2023. Attmore threw three TD passes in the championship contest, a 42-41 loss to Hickory.
Robinson threw for more than 7,000 yards during his four years on varsity at Monroe. The Redhawks went 12-2 his senior season, with Robinson amassing 2,855 passing yards and 36 total touchdowns.
–> READ MORE: Wingate wins Fabulous 15 champion honors for 2024 season
