DALLAS — Their time on the sideline may have been longer. But the achievement at the end? That’s been sweeter. For transfer quarterbacks Tanner Mordecai and Jace Ruder, climbing to the top of the depth chart was a three-year journey. 

Both players are products of the transfer portal, which every year hosts a collection of aspiring athletes in football limbo, searching for a new home.


What You Need To Know

  • Jace Ruder and Tanner Mordecai found their way to Texas through the transfer portal. Jace transferred to UNT from University of North Carolina. Tanner transferred to SMU from Oklahoma University

  • At OU, Modecai was in the same quarterback room with Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Spencer Rattler, two of whom are starting in the NFL

  • At UNC, Ruder battled a broken collar bone and a broken leg during his freshman and sophomore seasons

It’s hard to notice with the success they’ve each had this season, but a year ago the two veteran quarterbacks were embracing the backup role. 

“When I didn’t get the job at UNC, I was heartbroken. It’s something I've been working on for my entire life,” Ruder said. “It was a really tough time. I had to adjust to not being on the field and coming to peace with the fact that I had an opportunity.”

For Ruder, that opportunity was taken by Heisman hopeful Sam Howell. For Mordecai, same story, same result. He was in the same quarterback room with Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Spencer Rattler. Being number two on the depth chart was a hard pill to swallow. But Mordecai took that chance to study one of college football’s greats.

“I learned a lot from Kyler Murray,” he said. “Kyler is the most electrifying player in the NFL right now. I learned a lot about how he studies, how goes about his business and how he plays."

During some target practice, Jace Ruder gets the arm loose by throwing fades in the end zone. (Spectrum News 1/Robbie Fuelling)
During some target practice, Jace Ruder gets the arm loose by throwing fades in the end zone. (Spectrum News 1/Robbie Fuelling)

So how did the two end up in North Texas?

“First time I got him on the phone, I knew he was our type of guy,” said Southern Methodist University head coach Sonny Dykes when asked how he recruited Mordecai from Oklahoma. “He loves football and loves competing. He’s passionate about playing, he wants to be good and be a part of a team. We felt like from the very beginning it was a really good marriage.”

“I grew up on values that if you start something you finish it. At UNC, I had some injuries early on that kept me off the field,” Ruder said. “I had the attitude that I was going to make the most of it, get a great degree from there, finish up early and get in the portal to find a new home for new opportunities."

Those opportunities for Ruder and Mordecai are more important than we can imagine. Both have NFL aspirations. That’s been a goal since day one.

“That’s been the dream since kindergarten. It’s a long time dream of mine, so I’m excited I have this chance to prove I’m worthy of a professional opportunity,” Ruder said.

“Obviously, you’re not going to go to the NFL as a backup,” Mordecai said. “So that was a big part of me wanting to come [to SMU].”

But here’s what wasn’t a motivating factor: revenge in any sort of way.

“It’s not to prove OU wrong or to prove anyone who doubted me wrong,” Mordecai reassured. “My mindset is to win, to put everything on the line for the other 10 guys on the field with me and to win a championship.”

Tanner Mordecai scans TCU’s defense prior to running in for SMU’s second touchdown of the game. (Spectrum News 1/Robbie Fuelling)
Tanner Mordecai scans TCU’s defense prior to running in for SMU’s second touchdown of the game. (Spectrum News 1/Robbie Fuelling)

They say it’s not where you start but where you finish. Both these quarterbacks are finishing in the state of Texas.