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Former Rutgers backup quarterback Blake Rankin has transferred to Delaware. (William Perlman/The Star-Ledger)

When Blake Rankin announced his decision to transfer from Rutgers in April, he said he it was the toughest decision he's ever made. But he also said he missed playing football, so he wanted to find a school where he could get on the field.

Rankin hopes he can get his college career started at Delaware, where the 6-foot-4, 195-pound quarterback has transferred. The news was first reported by multiple Delaware outlets, and Rankin confirmed the transfer to NJ.com on Tuesday night.

Rankin, a Bloomsburg, Pa., native, will be eligible to play immediately because Delaware is a Division 1-AA program. Delaware is a perennial contender in Division 1-AA and has produced NFL quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Rich Gannon.

Rankin will be reunited with Delaware head coach Dave Brock, who was the offensive coordinator at Rutgers during Rankin's freshman season in 2012. The former three-star recruit has three years of eligibility remaining.

Delaware employs a spread offense, which should better utilize the skills of Rankin, a dual-threat quarterback.

"I thought he was a good prospect, but because he was on the scout team I didn't really coach him that much," Brock told Delaware reporters. "He's an athletic kid who can run."

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Rankin did not appear in a game in two seasons at Rutgers. He announced he was leaving the program two weeks into spring practice after he fell behind in the open quarterback competition.

"It was probably the toughest decision I've ever made," Rankin said at the time. "Rutgers has been good to me, but it's just time to move on for the better, hopefully."

The departure of Rankin and the dismissal of Minnesota transfer Philip Nelson, who was kicked off the team in May after being charged with first- and third-degree assault, has left Rutgers with a need at quarterback. The team currently has three scholarship quarterbacks, led by senior Gary Nova, with freshman Giovanni Rescigno set to enroll next week.

Rutgers could fill the quarterback void this week, as LSU transfer Hayden Rettig is visiting campus. Rettig, a former four-star recruit from Los Angeles, would be eligible in 2015 after sitting out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.