Photo: AP

If you have read anything regarding the situation with UAB and the football program in the past 48 hours — you know it’s bad. Ugly is probably a better word for it.

But the question that keeps floating around out there is what will happen to the current players on the roster if/when the program folds?

Will they transfer? Where will they transfer? And more importantly will they be eligible to play right away?

Ultimately that will be decision that the NCAA will have to make.

Update: Stuart Mandel at Sports Illustrated tweets: Per an NCAA spokesperson: “The UAB football student-athletes would be able to transfer without sitting out a year.”

But if you reference some previous cases in which the NCAA has had to make a ruling about a program has been affected by an abnormal situation, you get the idea that this is a gray area when it comes to player eligibility.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina displaced the Tulane football team, and many thought the players would be able to transfer to other Football Bowl Subdivisions schools and not have to sit out a season. That — however — was not the case. The NCAA said at the time it would create a situation of “athletic looting” and decided to not bend the rules.

But in 2012, after Penn State was slapped with enough sanctions to fill an entire row of mailboxes, the NCAA said it was OK for players to transfer to other FBS schools and not have to sit out a season. Nine of them did, with the most notable being running back Silas Redd, who skipped Big Ten media day to take a visit to USC, the school he later transferred to.

So what will happen this time around? Will Tim Beckman and the rest of the Illinois coaching staff be on the next plane to Birmingham to recruit UAB players?

Only time will tell, but until then, we can look at the Blazers’ roster and identify some players that certainly could play at other schools.

Keep in mind that Bill Clark is the third coach in four years at UAB, so there are a lot of ties for these player to other coaches in the industry. Neil Callaway, the Blazers head man from 2007–2011, is now the offensive line coach at Western Kentucky and Garrick McGee the coach from 2012–2013 is now the offensive coordinator at Louisville.

So, let’s speculate.

Will be courted

RB Jordan Howard (So.) — Howard is 7th in the nation this season with 1,587 yards to his name. There is no question he is the prized Silas Redd of a potential looting free for all. Reggie Johnson, the man who found and recruited Howard to UAB, is now the defensive coordinator at Alabama A&M. Howard certainly wouldn’t have to sit out if he transferred there, but he’s a bruising running back that should get phone calls. What makes sense: Louisville. They have gone after guys like this before (see Michael Dyer) plus that’s where McGee is. But this could be a case where any school is looking to add an impact player.

QB Cody Clements (Jr.) — The dual-threat quarterback started 11 games this season and posted a 6–5 record with a 14-to-7 interception ratio. I have a theory that new head coaches will always chase their type of quarterback once hired. Clements would be a home run, given the fact that he has college experience. He’s a junior-college kid who started his career at Washington State. What makes sense: The FBS schools should be there. Paul Wuff — the coach he committed to at Wazzou — is now the offensive coordinator at USF, and they have plenty of quarterback issues. Then there are the schools that will have new coaches like UNLV, Buffalo, Tulsa, and Kansas.

TE Gerald Everett (Jr.) — Tight end is one of the most difficult positions to recruit and project. It’s boom or bust. And Everett can be a boom for someone. He had 17 catches this season for 292 yards while playing in a deep rotation. He’s a native of Georgia — and like Howard — a junior college kid. What makes sense: Bethune Cookman or Iowa State. Everett signed with Bethune out of high school. Cyclones assistant Tommy Mangino was also at Hutchinson C.C. when Everett was there, although that timeline is a little shaky.

LG Roscoe Byrd (Jr.) — A veteran guard with 20 starts under his belt, Byrd committed to Callaway in high school and stuck by his pledge when McGee took over. He suffered a nasty leg break last year but rehabbed and started every game this past season at left guard. What makes sense: Western Kentucky. The Callaway connection is basically writing on the wall.

LT Victor Salako (R-So.) — Like Byrd, Salako is a veteran on the offensive line. The Huntsville native has started 23 games at left tackle and been a staple at the position. He was lightly recruited out of high school but that shouldn’t be the case this time around. What makes sense: There is no real immediate connection to a school for Salako, but he would be an upgrade over a junior college lineman with two years of eligibility remaining.

WR Marqui Hawkins (R-Fr.) — This will be the second time in the past year that Hawkins has been on the market. He sat out this season after transferring from Florida where he was moved to defensive back. He’s a former three-star recruit from Columbus, Ga. What makes sense: Wisconsin, East Carolina and Costal Carolina –allegedly– recruited him when he left Florida, so there could be interest from those schools again.

LB Jake Ganus (Jr.) — Former high school quarterback that started 32 games as a weak side linebacker. Ganus has been the team’s leading tackler the past two seasons and had six sacks this year. What makes sense: It’s hard to project. He was offered by the service academies coming out of school and his primary recruiter — Tyson Helton — is now at Cincinnati.

Should be courted

QB Jeremiah Briscoe (R-Fr.) — Same thing as Clements. Coaches are always after quarterbacks and Briscoe has experience. He threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns at Mississippi State earlier this year. What makes sense: Any Texas school. Briscoe is from Houston, and was a true gray shirt that delayed enrollment because of an injury. He has three years to play three.

WR Josh Magee (R-So.) — Career journeyman. Magee signed with Southern Miss out of high school, walked-on at Alabama, transferred to South Alabama and then landed at UAB, where he was part of the receiving rotation this season. He also played three season in the Houston Astros’ farm system. What makes sense: Anyone that will take him. Magee has had more coaches in his career than some NFL vets.

CB LaMarucs Farmer (R-Jr.) — Farmer is a veteran cornerback who has started 22 games in his career. He had 10 tackles against Houston last year. What makes sense: Eastern Michigan. His family has ties to former Blazers’ assistant Jimmy Williams, who now is the defensive line coach at Eastern Michigan.

LB Shaq Jones (Jr.) — Jones is a pass rusher that played the Blazers’ “Jack” position. He’s another guy who was recruited by Helton, but has been productive in his three years in Birmingham. What makes sense: The Alabama native had offers from South Alabama and Memphis retracted during the recruiting process. Not sure if that will be the case this time around.

WR Quincy Perdue (Fr.) — Three-star recruit out of Marietta, Ga., Perdue caught two passes for 82 yards and a touchdown this season. What makes sense: He was committed to both Troy and Marshall during the recruiting process. Troy’s staff is no longer in place, so that doesn’t look likely.

S Rolan Milligan (Jr.) — Another junior college player, Milligan signed with the Blazers last spring and started the final six games of the season at strong safety. What makes sense: He originally signed with FCS Jacksonville coming out of Lake Wales High in Florida. A return to the state could be a possibility.

WR Jamari Staples (So.) — Promising receiver originally from Ashland, Ala. Staples caught nine passes for 190 yards this season. What makes sense: Northern Iowa offered out of high school. An FCS school isn’t out of the question.

DT Jontavious Morris (Jr.) — The plug in the middle for the Blazers, Morris has started 14 games the past two seasons at tackle. What makes sense: He went to the same high school as Roscoe Byrd (the lineman) in Georgia, and the duo followed each other to UAB. This has the makings of a package deal.

C Lee Dufor (Fr.) — True freshman who started the past two games at center. Dufor was discovered by Clark when the coach was at Jacksonville State and then recruited to UAB. Has the size to play and plenty of eligibility, so the coaches should call. What makes sense: Jacksonville State. But it should be noted that at one time, Guz Malzahn tried to get him to walk-on at Auburn.

QB Evan Orth (Fr.) and QB Stevie Farmer (Fr.) — Two more quarterbacks that both redshirted this season. Orth is from Florida and spent a year at a prep school in North Carolina. Farmer is from Georgia. What makes sense: The scholarships might not be there, but there should be plenty of opportunities to walk-on somewhere. Orth was being recruited by Toledo out of prep school and was at one time committed to South Alabama.

The other guys

DE Chris Rabb (Jr.) — The high school teammate of FSU quarterback Jameis Winston who was involved in the alleged point-shaving scandal.

S Desman Carter (Jr.) — Blazers’ starting free safety signed with Nevada out of high school before spending a year in junior college.

RT Hayden Naumann (Jr.) — Started every game this season at right tackle. Naumann’s father played at North Alabama.

LB Derek Slaughter (Jr.) — A former walk-on at Nebraska, Slaughter has started 13 games in three seasons at outside linebacker.

S Jordan Petty (So.) — Can play corner or safety. Coached by Jamey DuBose in high school.

LB Alonzo McGee (Jr.) — South Carolina native who signed with UAB out of Georgia Military College. Had 42 tackles this season.

RG Kalepi Falou (Jr.) — Falou reached out to Clark and the UAB staff last winter and ended up with an offer. Good chance he’s already promoting himself again.

WR Nyiakki Height (Jr.) — Started his career in the secondary, but changed positions. Caught 17 passes for 136 yards this season.

LB Tevin Crews (Jr.) — Safety that transitioned into the Blazers’ “Jack” position. Started two games this season.

DT Robert Mondie (Jr.) — Memphis native who made his way to UAB through a junior college in Texas.

DT Parrish Huddleston (So.) — Rotation player. Nicholas State and Northwestern State were interested in Huddleston out of junior college.

DE — Kingley Ejile (R-Fr.) — One-time Georgia State commit who singed with Blazers out of Covington, Ga. Listed as a back up end.

CB — Devon Brown (So.) — Spain Park graduate started two games in 2014.

There are more, but that’s all I could dig into right away.

Think I missed something? Drop me a line on Twitter: @andrewrivins or by email: andrewrivins@gmail.com