If Tennessee Vols want to add a graduate transfer QB, there are plenty to consider

Graduate transfers have become college football's free-agent market, and they're on the rise.

An NCAA study found that there were 117 graduate transfers competing in Division I football in 2016, compared to just 17 five years previously.

Graduate transfers are eligible to compete immediately, giving them extra appeal.

Tennessee is losing quarterback Quinten Dormady, who started five games in 2017, to a graduate transfer departure.

That leaves the Vols with two scholarship quarterbacks returning from 2017 – Jarrett Guarantano and Will McBride – plus signee JT Shrout, who will enroll this summer. Entering a season with three scholarship quarterbacks isn't cause for panic, but UT might be interested in adding another, especially if they could land a graduate transfer.

More: Tennessee Vols: With Quinten Dormady transferring, QB job is Jarrett Guarantano's to lose

Already, three graduate transfer QBs have committed. UCLA landed KJ Carta-Samuels from Washington, Memphis picked up Brady White from Arizona State and Eastern Michigan grabbed Tyler Wiegers from Iowa.

Here are nine graduate transfer QBs who are on the market.

Drew Barker (Kentucky)

One year of eligibility

Hometown: Burlington, Ky.

Barker missed the final nine games of the 2016 season with a back injury and never regained the starting job. He was a crown jewel of UK's 2014 recruiting class. His offer list included Tennessee. Barker never blossomed at Kentucky, where he completed 57 of 113 passes during his career. SEC rules ban in-conference transfers, meaning Barker would need a waiver from Commissioner Greg Sankey plus approval from Kentucky to transfer within the conference.

Jeff George Jr. (Illinois)

Two years of eligibility

Hometown: Indianapolis

George, the son of the former NFL quarterback whose name he shares, struggled at Illinois. He completed 48 percent of his passes for 1,743 yards with 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions during his career. He appeared in 12 games, including nine starts.

Alex Malzone (Michigan)

Two years of eligibility

Hometown: Farmington Hills, Mich.

Malzone committed to Michigan while Brady Hoke, who was UT's defensive line coach in 2017, was the Wolverines' coach. Malzone appeared in two games during his Michigan career but never attempted a pass.

Jalan McClendon (North Carolina State)

One year of eligibility

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.

McClendon was a highly touted recruit regarded as having a big arm, but he played sparingly for North Carolina State. He served as the backup to Jacoby Brissett and then Ryan Finley. He attended two camps at Tennessee the summer before his junior season of high school. McClendon completed 26 of 47 passes during his Wolfpack career.

James Morgan (Bowling Green)

Two years of eligibility

Hometown: Green Bay, Wis.

Morgan played in 19 games for the Falcons the past two seasons, including 13 starts. He completed 51.9 percent of his passes for 3,342 yards with 25 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He has visited Florida International.

Jacob Park (Iowa State)

One year of eligibility

Hometown: Charleston, S.C.

Park started the first four games of the 2017 season – he completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,181 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions – before taking an indefinite leave of absence to attend to health matters. Park later told the Des Moines Register that he failed a drug test due to marijuana usage and would have faced a one-game suspension but took leave and never returned. Park's career started at Georgia. Iowa State was his fourth school.

Evan Shirreffs (Miami)

Two years of eligibility

Hometown: Jefferson, Ga.

Shirreffs was Malik Rosier's backup last season, when he completed 2 of 7 passes. He was the valedictorian at his high school. His older brother, Bryant, played quarterback for Connecticut.

Wilton Speight (Michigan)

One year of eligibility

Hometown: Richmond, Va.

Like his teammate Malzone, Speight committed to Michigan while Hoke was in charge. Speight was Michigan's starter in 2016, when he completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,538 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions to help the Wolverines go 10-3. Speight started the first four games of the 2017 season before missing the rest of the season with a back injury.

Alex Thomson (Wagner)

One year of eligibility*

Hometown: Keyport, N.J.

Thomson is entering his senior year but could apply for a sixth year of eligibility due to losing two seasons to injury. Yahoo! Sports reported on Tuesday that Tennessee is among the schools interested in Thomson, a list that reportedly includes Florida International, Oregon State and Iowa State. A shoulder injury limited him to two games in 2017. A former walk-on for Wagner, an FCS school, Thomson completed 55.3 percent of his passes for 3,832 yards with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions during his career.