Rice quarterback EJ Warner plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

On Thursday, Rice quarterback EJ Warner announced his plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. Warner transferred to Rice ahead of the 2024 campaign after spending his first two collegiate seasons at Temple.

In the 2024 campaign, Warner completed 62% of his pass attempts for 2,710 yards and 17 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions. He only recorded 12 rushing yards on the season but punched in a touchdown on the ground, as well.

Rice finished the season with a 4-8 record. However, Warner never slowed, erupting for 430 passing yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception in Rice’s season-ending 35-28 win over USF.

Thank you Rice! pic.twitter.com/U94iy1Q4Zc

— Elijah "EJ" Warner (@elijah13warner) December 5, 2024

Warner has far more on his résumé than this single season. In his two years at Temple, he was the program’s full-time starter. Warner was named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year after throwing for 3,028 yards and 18 touchdowns on 268 completions in his debut campaign.

He followed up the stunning season with an even better year. In 2023, Warner set Temple records with 23 passing touchdowns and 445 attempts while eclipsing 3,000 yards passing (3,076) for the second consecutive season.

More impressive, Warner shattered these records while missing two weeks in the middle of the season due to injury. He entered this season with Rice ranked second among active AAC QBs with 4,543 passing yards and 31 touchdowns in conference games.

Quarterback talent runs through Warner’s blood. His father is Kurt Warner, the two-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XXXIV champion. Now, EJ will look to find a new home as he continues to live up to his family’s name.

EJ Warner played high school football at Brophy College Preparatory School (AZ), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1,668 overall recruit and No. 104 quarterback in the 2022 recruiting cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Warner cited schematic and offensive philosophy changes as his main reason for moving on from Rice. The program fired head coach Mike Bloomgren on Oct. 27 and named Scott Abell the Owls’ next headman on Wednesday.

Abell is known for running a spread triple option scheme, which signifcantly differs from what Warner ran under Bloomgren. Hence, the talented QB will be moving on from the program.