Florida Secures Colorado State QB Transfer Commitment

Florida's search for a new backup quarterback concludes with the transfer commitment of Clay Millen from Colorado State.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Colorado State quarterback Clay Millen announced his transfer commitment to Florida on Sunday. 

COMMITTED 🐊 #GoGators pic.twitter.com/UT4qwHVutl

— Clay Millen (@ClayMillen) January 14, 2024

Millen's pledge offers the Gators an experienced quarterback to occupy backup duties moving forward, with Graham Mertz returning for a second season as Florida's starting signal-caller in 2024 and freshman DJ Lagway, a consensus five-star recruit, on a developmental fast-track toward playing time. 

From Snoqualmie, Wash., the rising redshirt junior Millen originally signed with Nevada in the recruiting class of 2021 as a consensus three-star prospect. He transferred to Colorado State before the 2022 campaign, following head coach Jay Norvell. 

He emerged as the Rams' starting quarterback that year, and while Colorado State endured a fifth-consecutive losing season in Millen and Norvell's debut, the signal-caller produced an FBS freshman record (per CSU) 72.2% completion percentage over his 234 passing attempts. 

Over 10 games in an offense that leaned on an inefficient rushing attack, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Millen threw for 1,910 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. 

Millen was replaced by Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi as Colorado State's first-team passer in 2023, however, after throwing for only 110 yards with an interception in the season-opener against Washington State. 

After fulfilling the backup quarterback role for the rest of the season, Millen reportedly entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 27, 2023.

Millen will join the Gators on scholarship, alongside Lagway, with preferred walk-on transfer passers Paul Kessler and Aidan Warner rounding out the team's acquisitions at the position this offseason. The quartet will join Mertz and redshirt freshman walk-on Parker Leise to comprise Florida's quarterback room moving forward. 

Millen's father, Hugh Millen, was a nine-year NFL quarterback who started 25 games in his career, mainly with the New England Patriots between 1991-92. His brother, Cale Millen, a former quarterback, spent the final season of his college football career as a defensive back for Connecticut in 2023.

Find Florida's full log of transfer portal activity here. 

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