Mizzou backup quarterback Marvin Zanders will transfer

Missouri backup quarterback Marvin Zanders announced Thursday on Twitter that he planned to transfer.

“Thanks for the memories #Mizzou … I plan to transfer and pursue other opportunities to further education and playing career … Thank You,” Zanders wrote.

Zanders, a redshirt sophomore last season, appeared in eight games.

He played nine snaps against West Virginia in the opener this season and was expected to play a significant role as a change-of-pace running threat during select series.

Instead, Zanders’ role steadily declined during the season, and he settled into a strictly backup role.

He did not play against Georgia, Middle Tennessee or in the season’s final two games at Tennessee and against Arkansas.

Zanders — who led a 13-play, 99-yard drive in the fourth quarter against Florida — completed 10 of 12 passes for 114 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in his first extended action.

He also finished with 198 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries.

All three touchdowns that Zanders — who made his debut as a redshirt freshman in a goal-line package against Mississippi State during the 2015 season — was responsible for came against Delaware State.

Zanders — a 6-foot-1, 185-pound graduate of Raines High in Jacksonville, Fla. — arrived at Missouri as a Rivals three-star prospect.

He also had offers from Duke, Florida, Georgia Tech, Iowa State and Kentucky among other Football Bowl Subdivision programs, according to his recruiting profile.

Missouri coach Barry Odom told The Star on Monday that he hoped Zanders would stay and had no indication at that time Zanders planned to transfer.

Zanders’ departure leaves the Tigers with three scholarship quarterbacks.

Sophomore Drew Lock has started 20 games during the last two seasons and is entrenched at the position.

Mizzou added Jack Lowary, a sophomore junior college transfer from Long Beach City College, and Micah Wilson, a true freshman from Lincoln Christian High in Tulsa.

Wilson flipped his commitment from Boise State in the weeks leading up to National Signing Day last February.

The Tigers’ lone quarterback commitment in the 2017 recruiting class is East St. Louis two-star prospect Rey Estes, but he’s also reopened his recruitment.

This story was originally published December 8, 2016 at 7:52 PM with the headline "Mizzou backup quarterback Marvin Zanders will transfer."