Former Arizona QB will transfer to Vanderbilt
By Brett Hait, bhait@nashvillecitypaper.com
May 30, 2006

Former University of Arizona quarterback Richard Kovalcheck will transfer to Vanderbilt and will be eligible to play this fall, The City Paper has learned.

The player’s mother, Ella Kovalcheck, told VandySports.com the scholarship letter was mailed to Vanderbilt last week. A Vanderbilt source told The City Paper Saturday the school expects to complete Kovalcheck’s transfer paperwork this week.

Richard Koval-check, 21, graduated from Arizona in three years, but the school does not offer a graduate program in healthcare administration, Kovalcheck’s desired field of study.

A new NCAA rule permits players to transfer from one Division I school to another without sitting out a year if the original college does not offer the desired post-graduate program.

Kovalcheck, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, prepped at St. Augustine High in San Diego, Calif., redshirted as a freshman at Arizona in 2003 and played extensively the past two seasons.

Last season, the 6-2, 211-pound Kovalcheck played in eight games and completed 125 of 220 passes for 1,351 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. As a redshirt freshman, he completed 80 of 168 throws for 1,039 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Vanderbilt will seek a new quarterback this fall after the graduation of Jay Cutler, a four-year started who was the first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos in April.

Sophomore Chris Nickson and redshirt freshman Mackenzi Adams battled for the starting job during the spring.