Yankoff reportedly places name in NCAA transfer portal

Former Coeur d’Alene High star quarterback Colson Yankoff could be done fighting a five-way battle for playing time at the University of Washington.

Yankoff reportedly has placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal, which allows him to have contact with coaches and representatives from other schools.

Yankoff, a redshirt freshman who was a highly sought recruit two years ago and wound up in Seattle after originally committing to Oregon, is clearly behind three QBs in the Huskies’ pecking order — Georgia transfer Jacob Eason, sophomore Jake Haener and true freshman Dylan Morris, who enrolled early and practiced with the team in April.

Yet another top quarterback recruit in the same boat as Yankoff, Jacob Sirmon, also appears to have placed his name in the portal.

All five quarterbacks played in UW’s Spring Preview on Saturday, but the rotation was pretty clear as Yankoff appeared last and threw just two passes, completing one for six yards.

Being in the transfer portal does not obligate a scholarship player to leave his current school, but the combination of unusual numbers at the position and the apparent coaches’ quarterback preference would indicate that Yankoff seriously intends to leave.

Washington Coach Chris Peterson has emphasized throughout spring practice that getting quality practice time for so many QBs was basically unworkable.

According to the recruiting site 247 Sports, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Yankoff was ranked nationally as the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback and No. 119 as an overall prospect in the 2018 class.

— STEVE CAMERON