Max Duggan goes pro: QB should return for chance to be TCU’s BMOC

If Max Duggan has a sudden change of heart, and returns to TCU for one more year, he will never say, “(Bleep), five years of college down the drain.”

With the possible exception of the cast from “Animal House,” few can say they did college better than Max Duggan, and used those four years as effectively to have fun, and to prepare for life.

He earned his degree from the Neeley School of Business at TCU as part of what has been a four-year ride unlike few others in the history of college football.

Like all NCAA athletes who played during the 2020 COVID year, Duggan has an extra year of eligibility if he wants it. On Sunday evening, one day after participating in TCU’s fall graduation ceremonies, he announced his intentions to turn pro.

It’s hard to envision any scenario where Duggan and TCU repeat in 2023 what they are doing in 2022.

Max has plenty of reasons to leave, and one big one to stay. You’re only a college kid once.

College is a life-sized pack-n-play, and for that reason alone Duggan should return to TCU for a fifth season.

Duggan could make an NFL roster, but life will never be as easy, and as fun, as it is right now. He has the rest of his life to be a grown up.

Few people get to be BMOC in their lives, and Duggan currently owns TCU’s campus. If he returns he is all but assured to remain its sole proprietor.

According to people within the school, Max is doing quite well with NIL deals, most recently with the TCU jerseys that sport his No. 15 that are brisk sellers at the TCU Bookstore.

Pretty sure unlike in September of ‘22 when Duggan was the backup in Week 1 he will be the starter in Week 1 of the 2023 season when TCU hosts Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes.

If Duggan returns, chances are good TCU will have another good season.

Just because TCU doesn’t repeat every single detail of its 2022 season the following year means 2023 is a failure, or that his return is a waste of time.

Duggan’s NFL shot

If Duggan was assured of being a first round NFL Draft pick, he should go.

As of today, Duggan looks to be a late round NFL draft pick, or undrafted free agent signee. All of this is subject to change, by the minute.

Given the way he’s developed and progressed, he could be a case of the player who is still has not found his ceiling.

There are examples of the late round, or undrafted, quarterback making it in the NFL.

Former Iowa State star Brock Purdy was the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, and he’s currently the starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.

He had been the team’s third quarterback, but injuries have Mr. Irrelevant as the starter for a good team that will make the playoffs.

Former Eastern Illinois quarterback Tony Romo wasn’t even drafted.

Playing one more year at TCU is more likely to help, than hurt, Duggan’s NFL prospects.

The Matt Leinart Example

In 2005, USC was coming of consecutive national titles and quarterback Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy the previous season.

Leinart had been the USC starting quarterback for the previous three seasons, and turning pro was a logical step.

Leinart elected to remain at USC for his final year of eligibility, to play football and to have fun. His college course load was minimal, at best. One of the courses he took was ballroom dancing.

USC enjoyed an undefeated regular season, but lost to Vince Young and Texas in the national title game.

Leinart was the 10th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals; he played 33 NFL games before retiring in 2012.

He really didn’t have the arm strength, or feel, to thrive in the pros.

Leinart was, however, a great college quarterback who maximized his time at USC.

Duggan’s TCU legacy is secure

There is no reasonable scenario where Max Duggan damages his reputation at TCU.

He doesn’t have the personality to suggest that he’s going to do something off-the-grid stupid to harm his good standing at the school.

Between his story, this entire 2022 season, and all of the accolades he has received, Duggan belongs in the same sentence as Sam Baugh, Davey O’Brien, LaDainian Tomlinson, Bob Lilly, Andy Dalton, Jim Swink, Trevone Boykin and a few others.

Nothing Duggan could do in 2023 will change that.

There are maybe a few more reasons for Duggan to leave than to stay, save for the biggest one.

You’re only a college kid once, and it may never get any better than being TCU’S BMOC for one more year.