Scouting Report: Brendan Sorsby, QB, Texas Tech
Shut out of the NFL Supplemental Draft and banned from the CFL, quarterback Brendan Sorsby is left with nowhere to play in 2026.
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Position: QB | Year: rJr | Number: #2 | Height: 6026 | Weight: 238 | Forty: 4.70e | Hometown: Denton, TX | Projection: Day 2
SCOUTING REPORT
Summer 2026 Evaluation — A dual-threat quarterback, Sorsby brings toughness and physicality when escaping the pocket to extend plays. He possesses good enough arm strength to drive the ball to all levels and areas of the field, paired with a quick release and solid velocity on his throws. In the pocket, he shows strong composure, the ability to absorb contact while keeping two hands on the ball and a willingness to deliver in tight windows. He does a nice job leading receivers, finding open targets and can make off-platform throws when necessary. As a runner, Sorsby demonstrates sound awareness to evade pressure, keeps his legs churning through contact and has shown legitimate production (18 rushing touchdowns over his two seasons as a starter). Areas to Improve upon include footwork, which remains inconsistent — he frequently throws off his back foot or without setting his base, which leads to off-target throws and incompletions. Sorsby also has a tendency to force throws into traffic, resulting in 12 interceptions over two seasons with the Bearcats. While his ball security as a runner has improved, he still put the ball on the ground eight times during that same span. Overall, Sorsby owns starter upside as a mobile, strong-armed quarterback who can create off-script and make every throw. If he can clean up his lower-body mechanics and decision-making under pressure, he has the tools to develop into a productive NFL signal-caller. Of course, pending his current legal situation.
QUOTABLE
“In retrospect, by the end of my freshman year at Indiana, I was truly addicted to gambling... It became a habit for me to bet. My betting became a compulsion, which made it virtually impossible to resist the constant notifications I received from betting apps. I lost complete control of my addiction. I now realize the apps controlled me and I did not control them.” — Brendan Sorsby
BACKGROUND
Transferred to Texas Tech for the 2026 season. Significant issues with gambling, including on his own team, are a major flag. Sought rehab for gambling issues. Began career at Indiana, where he appeared in 10 games with seven starts over two seasons. Transferred to Cincinnati, where he started the past two seasons. Was one of four players in the nation with 2800+ pass yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for nine touchdowns in his first year starting for the Bearcats. Finished 2025 a touchdown shy of the all-time mark for the program. Finished the season with a 12-game streak of two or more touchdowns per game. Played high school at Lake Dallas where he was a two-year starter and named Quarterback of the Year in 2021. He also earned all-district honors in 2021.
ACCOLADES
Second-Team All-Big 12 (2025)
Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Honorable Mention (2024)
STATS
Appeared in 35 career games at Indiana (2022-23) and Cincinnati (2024-25), completed 594-of-968 passes (61.4%), for 7,208 passing yards, 60 touchdowns, 18 interceptions; rushed 320 times, for 1,295 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns. Started 12 games at Cincinnati in 2025, completed 207-of-336 passes (61.6%), for 2,800 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, five interceptions. Started 12 games at Cincinnati in 2024, completed 249-of-389 passes (61.6%), for 2,813 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, seven interceptions. Appeared in 10 games at Indiana in 2023, completed 135-of-237 passes (57%), for 1,587 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, five interceptions.
THE ‘SORSBY SAGA’ — TIMELINE OF EVENTS
06/26/26 — NFL Slams Door On Supplemental Draft. Do not enter. Essentially, that was the message the NFL delivered to embattled Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby after the league elected not to hold a supplemental draft in 2026. That decision permanently disqualifies Sorsby from NCAA competition due to his repeated gambling violations, leaving him with nowhere to play for the upcoming fall season. Sorsby has enlisted Jeffrey Kessler, who also represents the NFLPA, as his lawyer. Initially, Kessler claimed that the NFL’s decision “is a violation of the collective bargaining agreement and we intend to pursue the player’s rights with the NFLPA.” However, since Sorsby isn’t an NFLPA member, talks of a potential countersuit has since simmered. That seems like a wise decision, as suing the league that you are attempting to join would have been another bad bet placed by Sorsby. So the remaining question is: What’s next for Sorsby? The UFL just concluded its season, while the CFL is a month into theirs. According to our sources, as of Thursday, Sorsby wasn’t even listed on a ‘negotiation list’ by any of the nine organizations north of the border. Bringing him up to speed on the CFL rules, playbook and scheme would be a daunting task. Update: The CFL has now banned Sorsby from the league due to his gambling allegations. The most likely scenario suggests Sorsby will now be forced to sit out the entire year and re-apply for the 2027 NFL Draft, which is 10 months away.
06/19/26 — Sorsby To Supplemental. The latest twist in the case of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby occurred this past week when he announced that he would declare for the NFL Supplemental Draft. The league still needs to approve Sorsby’s application for there to be a 2026 Supplemental Draft, which would take place sometime later this July. As PFT noted, a precedent may have been set in this matter by UFL quarterback Hunter Dekkers, who lost his NCAA eligibility due to gambling but signed with the New Orleans Saints this week. That suggests the league office won’t hand down any punishment on Sorsby. The timeline for Sorsby is as follows: On Friday, it was announced that Sorsby dropped his lawsuit, officially ending his NCAA career. The deadline for players to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft is June 22nd. There will be a window for Sorsby to conduct a pro day or hold private workouts between July 5th-12th, with the Supplemental Draft to follow later that month. The NFL hasn’t had a supplemental draft since 2023, and no one has been selected in one since 2019, when the Cardinals picked safety Jalen Thompson with a fifth-round bid. The last quarterback to enter the supplemental draft was Terrelle Pryor, who was a third-round bid in 2011 for the Raiders. In the interim, NFL teams will be busy gathering more background information for their assessment of Sorsby, who is expected to fetch a mid-to-late round draft selection.
06/12/26 — Sorsby Saga Continues. It has been a busy week in the saga of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby. On Monday, a judge in Lubbock County, Texas, granted Sorsby a temporary injunction that might clear the transfer quarterback to play for the Big 12, even after the NCAA declared him ineligible for wagering on college sports. Soon thereafter, reports surfaced that the majority of Big 12 teams would boycott their games against Texas Tech next season due to the Sorsby ruling. Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt issued a lengthy statement Wednesday, continuing to support quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s recovery from an admitted gambling addiction while also not ruling out the possibility of him playing this season. “This situation is hard, it is new, and there is no perfect answer,” Hocutt wrote on X. On Thursday, Texas Tech officials issued a 20-minute video defending their integrity, which drew widespread criticism amongst inner circles. Next, Big 12 athletic directors held the first of three calls to air out grievances over the Sorsby ruling. While it remains to be seen if Sorsby will suit up this season, a Texas court scheduled his trial against the NCAA for February 8, 2027, two weeks after the College Football Playoff National Championship is scheduled to be played. We will continue to monitor this situation throughout the summer here at ITL.