When Nick Starkel decided to leave Texas A&M, he quickly became one of the most attractive prospects in the NCAA transfer portal. When you consider his arm talent, his starting experience in the SEC, the fact that he has two seasons of eligibility remaining and his team-first attitude and approach after losing the offseason quarterback competition to Kellen Mond at Texas A&M, the list of teams interested in Starkel was a long one.

Had Starkel chosen to transfer to Florida State or Duke, he may already be the starter at either program. Instead, Starkel stayed in the SEC West and has to battle it out with Ben Hicks, a quarterback that has already started for several seasons under Chad Morris at SMU.

So what was it about Arkansas that won Starkel over? He was asked that during his media availability at Arkansas’ 2019 Media Day.

“What brought me to Arkansas was first off, Coach Morris, having a relationship with him in high school and not just Coach Morris but Coach Craddock,” Starkel said in a video uploaded to YouTube by Pig Trail Nation. “Then in college, I got to play with Coach Chavis and Coach Cooper, as well. Love them. Love working with them. Huge fan of both of those guys, I know they are big fans of me, as well. It means a lot that they think so highly of me that they would want to play with me on two separate teams.”

Those relationships laid the groundwork and when Starkel visited Fayetteville, the campus won the former Aggie over.

“I came in on a visit and fell in love with the place,” Starkel added.

Considering Hicks also decided to transfer to Arkansas this offseason and got to campus in time for spring practice, something Starkel could not do as he was still finishing up his undergraduate degree at Texas A&M during the spring, many would have been threatened by that competition. For Starkel, that wasn’t even a factor in his decision.

“Wasn’t really a factor for me,” he said. “I’m not scared of anything like that, there’s always going to be competition where ever you go so I’m ready.”

As far as his relationship with Hicks, Starkel conveyed that the entire quarterback room has been very welcoming upon his arrival to campus.

“Our whole quarterback room has been really great and helping out each other,” the quarterback continued. “Our coaches are there to help us out with the playbook and if we have questions and can’t get a hold of our coaches, I’ll get a hold of the other quarterbacks. We’ve been there for each other and it’s been awesome.”

It’s not just the quarterbacks that get along either, Starkel is clearly fitting in with his new teammates, judging by the video clip below courtesy of Clara Goodwin of 5 News during the QB’s appearance at Arkansas Media Days.