Former Baylor School and Mississippi State quarterback Nick Tiano announced earlier this week via social media that he was transferring to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Tiano was a redshirt freshman for the Bulldogs, playing in five games and completing a 5-yard pass in a 38-14 loss to Auburn. The 6-foot-4, 239-pounder would have backed up Nick Fitzgerald moving forward but will now compete against Alejandro Bennifield, who will be a senior for the Mocs in 2017 after completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 2,622 yards with 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.
On Wednesday afternoon, Tiano was a guest of "Press Row" on ESPN 105.1 FM.
Q: What went into your decision, especially given that you could have been just a Nick Fitzgerald injury away from starting in the SEC next year?
A: "I really felt that the best thing for me was to just come on home and have three years to play at UTC. I want to come back, have fun and just enjoy playing the game. I didn't want to play the 'What if he gets hurt?' game. I wanted to be happy where I was and ready to play the game."
Q: If Bennifield is the guy again next year, would you be open to playing another position to get on the field?
A: "I want to play quarterback. That's what I'm coming to do. I haven't said anything about playing another position, and the coaches haven't either, so I don't think that's really a possibility. I just want to do whatever I can to help the team. Whatever my role is, I'm going to do it to the best of my ability."
Q: Alabama and Mississippi State began this year with four scholarship quarterbacks and now have one. Why are we seeing so many transfers?
A: "Quarterback is just a different position. If you're a receiver or a linebacker or a lineman, multiple guys play in every single game, so there is always an opportunity to get on the field. With quarterback, there is just one guy who can play and lead the team, and if you're not that guy but love football and want to play, you're going to look for another opportunity."
Q: Once you decided to transfer, did you have to reach out to schools, and who did you look at besides UTC?
A: "When I announced I was transferring, the first school I heard from was UTC. I heard from LSU, Colorado, Troy, some other SoCon schools and some junior colleges, but I felt like coming back to UTC was the best thing for me. They've got a great program. They've been winning a lot of games, and I just felt like it was the perfect fit."
Q: How is Harrison Moon from Signal Mountain doing on Mississippi State's offensive line?
A: "He's doing a great job, and he will have a great chance this spring to earn a starting spot. We're all pulling for him. He's been working his tail off."
Q: Starkville gets picked on from time to time when it comes to SEC locales. What's the social scene like having lived it?
A: "It was definitely a big adjustment for me, but it is a great little town where everybody watches out for each other. You get to know everybody real quick. When you walk in a restaurant, you know the owner and you know the workers. It's really a special place, because everybody there loves Mississippi State.
"There may not be a whole lot to do, but you find ways to make your own fun."
Q: What was your favorite memory in your two years there?
A: "Probably winning the Egg Bowl this year. That was a great time for everybody. We had been in a down season but started playing well at the end of the year, and to win that game the way we did on the road was awesome to be a part of."
Q: Have you met Bennifield before?
A: "I've never actually talked to him, but I look forward to meeting him soon and getting to work. Hopefully we can feed off each other and make each other better."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.