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Tate Forcier’s national reputation ebbs and flows between positive and overwhelmingly negative, as we saw over this past season. In September, Forcier was slammed for his poor sideline demeanor, for seeming disinterested in pursuing football at Michigan once it became clear that Denard Robinson was the future at the quarterback position. Over the middle two months of the year, however, Forcier was lauded for the way he handled his secondary status, not to mention the manner with which he replaced the oft-injured Robinson during Big Ten play.

It’s clear now that Forcier was planning on transferring all along — it would make sense, when seeing how Robinson fared this past season, that the rising junior would take his wares elsewhere. If you recall, Forcier made waves back in September when he told an Ann Arbor News reporter that “I’m out,” meaning he’d played his last down at Michigan; that was after the season opener.

Cooler heads prevailed, leading Forcier to play out the season before formally announcing his decision to finish his college career elsewhere. Among the options: Kansas State, which has a significant hole at quarterback; Arizona, where he could theoretically nab the starting job in 2012; Washington, where he could play for Steve Sarkisian; Montana, where he could play immediately; and Miami (Fla.), where he could become Al Golden’s first premier quarterback.

The answer, as we’ve seen, is Miami: since he has yet to take a redshirt season, Forcier will sit out the coming fall and return in 2012 as a redshirt junior, with two seasons of eligibility remaining. For Golden and the Hurricanes, his transfer season allows for some space between quarterbacks; Jacory Harris will be a senior and Stephen Morris a sophomore, so Miami will return two quarterbacks — barring injury or another transfer — with starting experience in the F.B.S. in 2012.

It’s important to note that nothing will be handed to Forcier, a point I’m sure Golden made quite clear during his rapid recruitment. If anything, Forcier could quickly find himself in a similar situation to the one he experienced at Michigan, depending on who wins the starting job for the Hurricanes come September.

Let’s take a step back: What kind of offense does Golden want to run? Judging by his time at Temple, Golden will stress taking care of the football above all else, limiting mistakes and playing it at least somewhat safe; by that description, Harris might quickly find himself on the bench. Morris, though only a freshman, also struggled protecting the football in 2010.

Perhaps Forcier would be a good fit, providing Miami with the type of dual-threat ability last seen in Robert Marve, a quarterback whose college arc has reversed Forcier’s: Marve began at Miami, starting as a freshman, before opting to transfer to the Big Ten once it became clear that his playing time was going to diminish.

Unlike Marve, who made a poor decision to leave Miami, Forcier made the right move. He’ll have the opportunity to play — to start immediately — at Miami, barring one scenario: Morris beats out Harris for the starting job in September and plays well enough to ensure he remains the starter in 2012 and beyond.

Talk about a nightmare scenario for Forcier. He should be praying that it’s Harris — and it probably will be — as a senior starter in 2011. The would guarantee an open competition in 2012, one that would allow him to showcase his talents on an even playing field with Morris.

If Harris remains Miami’s starter, Forcier can bide his time, focusing on impressing the new staff on the scout team and preparing for the competition that awaits in 2012. If Morris wins the job in fall camp, Forcier might want to look into another transfer.

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