Nick Billoups’ school soccer journey has been lengthy, winding, and largely spent on the sidelines. Now, the previous UCLA quarterback has determined to guess on himself yet another time—this time at Lane Faculty, a Division II HBCU competing within the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Convention (SIAC).
From Pac-12 to the SIAC
Billoups, a 6’1”, 203-pound dual-threat quarterback from San Clemente, California, has bounced round a few of the greatest packages within the West. He walked on at Utah in 2020, then transferred to BYU for 3 seasons with out seeing motion. Billoups landed at UCLA in 2024, earlier than hitting the portal once more in 2025. Regardless of his athleticism and all-star highschool resume. One which included practically 1,500 passing yards, over 1,000 dashing yards, and MVP honors on the 2020 OC North-South All-Star sport. Billoups by no means cracked a rotation on the FBS degree.
After getting into the portal, the redshirt senior confronted a well-recognized query: Would he ever get an actual shot below middle?
Lane Faculty, an HBCU in Jackson, Tennessee, has quietly been carving out a status as a program the place ignored expertise can shine. The Dragons have had flashes in recent times however haven’t persistently damaged by means of within the SIAC title race. Nonetheless, Lane has proven that its gamers can attain the following degree.
Former defensive lineman Andrew Farmer went from the Dragons’ trenches to the NFL. In 2023, he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent. Farmer earned his method onto the sphere in Los Angeles and later joined the Denver Broncos.
For a participant like Billoups, who’s struggled to get on the sphere at greater packages, Lane presents one thing totally different: an opportunity to guide, play, and put significant snaps on tape.
The Alternative Forward
It’s not unusual for quarterbacks to spend their careers buried on depth charts at Energy 5 faculties. What’s uncommon is a participant refusing to let that be the top of their story. For Billoups, that is extra than simply one other switch; it’s a chance to resurrect a profession that by no means bought off the bottom at Utah, BYU, or UCLA.
Lane isn’t simply one other cease. It’s a historic HBCU program with a tradition rooted in resilience and alternative. For generations, HBCUs have been the place ignored athletes show themselves and carve out skilled paths—typically towards all odds.
Nick Billoups nonetheless has the instruments. In highschool, he confirmed he may damage defenses along with his arm and his legs, scoring 24 complete touchdowns as a senior at San Clemente. Now, with one remaining 12 months of eligibility, he’ll must translate that promise onto the sphere for the Dragons.
A Profession-Defining Season?
The e book on Billoups has all the time been full of potential however skinny on manufacturing. At Lane, he lastly has an opportunity to flip the narrative. If he can flip the Dragons into contenders and put collectively a season that displays his dual-threat skillset, he may observe within the footsteps of Andrew Farmer and remind scouts that expertise isn’t solely discovered on the Energy 5.
For an ignored quarterback who’s refused to give up, this DII HBCU alternative could be the most important stage but.
