Tre’ Simmons, the Division II transfer who battled until the final days of camp for the starting quarterback job at McNeese State, has left the team.

Simmons has already entered the transfer portal after informing Cowboy head coach Gary Goff before practice Monday of his decision.

Goff declined to comment Tuesday morning on the topic..

Simmons, a junior from Temple, Terrace, Fla., lost the McNeese State starting job to Nate Glatz after the two went toe-to-toe all spring and summer. Glantz was not named the Cowboy starter until the week of the season opener.

Simmons has played sparingly this season, appearing in three games. He completed 6-of-9 passes for 80 yards. His one interception was returned for a touchdown in the season-opening loss to Tarleton State.

During his weekly press conference Monday Goff was asked about the quarterback situation. He had said before the season began that he may be willing to play both Simmons and Glantz some after their showings in camp.

Goff said that was “off the table” on Monday.

He was later asked if Simmons was still the No. 2 quarterback and he responded, “We will have to see how the first part of the week goes.”

Simmons is the second player since Thursday to leave the program, joining starting cornerback Twillie Lovette. A week earlier Goff kicked three other players off the team, including starting wide receiver Jalon Johnson who also has entered the portal.

“We have had some guys who have chosen not to be here and that is O.K.,” said Goff Monday. “We want guys who want to be here.”

During the offseason, Goff turned over the McNeese roster, bringing in 57 newcomers through the transfer portal, by way of junior college and also high schoolers. The Cowboys have just four seniors on the roster.

Simmons, along with Glantz, signed with McNeese last December after playing at Division II Tusculum University for two seasons.

A dual threat, Simmons was 177-of-324 (54.6 percent) for 2,384 yards and 21 touchdowns at Tusculum. He also ran for 295 yards but did throw 13 interceptions.

He should still have two years of eligibility left once he finds a new home.

Glantz has had his ups and downs in the early going for the Cowboys, who are off to a poor start at 0-5. Glantz has had his best two games the last two weeks however, throwing for 196 yards against Eastern Illinois and 199 yards last week in a loss to Nicholls.

For the season Glantz is 61-of-126 for 750 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. He has been sacked 15 times as well.

“Nate is my guy,” Goff reiterated Monday. “If anything he cares too much and tries too hard to make something happen. You can’t be greedy and have to take what the defense gives you.”

With Simmons gone Ryan Roberts becomes the likely candidate to be raised to the backup role. The redshirt sophomore played in five games last season and helped McNeese win its last three games.

The walk-on from Lafayette Christian started last season as the No. 4 quarterback on the depth chart but was forced to play because of injuries to both Knox Kadum and Walker Wood, and the infectiveness of Cam Ranson.

Roberts completed 26-of-54 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown while throwing four interceptions last season.

Also in the mix is redshirt freshman Cameron McCalister out of Friendswood, Texas. Two true freshmen, Kadem Sixkiller and Davion Wilson, are also on the roster. Both could play up to four games and not lose a year of eligibility.

McNeese will look to win its first game of the season this Saturday night against also winless Texas A&M-Commerce. It will be the Pokes’ fourth road trip in five weeks.

After that, they will be on their bye week before playing back-to-back home games against Incarnate Word and Northwestern State.

No McNeese team in history has started a season with six straight losses.