He’s going to pursue them somewhere else.

The Southwestern Central School graduate announced Monday evening that he is entering the transfer portal for the second time in his collegiate career.

“During the season, I just wanted to focus all of my energy on playing my best out there and focus on my teammates,” Snyder said Monday evening, less than a week after the Bulls’ season-ending loss to Eastern Michigan. “After the season, I sat down with people that I trust, talked to some other people and got their opinions. I sat down and made a decision with that information.”

Snyder has spent the past two seasons at the University at Buffalo and experienced varying degrees of success in Amherst.

AP File Photo Southwestern graduate Cole Snyder threw for 5,139 yards and 31 touchdowns in two seasons at the University at Buffalo.

The 2018 Post-Journal Player of the Year started all 25 games for the Bulls the last two years, guiding UB to a 10-15 overall record, including 8-8 in Mid-American Conference action.

In two seasons, Sndyer completed 474 of 833 passes for 5,139 yards and 31 touchdowns against just 17 interceptions. On the ground, he ran for 233 yards and five touchdowns.

“When I look at my time in Buffalo the last two years, I can be thankful for Coach (Maurice Linguist) allowing me to be the starting quarterback at Buffalo,” Snyder said. “He took a chance on me and it worked out for the best.”

His best season statistically came in 2022 when he became just the third Bulls quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season. UB went 7-6 and qualified for the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The Bulls’ opponent was Georgia Southern, which was, ironically, quarterbacked by former Bulls starter Kyle Vantrease. Snyder went 21 of 38 for 265 yards and a touchdown in the game as UB won 23-21 for the Bulls’ third ever bowl victory.

“I look at my time there, the relationships that I’ve built and I don’t regret going there one bit. I had a great time there, got to play in front of my home crowd and be close to home,” Snyder said. “There are a lot of good things that came from me going to Buffalo.”

UB moved on from offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery after the season and replaced him with DJ Mangas in January. The offense struggled throughout much of this season, averaging just 20.9 points per game – and only 11 per game over the final four games of the season.

“I don’t even know what that’s like,” Snyder said of having consistency in his coaching staff. “This will be my sixth coordinator in six years … that’s my normal. Football is football at the end of the day. In all of the offenses I’ve been in we run the same plays with different terminology. Hopefully I get to go somewhere where I get to throw the ball around.”

Snyder had a good start to this season, completing 79 of 122 passes for 735 yards and nine touchdowns in losses to Wisconsin, Fordham and Liberty to open the year. The Bulls then lost at Louisiana to fall to 0-4 before back-to-back wins entering MAC play. But UB lost five of its final six games – all in the MAC – to finish with just three wins.

“I felt like I was a better football player in Year 2, if that makes sense,” Snyder said. “Going forward, just taking a step back and looking at these past two years, seeing what direction the program is going, the offense and everything, I just thought it was in my best interest to go somewhere else and get a fresh start. Hopefully I can land somewhere where I’m wanted and somebody trusts me to make the most of this last year.”

Snyder transferred to UB from Rutgers after the 2021 season. With the Scarlet Knights, Snyder played in just nine games, including six during his sophomore season.

“The competitor in me wants to play at the highest level. God-willing if i get a shot like that it would be a heck of an opportunity. If it was the right situation, the right quarterback room, at a power-5 school, that would be incredible,” Snyder said of his time in the Big Ten Conference. “I feel like God has a plan for me, I don’t know where he’s taking me or where I’m going to end up, but I’m trusting his plan. I think it will be a spot where I can excel.”

Snyder completed 21 of 31 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown over three seasons in Piscataway, New Jersey, including a redshirt freshman year and a 2020 season severely impacted by COVID-19.

“I just want a chance to compete for a starting job at another program. Going into my last year of eligibility, this is a big year coming up, there are no do-overs,” Snyder said. “I’m looking for the best situation to go in there and play where I can make a difference and hopefully win a championship at my next stop.”

Entering his sixth season, Snyder already has earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and will look to complete his master’s degree in finance at a new institution. Even with that degree in hand, he hopes it will be a while before he has to put it to work.

“That’s the biggest reason I’m on the move, honestly,” Snyder said when asked if he had professional football aspirations. “If I just wanted to finish my education and go into the workforce — not that the opportunity wouldn’t be there at UB – but moving schools, that’s a big reason right there, the opportunity at the next level.

“That’s why I’m doing it and God-willing, that’s still on the table,” Snyder added. “We’ll see what happens after this plays out, but only time will tell.”