Washington football: Will transfer Kevin Thomson win starting QB job?

After transferring to Washington, Kevin Thomson may be the Huskies’ starting quarterback.

As Jake Browning‘s career wound down, the Washington Huskies and then-head coach Chris Petersen landed Jacob Eason as a transfer. With Eason now moving on to the NFL, another Washington native is coming home. On Wednesday, Sacramento State quarterback Kevin Thomson announced he is transferring to play his final collegiate season for the Huskies.

Thomson originally signed with UNLV out of Auburn (Wash.) Riverside in the class of 2014. He redshirted then left the program after the 2015 season when Tony Sanchez replaced Bobby Hauck as Rebels’ head coach. Tommy John surgery in 2015 led to two extra years of eligibility.

“They had reached out when I was in the portal,” said Thomson, via 247Sports. “It’s every kid’s dream in the area to go to the University of Washington. I just jumped on it because I was so excited. To be able to play in front of my friends and family is just a dream come true.”

After not hearing from Washington when he was a high school recruit, Thomson landed at Sacramento State, where he started 15 games over the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Last year, in Troy Taylor’s first season as head coach, he had his best year.

Thomson had 39 total touchdowns (27 passing, 12 rushing) with over 3,800 total yards on his way to winning Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year in 2019. The Hornets also won a share of the conference title.

Thompson started two games against FBS opponents last year. Against Arizona State on Sept. 6, he completed 32-of-50 passes for 263 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Then, against Fresno State on Sept 21, he went 22-of-41 for 233 yards and three touchdowns.

Thomson is a graduate transfer, so he’s eligible to play right away. He will join what looks like a wide-open competition for the starting job, with returnees Jacob Sirmon and Dylan Morris as well as incoming freshman Ethan Garbers in the mix.

Sirmon, a sophomore, and Morris, a redshirt freshman, have yet to start a college game. So Thomson has a clear experience advantage, even if it came in the FCS and should be the starting quarterback for Jimmy Lake’s team when Washington opens their season vs. Michigan on Sept. 5.

And if Thomson does win the starting quarterback job to start the season, he’ll face his former team when Washington hosts Sacramento State in Week 2.

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