Photo courtesy of MSU Athletics
– Story by SportsTalk Mississippi MSU Beat Reporter Brian Hadad
Mississippi State loses one quarterback from a crowded position group
In what can only be described as an expected move, Mississippi State junior quarterback Keytaon Thompson has entered his name into the transfer portal on Monday, as first reported by AL.com’s Matt Zenitz. Thompson leaves MSU after three years which saw him go from heir apparent to lost in the shuffle as the Bulldogs went through three different head coaches in his time in Starkville.
Thompson signed with Dan Mullen out of high school in the Class of 2017, the highest-rated quarterback to ever ink with the maroon and white. He played a backup role as a true freshman until the Egg Bowl, where Nick Fitzgerald’s injury forced him into the starting position. Thompson would lead the Bulldogs to victory in the Gator Bowl over Heisman winner Lamar Jackson, but that would be the high point for his Bulldog career. He started only one other game, the season opener in 2018 due to Fitzgerald’s suspension, attempting only 39 passes for the season. His final year on campus saw Thompson take a redshirt, only appearing in the regular-season finale against Ole Miss as a wide receiver, nabbing one catch for eight yards.
With Mississippi State making a radical philosophy change from the Mullen power offense Thompson was recruited to into Mike Leach’s Air Raid attack, and with grad transfer KJ Costello en route from Stanford to presumably claim the starting job for 2020, Thompson will leave Mississippi State with two years of eligibility remaining, and as a graduate transfer, will be able to play immediately.
Mississippi State still has four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, Costello, sophomore Garrett Shrader, redshirt sophomore Jalen Mayden, and true freshman Will Rogers.
