STARKVILLE — It wouldn’t be football season without some quarterback controversy.
Within 24 hours of Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead naming Penn State transfer Tommy Stevens as the No. 1 quarterback last Thursday, junior incumbent Keytaon Thompson had entered the transfer portal.
In the time since, no potential destinations have been disclosed by Thompson’s camp, but there’s a growing sentiment he will not return to MSU.
“At the end of the day, we made a decision we felt was best for the maroon and white, for our offense and for our team and KT is checking to see what’s best for him,” Moorhead said Monday.
Thompson was not in attendance at MSU’s Fan Day Saturday afternoon and Moorhead told reporters that he is not currently with the team.
A former quarterback himself, MSU’s bench boss welcomed the idea of bringing Thompson back, but quelled any thoughts the Bulldogs could run a two-quarterback system in 2020.
“I think having played the position, and some people have done it successfully, I don’t feel like the guy can ever get in a groove,” Moorhead said. “You can have two in the game at the same time — that’s a different deal — but I’m not a fan of rotational quarterback play.”
Moorhead said he remains in contact with Thompson daily but that he understands his desire to play — particularly in the current climate of quarterback transfers.
“We got a quarterback from the portal, we’d love to keep one, we could potentially lose one but that’s the landscape in college football right now,” he said. “The portal giveth, the portal taketh away.”
Transfers, transfers and more transfers
Keytaon Thompson is far from the only transfer MSU is awaiting word on.
Junior college running back Kareem Walker is expected to hear a ruling on his situation Tuesday or Wednesday according to Moorhead.
Walker spent the past season at Ft. Scott Community College in Kansas after leaving the Michigan following his freshman year.
His availability this season has been an ongoing story throughout fall camp as he works through some administrative issues as he was initially expected to arrive in early August.
In other transfer news, one-time Louisville defensive tackle Allen Love had his initial waver for immediate playing time denied by the NCAA. MSU has begun the appeals process.
With limited experience at defensive tackle following Jeffery Simmons’ departure to the NFL, Love would be a welcome addition to the interior defensive line this season.
South Alabama punter Corliss Waitman also had his waiver for a sixth-year of eligibility denied. Waitman suffered a season-ending knee injury his redshirt freshman season and hoped to maintain an extra year of eligibility. He will not be with the team this season.
Oh captain, my captain
MSU named graduate transfer quarterback Tommy Stevens, senior punter Cody Schexnayder and senior nickel back Brian Cole II as captains Monday. They join junior linebacker Erroll Thompson and senior center Darryl Williams, who were awarded the honor in the spring.
Stevens, who comes to MSU after a four-year career at Penn State, quickly endeared himself to teammates with a laid-back demeanor and staunch work ethic during offseason workouts, per Moorhead. He also reportedly received three times as many votes as the next-closest offensive player.
Schexnayder will serve as the special teams captain. He was MSU’s primary holder in 2019 and will do so again this season.
“You’re not going to see a guy who bleeds more maroon and white, who is more positive, who has so much energy even though he doesn’t necessarily factor in a great bit in terms of on the field play,” Moorhead said of Schexnayder. “He’s a guy that is a great team player and I think he definitely earned the right to be a captain.”
Lastly, Cole is a one-time Michigan transfer who spent a year at East Mississippi Community College before heading to Starkville. He’ll serve as MSU’s No. 1 nickel back or “star” as it’s referred to in defensive coordinator Bob Shoop’s defense.
Moorhead also announced the Bulldogs’ 2020 leadership council Monday. Members of the group include seniors Farrod Green and Leo Lewis, junior C.J. Morgan, sophomore Austin Williams, redshirt freshmen Aaron Brule and Fabien Lovett and freshman De’Monte Russell.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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