Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out a changing quarterback situation and Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell offers his opinion on the player as a recruit and from a fantasy perspective.
Star Mississippi State quarterback and Heisman hopeful Nick Fitzgerald will not play Saturday in the Bulldogs’ tuneup season opener against Stephen F. Austin but college football fantasy owners should still consider his replacement to start in their leagues.
Keytaon Thompson could actually be a significant steal in Week 1.
The former four-star quarterback from New Orleans (La.) Landry-Walker brings to the field many of Fitzgerald’s qualities and against Stephen F. Austin, Thompson should be able to clean up and possibly even see the field longer than Fitzgerald would have if the game is a blowout.
Last season after Fitzgerald went down with an injury against Ole Miss, Thompson finished with a game-high 121 rushing yards on 26 attempts and a touchdown along with 195 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception.
In Mississippi State’s bowl win over Louisville and quarterback Lamar Jackson, Thompson had 147 rushing yards and three scores along with 127 passing yards and a pick.
Although Thompson only played in 10 games last season and mainly in mop-up duty, he was tied for second on the team with six rushing touchdowns alongside starting running back Aeris Williams. Only Fitzgerald (14) had more scores on the ground.
Fitzgerald was a top selection to start at quarterback in fantasy leagues this week since he’s one of the best in college football, plus first-year coach Joe Moorhead did wonders with Trace McSorley during his time at Penn State and that would seemingly translate to Starkville as well.
That thinking has not changed with Thompson getting the start because of Fitzgerald’s one-game suspension, so picking him up and letting Thompson ride is not a bad idea at all in a game that should get out of hand rather quickly.
FARRELL'S TAKE
“He’s a big kid who can move, he can extend the play, he has a big arm. He was a little bit of a project at times with accuracy and some of the other things that are needed, but his upside was awesome. It’s hard to find a dual-threat quarterback who has that size, the ability to run, keep opponents off-balance, sort of like a poor man’s Cam Newton, who can fit into any kind of offense. He’s going to be a good fit with what Moorhead likes to do, especially since we’ve seen he liked mobile quarterbacks at Penn State.
“Thompson is a developmental guy, so they’re going to want to see a lot more of him. They knew what Fitzgerald could do. Both would’ve played because it’s a new offense and a new coaching staff, but Thompson will get a longer look because he is so young and they’d want to keep him in there longer.”
