The University of Wyoming football team lost two of their top quarterbacks from the 2013 season over the last two weeks: standout junior Brett Smith and second-string sophomore Jason Thompson. Thompson was previously the projected starter following Smith’s departure.
Smith elected to enter the NFL draft on Dec. 27 rather than play out his senior season, making Smith the first quarterback to enter the 2014 NFL draft.
According to a story published at the time of Smith’s decision on trib.com, Smith did not leave Laramie early because of the recent firing of former Cowboys’ head coach Dave Christenson, nor the subsequent hiring of former North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl.
Instead, Smith cited his lifelong dream of becoming an NFL quarterback as the primary motivation for his exit.
During Smith’s tenure at UW he set several records including the Wyoming and Mountain West single-game total offense record. He broke this record on Nov. 23 against Hawaii with 640 yards of offense and eight touchdowns.
Smith also holds the UW record for career touchdown passes; a record that he earned on Sept. 21, 2013 against the Air Force Falcons when he reached 60.
Thompson chose to leave UW by transferring to the University of Utah, where Christensen will take over as offensive coordinator in the coming season. Thompson also has family in the Utah area.
Thompson played six games as a freshman, going 27-of-52 for 222 yards.
Due to NCAA transfer rules Thompson will be required to sit out a season, leaving him with two remaining years of eligibility.
The absence of Smith and Thompson leaves the Pokes with one remaining scholarship quarterback from the 2013 campaign: freshman Tommy Thornton.
Thornton came into games a few times during the 2013 season, but always late in the fourth with the contest already decided.
Thornton received First Team All-State Division II honors in high school, and threw for 2,544 yards and 20 touchdowns during his senior high school season.
Wyoming also recruited Austin Fort, a senior quarterback for the Gillette Camels who looks to enter the mix for Wyoming’s starting job in his freshman season.
Fort, at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, is a physical presence with speed to match—he ran a 4.7 second 40-yard dash.
The young quarterback also expressed interest in Central Florida, New Mexico State and Illinois before eventually deciding to stay in his home state.
Fort is not Wyoming’s only new QB recruit going into next season. On Jan. 9 ASA College, N.Y. quarterback Aaron Young announced his commitment to play for UW.
Young threw for 1,803 yards and 22 touchdowns during his only season at ASA College with only three interceptions. Young’s efficiency and lack of turnovers should fit well in Bohl’s offensive scheme, although it is not yet certain that he will get the starting job.
