Skylar Thompson
refer to caption
Thompson in 2021
No. 6 – Miami Dolphins
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1997-06-04) June 4, 1997
Palmyra, Missouri, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:Fort Osage
(Independence, Missouri)
College:Kansas State (2016–2021)
NFL Draft:2022 / Round: 7 / Pick: 247
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2023
Passing attempts:105
Passing completions:60
Completion percentage:57.1%
TD–INT:1–3
Passing yards:534
Passer rating:62.2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Skylar John Thompson (born June 4, 1997) is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kansas State[1] and was drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Early life

Thompson was born to Brad Thompson and Teresa Thompson in Palmyra, Missouri on June 4, 1997.[2] His mother Teresa was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer and died in 2004 when Thompson was just six years old. Thompson also lost his grandfather, John Thompson, in 2003 to pancreatic cancer.[3]

Thompson was a four-year letterer and starting quarterback, punter, and kicker at Fort Osage High School in Independence, Missouri. As a senior, Thompson threw for 2,129 yards on 142 passes with 26 touchdowns on only 3 interceptions, leading the Fort Osage Indians to a 13–1 record and a state championship title over Chaminade High School. In the state championship game alone, Thompson threw for a Missouri state record of 455 yards and 7 touchdowns.[4] In his total career, Thompson threw for 6,222 yards on 423 passes (a 63% completion rate) with 72 touchdowns on just 9 interceptions.[5]

Thompson was named a 3-star recruit by EPSN and a 4-star recruit by 247Sports, accepting a full-ride scholarship to Kansas State over offers from Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Louisville, North Dakota State, Ohio, Tulsa, UNLV, Wake Forest, and Wyoming, as well as several preferred walk-on spots, including Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, among many others.[6]

Thompson also lettered in basketball, baseball, and soccer, and was named all-Missouri in both basketball and soccer at certain points in his career.

College career

After redshirting as a freshman and being named Scout Team Player of the Year, Thompson appeared in eight games and had four starts, throwing three touchdowns on 267 yards.[7] He was named the full-time starter as a sophomore and kept that starting role until graduation, but was constantly plagued with injuries throughout college. His sophomore year was riddled with minor injuries, including a broken rib and a twisted ankle, and in 2020, Thompson was ruled out-for-season after sustaining a serious upper-body injury against Texas Tech that required "immediate surgery".[8] He was again injured in week 3 of 2021 against Southern Illinois, seeing limited time as a backup while healing and not returning full-time until week 10.[9]

When Thompson was healthy, he played very well and was considered one of the best quarterbacks in the history of Kansas State football, having the all-time record for best passer rating over 2,000 yards, the second-most career passing touchdowns and passing yards in school history, as well as the second-most total offensive yards for a quarterback in school history.[7] He finished his passing career with 7,134 yards on 552 passes (a 63% completion rate) for 42 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Skylar was also an effective running quarterback with 1,087 total rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.[10]

College statistics

Season Team GP Passing Rushing
CmpAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2016Kansas State 0Redshirt Redshirt
2017Kansas State 8518361.46898.353143.8692673.93
2018Kansas State 1112220858.71,3916.794125.31053733.65
2019Kansas State 1317729759.62,3157.8125135.01144053.611
2020Kansas State 3406462.56269.840165.319382.03
2021Kansas State 1016223369.52,1039.0124158.94840.14
Career4555288562.47,1248.04216142.03551,0873.126

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jump
6 ft 1+7⁄8 in
(1.88 m)		 217 lb
(98 kg)		 31 in
(0.79 m)		 8+5⁄8 in
(0.22 m)		4.91 s1.62 s2.77 s4.28 s7.00 s31.0 in
(0.79 m)		9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)
All values from NFL Combine[11][12]

Prior to the NFL draft, Thompson was predicted to be an undrafted free agent due to a history of injuries, his age, and a "lack of consistent production as a passer," according to NFL.com.[13] He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins, with the 247th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.[14]

Thompson's performance during the first two games of the 2022 preseason was notable, with ProFootballTalk speculating that his success might force the Dolphins to keep Thompson on the active roster rather than risk losing him to another team.[15] Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel also noted that it would be difficult to leave Thompson off of the main roster in light of his strong preseason performances.[16] Thompson ranked first among qualifying quarterbacks in passer rating (138.5) at the conclusion of the 2022 preseason.[17][18] Thompson was named to the 53 man roster after final cuts.[19]

Thompson made his NFL debut in Week 5 against the New York Jets after Teddy Bridgewater left the game with a concussion. He completed 19-of-33 passes for 166 yards and an interception in the 40–17 loss.[20]

On October 15, 2022, Thompson was announced as the Dolphins Week 6 starter against the Minnesota Vikings after both Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater were dealing with concussions.[21] He sustained a thumb injury after completing 7-of-13 passes for 89 yards and was replaced by Bridgewater, who cleared concussion protocol and was active as the backup quarterback.[22]

On January 6, 2023, Thompson was announced as the starter against the Jets in Week 18 after Tagovailoa entered concussion protocol following Week 16 and Bridgewater suffered a dislocated finger on his throwing hand in Week 17.[23] He completed 20 passes on 31 attempts for 152 yards in an 11–6 win for the Dolphins, clinching the team's first postseason appearance since the 2016 season.[24]

On January 11, Tagovailoa was officially ruled out for the Dolphins' Wild Card Round game against the Buffalo Bills, with coach Mike McDaniel stating that Thompson would start his third career game.[25] Miami entered the contest as 14 point underdogs and were defeated 34–31.[26] Thompson threw for 220 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions with a 40% completion rate, though Miami's receivers were credited with several drops.[27][28][29]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year Team Games Passing Rushing Sacks Fumbles
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsY/ALngTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgLngTDSckSckYFumLost
2022MIA 721–16010557.15345.1321362.214211.59064022
2023MIA 00—DNP
Career721–16010557.15345.1321362.214211.59064022

Postseason

Year Team Games Passing Rushing Sacks Fumbles
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsY/ALngTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgLngTDSckSckYFumLost
2022MIA 110–1184540.02204.9251244.7231.52043100
Career110–1184540.02204.9251244.7231.52043100

References

  1. ↑ "Skylar Thompson (QB)". kstatesports.com. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Skylar Thompson – Football – Kansas State University Athletics". Kansas State University. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  3. ↑ Thompson, Skylar (May 12, 2019). "SE: In His Own Words — Keep Surviving". Kansas State Wildcats Athletics. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Missouri Football POY: Skylar Thompson". USA TODAY High School Sports. December 3, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Skylar Thompson's High School Football Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Skylar Thompson Recruit Interests". 247sports.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Skylar Thompson – Football". Kansas State University Athletics. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  8. ↑ Sallee, Barrett (October 12, 2020). "Kansas State QB Skylar Thompson out for the season after suffering an upper body injury". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  9. ↑ Summers, Mitchel (September 11, 2021). "K-State's Skylar Thompson injured in Wildcats 31–23 win". www.wibw.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Skylar Thompson College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Skylar Thompson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Skylar Thompson, Kansas State, QB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Skylar Thompson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  14. ↑ "The Reaction: Miami Dolphins Select QB Skylar Thompson with No. 247 Pick". www.miamidolphins.com. April 30, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  15. ↑ Smith, Michael David (August 21, 2022). "Dolphins' seventh-round rookie QB Skylar Thompson continues to impress". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  16. ↑ Masala, Mike (August 29, 2022). "Mike McDaniel speaks on Skylar Thompson's fight for a roster spot". Dolphins Wire. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  17. ↑ Cardenas, Anthony (August 30, 2022). "Miami Dolphins: Skylar Thompson is the MVP of the preseason". Phin Phanatic. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  18. ↑ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (January 6, 2023). "Dolphins' rookie QB Skylar Thompson confident ahead of must-win season finale". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Skylar Thompson makes Dolphins roster". KSNT 27 News. August 30, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  20. ↑ Owens, Jason (October 9, 2022). "Teddy Bridgewater sidelined in new Tua Tagovailoa concussion protocols; 7th-round rookie Skylar Thompson in for Dolphins". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  21. ↑ Florio, Mike (October 15, 2022). "Teddy Bridgewater is cleared to play, will be No. 2 to Skylar Thompson on Sunday". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Dolphins' Skylar Thompson exits with thumb injury as Miami QB woes continue; Teddy Bridgewater takes over". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  23. ↑ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (January 6, 2023). "Dolphins to start rookie QB Skylar Thompson vs. Jets". ESPN. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Dolphins clinch playoff berth after beating Jets 11-6". CBSSports.com. Associated Press. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  25. ↑ Maiorana, Sal (January 11, 2023). "Skylar Thompson in, Tua Tagovailoa out vs Bills: What to know about Miami QB situation". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Bills hang on for 34-31 wild-card win over Dolphins". CBSSports.com. Associated Press. January 16, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Wild Card - Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills - January 15th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  28. ↑ Dimmitt, Zach (January 15, 2023). "Bills vs. Dolphins: Crucial Drops - But Big TD Catches from Cole Beasley, Gabe Davis Entering 4th Quarter". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Dolphins' Skylar Thompson: Nearly beats Bills". CBSSports.com. January 15, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
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