Kevin Thomson
Quarterback / Sacramento State
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Kevin Thomson: 6’2, 205 and I never ran the 40. I also need to put on more weight.
Alex Khvatov: How are you currently preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?
Kevin Thomson: I am staying in touch with the coaching staff. I am able to go over the playbook. During the week, we try to organize some workouts with a few of the guys. During the weekend, it is more of an individual workout. I am doing some extra runs. I am trying to find the positive out of this whole situation. Get one up on the competition.
Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?
Kevin Thomson: I am from Auburn, Washington, which is close to Seattle. I played baseball in high school, and basketball growing up. Baseball was my first sport. I was hopeful to play college baseball. I also had the dream to play in the pros. I was a decent player.
Alex Khvatov: When did you start playing QB?
Kevin Thomson: We were playing flag football in fourth grade. My best friend’s brother was coaching us. We didn’t have a QB, so he asked me to be one. I was a baseball thrower. It felt natural to me. My dad was a QB in high school. I have been a QB ever since.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Kevin Thomson: During my junior year, I realized that I wanted to play football. We went 1-9 that season. I started going to some camps after the season. I focused on football during my senior year. I was a zero-star recruit. My senior year, we started the season 4-0. The UNLV coaching staff contacted me, and head coach Bobby Hauck offered me. I also had New Mexico State and Idaho. Idaho actually pulled the offer when Jake Luton committed there.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose UNLV?
Kevin Thomson: I was comfortable with the coaching staff at UNLV. I knew that I could play early. They went to the bowl game that year and had a 7-win season. They had a junior college QB coming in and no one else. It was a promising situation.
Alex Khvatov: Tell us about your experience at UNLV.
Kevin Thomson: I came into camp as a freshman and ultimately redshirted. I put on some weight and matured. We won two games, and they let go of the coaching staff. I was trying to compete next spring. Everything was going well. I started to experience some elbow issues. I pushed through the summer and the fall. The pain didn’t go away. I knew that it was time to get it looked at in the fall of 2015. I needed to have UCL reconstruction. I had Tommy John surgery. I might have had a slight tear at first, but the constant throwing worn it down. Something was bothering me for a long time. In the spring of 2016, I decided to transfer at that point. I was going through the rehab at home in the summer and fall of 2016. I was also working. The recruiting process was difficult. I had a significant elbow surgery and I have never taken a snap at QB in college. Some D-II schools looked at me. It was not for me. In October of 2016, Sacramento State gave me a call. They were interested in me.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you transfer to Sacramento State?
Kevin Thomson: I wasn’t sure about how my elbow was going to react. I knew that I had to work hard. They offered me a partial scholarship. They told me if I win the job, they will make it a full scholarship. I was eligible to play immediately. I have never looked back.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your overall career with the Hornets?
Kevin Thomson: It was an 18-month rehab after I left UNLV. I wasn’t sure that football was in the cards, but I stuck with the process. I got a second chance. It was the best opportunity for me. Sacramento State was a struggling program, but I wanted to help the team win. Not everyone gets a second opportunity. I was very fortunate. In the fall of 2017, I won the starting job. We won seven games that year and were tied for third in the conference. We had a lot of returners coming back in 2018. During the fourth or fifth game, I got banged up. It was my back. I missed quite a bit of time. I missed two games. We went 2-8. It was a big step backwards for us. We had some hype and we didn’t meet expectations. It was a learning experience. Coach Taylor came in and brought in a new staff in the spring of 2019. We bought into his philosophy. He had success in the PAC-12. The whole team worked hard. We put together a great system. We were successful. It didn’t go well the last game of the season, but it was a learning experience. We are hoping to continue the upward trend. The foundation is in place.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Kevin Thomson: Consistency in my preparation in the offseason and during the season. The ability to extend plays and do some good things with my feet.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Kevin Thomson: I need to add 5-10 pounds for durability. Improve my footwork and base in the pocket. I need to make quicker decisions.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Kevin Thomson: Definitely this last season. The 2019 season is a highlight so far. I will cherish it for a long time. The bond with my teammates and how close we got to the coaches. We had fun last year. When you are winning, you are having fun. It was a special season. People and the alumni were excited about the program.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff?
Kevin Thomson: The biggest thing is just to live in the moment. Don’t look that far ahead or dwell in the past. Look at the present. We bought into it.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Kevin Thomson: I am a Seahawks fan.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Kevin Thomson: QB’s Russell Wilson and Drew Brees. Brees is so great mechanically. I also liked Richard Sherman for the Seahawks. He is a fun guy. He brings a big personality to the field.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?
Kevin Thomson: RB Elijah Dotson is the best RB at the FCS level the last two years. He did a great job catching the ball this last year. WR Pierre Williams almost had a 1,000-yard season. He was banged up. He is big time. WR Johnnie Rucker is coming back from the ACL injury. He is also one of our top receivers.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Kevin Thomson: I feel like it was Weber State’s D-line. Jonah Williams was a good one. Their defense as a whole.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a QB?
Kevin Thomson: Consistency in everything. You can’t take a week off. You have to do it all year long. It has to be a habit.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Kevin Thomson: I enjoy the camaraderie. We have 100 guys on the team. The bond and the relationships with the guys. It is a special game. When you win a game, it is a special feeling.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from Sacramento State this upcoming season?
Kevin Thomson: Expect a team with a lot of energy. We will come out, be consistent and compete. We will give it everything we got. Hopefully it ends in victories.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Kevin Thomson: Get out on the sun. Go to the river or go to the pool. I play video games from time to time.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Kevin Thomson: I am currently working on my master’s in educational technology. I received my bachelor’s degree in communication. I want to go into administration at the high school or college level. Maybe coaching or being an athletics director, but I am just not sure. I am keeping all doors open.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Kevin Thomson: Consistent, tough, resilient, humorous, and laid-back.
