Jacob

Sirmon

Sirmon (6'5/240) is a former four-star recruit who originally enrolled at Washington for two seasons before transferring to Central Michigan in December of 2020. He battled redshirt freshman Daniel Richardson for the starting job throughout spring practices and training camp, earning the opening day starting nod against Missouri. He went on to start the first four games of the year before being supplanted by Richardson who went on to excel in the role. Sirmon completed 74-of-121 passes for a 61 percent completion rate, 744 yards and a 6-to-4 ratio, earning a middling 58.6 PFF passing grade this year. He will have two years of eligibility remaining wherever he lands.

Jacob Sirmon (6'5"/240) did his best to keep Central Michigan in this game. He responded to an early Mizzou touchdown with a seven-yard touchdown on dump off to JaCorey Sullivan.

He made a couple of costly mistakes with two inceptions, one of which was near the Missouri red zone.

His offensive line didn’t leave him much time; he was sacked nine times, one of those knocking him out of the game briefly.


Central Michigan will host Robert Morris on Saturday 9/11.

HC Jim McElwain, who’s away from the team as he recovers from an appendectomy, said earlier in the week that he anticipated using multiple quarterbacks in Saturday’s opener. One option would be Sirmon (6'5/240), and the Washington transfer appears to be the signal-caller who will take the Chippewas’ first offensive snap. Daniel Richardson and Tyler Pape were also in the running for the starting job during fall camp, so it should come as no surprise if either (or both) took some snaps on Saturday.

While there’s no clarity regarding the starting job, as McElwain still hasn’t named his starter, the head coach did offer some insight as to how he’ll use his quarterbacks. Multiple quarterbacks will play on Saturday, with Washington transfer Jacob Sirmon, returnee Daniel Richardson and freshman Tyler Pape among the available options. Based upon their experience, it feels safe to assume that Sirmon and Richardson will get their chances to play Saturday afternoon. How the reps are divided will likely depend upon the flow of the game, and how well the quarterbacks are playing.

The assumption entering fall camp was that the battle for the starting job would be between returnee Daniel Richardson and Washington transfer Jacob Sirmon. But Pape (6'4/210) played well enough in the practices ahead of this past Saturday’s scrimmage to throw his hat into the ring as well. “Right now, all three guys have been doing a fantastic job and the competition’s been great,” McElwain said ahead of Saturday’s scrimmage. “And to see those guys elevate the whole team when each one of them is in there, that’s been a really positive thing.” Richardson is the most experienced of the three, as he made four starts for the Chippewas last season. CMU opens its season September 4 against Missouri.

Sirmon entered the transfer portal shortly after the season, and it didn’t take long for the 6-foot-5, 240-pound signal-caller to find a new home. The former four-star recruit entered the portal in 2019, as well, but changed his mind. He battled for the starting gig this summer, but Dylan Morris won the job as a redshirt freshman, and it seemed unlikely he’d get another opportunity to star for the Huskies. The opportunity should present itself for CMU, however, and he’ll get a chance to work with Jim McElwain. Assuming he leaves with his degree, Sirmon is eligible to play right away in 2021.

Sirmon (6'5/240) originally entered his name into the transfer portal in April 2019, but within a few days he had a change of heart. But after playing in five games last season the redshirt sophomore made just one appearance in 2020, seeing some late-game action in a blowout win over Arizona. Sirmon, who was likely to be in a similar spot next season, will have three seasons of eligibility remaining at his next stop should he go through with a transfer.

The right to replace Jacob Eason is a four-man race, with redshirt senior Kevin Thomson, redshirt sophomore Jacob Sirmon, redshirt freshman Ethan Garbers and freshman Dylan Morris being the competitors. When asked if the team has been told who will start Saturday, Lake said that they have not. Why’s he taking this approach? It’s all about strategy. “Like I mentioned before, it really doesn’t help us to announce anything like that going into a game,” Lake said. “I know from a defensive perspective, if we know who the starting quarterback is then we can plan for that guy.” Thomson (6'2/200), a grad transfer from Sacramento State, is Washington’s most experienced quarterback but he has yet to play a game in the purple and gold.

Freshman Ethan Garbers (6'2/195) was listed first, but with the “or” designation accompanying all four quarterbacks, with Dylan Morris, Jacob Sirmon and Kevin Thomson listed in that order. This is the first depth chart released since new HC Jimmy Lake took over, so he’s clearly attempting to play the situation close to the vest. When asked about the quarterback competition, Lake said the team knows who the quarterback is and he’s not going to divulge that information until Saturday night when UW plays Cal in their season opener.

Lake left the door open for multiple quarterbacks to see action if no one separates themselves in the four-way competition. Sirmon (6'4/218) will battle a cadre of talented four-star recruits, along with Sacramento State grad transfer Kevin Thompson, for the right to take the first snaps against Cal on November 7. Lake didn’t give an indication of which way he is leaning, so the October 31 scrimmage will weigh heavily on his decision.