A little over two years after transferring into the North Carolina State football program, Pete Thomas is transferring out.
NCSU officials confirmed Friday that the quarterback has decided to take his leave of the Wolfpack and transfer to another program. As Thomas will graduate this spring, he will be eligible to play at the FBS level in 2014 without sitting out a transfer year.
No reason for the departure was given, although “tired of competing with SEC transfers” could very well have played into it.
Brandon Mitchell was named the Wolfpack’s starter over Thomas heading into the 2013 season but suffered an injury in the opener, with the broken bone in his foot sidelining him for the first half of the year. Mitchell, himself a graduate transfer from Arkansas last year, completed his collegiate eligibility, which would’ve cleared the way for Thomas to at least compete for the starting job.
That, though, would’ve meant another competition with a former SEC quarterback. In January of last year, Jacoby Brissett transferred from Florida to NCSU. Sitting out the 2013 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules, Brissett will enter spring practice as the favorite to win the starting job.
Thomas sat out the 2012 season after transferring to the Wolfpack from Colorado State. He started six games in 2013, including games 2-6 in place of the injured Mitchell.