Earlier today Washington confirmed that starting quarterback Cyler Miles had taken what was described as a “voluntary leave of absence” as he “is dealing with some things in his life that are more important than football.”
Now, it appears that leave of absence may be permanent.
Citing a source with knowledge of the situation, the Seattle Times is reporting that “Miles does not plan to play for the Huskies during the 2015 season.” What Miles’ intentions for the moment when it comes to his football future are not yet known, the source told the Times that he’s keeping all of his options open.
Presumably those options include, in particular, a transfer. Should the redshirt sophomore opt to take that route, he would, barring a successful appeal for a hardship waiver, likely be forced to sit out the 2015 season if he landed at an FBS school. That would leave the Colorado product with one more season of eligibility in 2016.
He could also transfer to an FCS and gain immediate eligibility, which would leave him with two more on-field seasons.
After missing the 2014 opener because of a suspension related to an offseason incident, Miles started 12 of the next 13 games for the Huskies. Should Miles’ leave of absence turn into a departure, it would leave UW with three options at the quarterback position: Jake Browning, K.J. Carta-Samuels and Jeff Lindquist. Lindquist, a redshirt junior, started the 2014 opener in place of Miles, while Carta-Samuels, a four-star 2014 recruit who took a redshirt as a true freshman, and Browning, a four-star member of this year’s class who is an early enrollee, have never thrown a pass at the collegiate level.
Troy Williams, who started one game last season, announced his decision to transfer from UW in early January.