Justin Lamson, a former quarterback for Syracuse University, has successfully led the Montana State University Bobcats to the NCAA Division I Football Championship game. The championship match against Illinois State will take place on January 15, 2023, at 19:30 local time, airing on ESPN. This remarkable achievement has garnered attention not only for Lamson’s performance but also for his unique journey through college football.
Journey from Syracuse to Montana State
Bobcat head coach Brent Vigen expressed his confidence in Lamson, having tracked him since high school. “Justin was a high target of ours,” Vigen noted in a recent press conference. He recalled visiting Lamson’s high school in Sacramento while he served as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Wyoming. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited contact during Lamson’s recruitment, Vigen recognized the quarterback’s potential.
Initially, Lamson committed to Syracuse, where he had a productive tenure, before transferring to Stanford in 2023. During his time with the Cardinal, he managed four touchdown passes as a backup quarterback in the 2024 season.
After a brief stint at Stanford, Lamson found himself in the transfer portal once again, leading to interest from Bowling Green. “He was clearly our target through the month of December,” Vigen said. However, after Scot Loeffler, the head coach at Bowling Green, departed to join the Philadelphia Eagles, Lamson faced uncertainty with the new coaching staff.
Ultimately, Lamson decided to pursue an opportunity at Montana State. By the end of fall camp, he had earned the starting quarterback position, a journey that challenged him significantly. “I really felt like I had a challenging fall camp,” Lamson remarked, acknowledging that the team’s defense pushed him to improve his performance.
Record-Breaking Performance
As the championship game approaches, Lamson has established himself as one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). He has recorded an impressive 24 touchdown passes against just three interceptions for the season, alongside 14 rushing touchdowns as part of the Bobcats’ successful run, which has seen them achieve a 13-2 record.
Vigen described Lamson’s journey as a remarkable story, highlighting the long-standing relationship between the two. “It was the way the story was meant to be written. For it to come back to fruition the way it has, I’m just grateful that things work out the way they do,” he said.
With the championship game on the horizon, anticipation continues to build for Lamson and the Bobcats as they prepare to face Illinois State, marking a crucial moment in their season and Lamson’s burgeoning career.
