Stanford quarterback Justin Lamson, one of the Cardinal’s three captains, is making his unexpected return to the Dome tonight as Stanford visits Syracuse. Lamson transferred from the Orange to the Cardinal ahead of last season, and will face his old team for the first time since his departure.
Although Syracuse and Stanford fans alike view Lamson as a quarterback, the El Dorado Hills, California native didn’t initially aspire to run the offense.
“He came to me and said I don’t want to play quarterback,” said Lamson’s 4th-grade flag football coach Dan Shonkwiler. “I want to catch the ball. I want to run with the ball.”
Eventually, Lamson embraced the quarterback position and dedicated himself to mastering the craft.
“Very often, off in the corner practicing his footwork and throwing into a lacrosse net was Justin doing it over and over and over again,” said Shonkwiler, referring to Lamson working out on his own at Oak Ridge High School.
This early versatility laid the foundation for Lamson’s dual-threat capabilities today. Although he isn’t Stanford’s starting quarterback, Lamson still makes significant contributions, particularly in goal-line situations. He showcased his skills with a touchdown run in week one when Stanford fell just short of TCU at home.
Lamson was also a defensive star at Oak Ridge High School before he excelled as a starting quarterback his junior year.
“If he decided he wanted to play defense, he’d probably be in the same situation he’d be in now: on a scholarship, playing for a D1 school,” said former Oak Ridge High School football head coach Eric Cavaliere. “There’s probably a couple different positions on defense he could’ve played and accomplished that. He’s just that kind of athlete.”
Syracuse fans have the chance to see Lamson in action tonight at 7:30 p.m. when Stanford walks into the Dome for the inaugural coast-to-coast matchup.
