If nothing else, Nick Starkel possesses not just a strong sense of humor, but a great sense of self-awareness.

Simply put, Starkel’s been in college football for what seems like forever. After being named the starter at Texas A&M in 2017 following a redshirt season, he gave way to Kellen Mond after suffering an ankle injury before returning sooner than expected.

After Mond won the job in 2018 in Jimbo Fisher’s first year, Starkel ended up transferring to Arkansas for the 2019 season, where he started 5 games in 2019 before transferring to San José State in 2020. He threw for 1,920 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions in 7 games in 2020 as the Spartans won the Mountain West Championship Game over now-Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin and Boise State.

So what is in store for Starkel for 2021? Unbelievably, he has another year of eligibility, as do all student-athletes this season.

Well, he’s coming back.

It seems like ages ago that Starkel first stepped onto the Texas A&M campus. Some fans probably forgot he was still around in the first place, which is probably to be expected considering the number of starting quarterbacks the Aggies cycled through during the Kevin Sumlin era.

But after a strong 2020, his 5th in college football, Starkel will at least be able to go out on his own terms. For now, though, he’ll look to help the Spartans cap an 8-0 season with a win in the Arizona Bowl against Ball State on Thursday.

At least he’s not transferring again.