Former Eastern Washington quarterback Reilly Hennessey ready for ‘fresh challenge’ at CWU

Reilly Hennessey just wants to play some more football.

That was the bottom line in the Eastern Washington quarterback’s decision to transfer to Central Washington, where he’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.

“Now here’s a fresh challenge and a chance to attack,” Hennessey said via Twitter on Wednesday as both schools revealed their recruiting classes.

“I’m ready to work and earn it every single day,” Hennessey said.

The Gatorade Player of the Year at Camas High School in 2013, Hennessey redshirted at Eastern in 2014.

His college playing career started promisingly in the 2015 opener at Oregon, where he came off the bench for Jordan West in the third quarter and threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns.

A week later, Hennessey was injured at Northern Iowa and didn’t return until late in the season. He started in losses to Montana and Portland State. Hennessey finished 59-for-91 for 773 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.

Hennessey came into spring ball as a contender to start, but was beaten out by the more mobile Gage Gubrud. Hennessey’s only major action came in Week 3: Relieving a struggling Gubrud, he rallied the Eagles to a 34-30 win over Northern Iowa.

For the year, Hennessey was 23-for-31 for 244 yards, three scores and zero interceptions. That added up to a 172.25 passer rating, which was slightly higher than Gubrud’s.

However, he saw little action the rest of the way. Two days after the season ended, he talked with then-coach Beau Baldwin about his future. Next spring he would be competing against not only Gubrud but promising freshman Eric Barriere.

Baldwin, a former CWU quarterback himself, pointed him toward Ellensburg.

Hennessey liked what he saw and committed to play at Central. However, he’ll miss Cheney.

“I absolutely love this place and could not be happier with my time spent here. I will miss you all,” Hennessey said.