Texas QB commit Casey Thompson: "I’m trying to be great from day one"

Texas quarterback commitment Casey Thompson will sign his letter of intent next week. The Newcastle (OK) product will graduate early and enroll at Texas in January.

Thompson, a highly sought-after prospect and one of the Longhorns’ first commitments in the 2018 recruiting class, will head to Austin with a very specific mindset – he’s coming into the Texas program to work, and he’s ready to compete.

“I’m trying to be great from day one, no matter what,” Thompson said.

After years of quarterback success behind the leadership of Vince Young and Colt McCoy, the Texas program has struggled to find consistency at the position for nearly a full decade. Last year, Texas employed a two-quarterback system of Sam Ehlinger and Shane Buechele, and both players struggled at times. Thompson, along with fellow incoming freshman quarterback Cameron Rising, who will also enroll early, are coming in with the intentions of competing for immediate playing time.

Last weekend, during his official visit, the Texas coaches reiterated to Thompson that the quarterback competition will be wide-open when the team hits the field for spring practices.

“The coaches have told us that we’ll all be able to compete and have an equal opportunity,” Thompson said. “I’m definitely excited. I didn’t think I’d ever be in a position to walk in to campus and have to be ready to compete as soon as I get there coming straight out of high school. It’s very exciting, makes you grow up fast. The only thing you can ask for is an opportunity, a chance to compete for the starting job.”

The 6-1, 192-pound Thompson recently put the finishing touches on a stellar high school career that saw him set the Oklahoma state record for total offense with a combined 12,840 yards from scrimmage and 154 total touchdowns. A dual-threat quarterback, Thompson is the rare blend who can legitimately take over a game with his arm and still make big plays with his legs. He’s hoping his versatile skill set will help him make a mark on a Texas offense that struggled for much of the 2017 season.

“I think a lot of times, dual threats get labeled as run-first guys. I’m definitely a pass-first guy, but I can also run,” Thompson said. “I think I fit in well with the offense, the style of quarterbacks Tom Herman has had in the past. I think my skill set will be a great fit. It’s just about how will I adapt to the culture, how I adapt to my environment once I’m given the opportunity.

“I would say my elusiveness, speed and agility are definitely some of my better skill sets. I think a lot of people underrate me as a passer, but I think I have great accuracy, great ball placement. I’m very confident in my arm. If couldn’t run, I feel I can still win with my arm.”

A four-star prospect, Thompson had a long list of scholarship offers from the likes of Oklahoma, Ohio State, Penn State and Miami. He chose Texas early due in part to his relationship with Tom Herman and offensive coordinator Tim Beck, and Thompson says he feels better about his decision than he ever has after spending last weekend in Austin for his UT official visit.

“I think it was the best visit I’ve had, tops all the rest of the visits I have made to Austin. I really enjoyed myself,” Thompson said. “My family got a chance to see where I’ll be going to school. I could definitely tell they were excited for me. I was definitely impressed with how organized they were, how well the visit was run. My favorite part was just being around my future teammates and the other commits.

“I’ve definitely been solid with my commitment. But after this weekend, I realize it’s closer than ever. I have the national letter of intent ready for me to sign. … After this weekend, it definitely solidified my decision. Everything is more clear than ever.”

A key component of a Texas recruiting class that currently ranks fourth nationally, Thompson is confident that he and the other incoming Texas freshmen will be able to propel UT to heights the program hasn’t seen in the better part of the last decade.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to take Texas back to being an elite program,” Thompson said. “Obviously they have the resources and the brand is one of the biggest in college football, one of the best facilities in the country. I was definitely excited to be there this weekend. It’s exciting for this recruiting class to be a top recruiting class in the nation, to try to come in and shift the culture, do something big for college football. I know all of us are excited.”