After a knee injury terminated his 2023 season, sixth-year senior Thompson moved from Florida Atlantic to OU. He missed all of spring practice while he recovered from the injury.
Jackson Arnold is the starter at Oklahoma, while rookie Michael Hawkins appears to be the leader as his backup. Thompson may never play for the Sooners, but he may take advantage of his position as the team’s most seasoned quarterback (by a wide margin) and step in for Arnold, performing well enough to hold the starting position throughout the season. Beyond a preseason projection or prediction, it cannot be known.
However, Thompson is a shrewd enough to step into almost any circumstance if called upon; he seen it all while at Texas and Nebraska, and it appears he will be prepared.
Head coach Brent Venables stated on Saturday, “Yeah he’s done good.” He scored several third downs yesterday and had a strong couple of series. A few of our first-down plays, second-down situations, and how we got the drive going correctly.
That should be more than welcome news for the quarterback room of the Sooners and offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. Arnold was formerly a 5-star recruit, but in his first season, he only saw 181 offensive snaps. As the self-proclaimed “face of the program,” Arnold appears to have a bright career ahead of him, despite his youth and inexperience. Despite having OU ancestry, Hawkins has not yet made a college snap.
Venables’ third OU squad might benefit greatly from the presence of Thompson, a 6-foot, 192-pound senior from Moore, as the club moves into the Southeastern Conference.
More bizarre incidents have occurred.
Thompson has been psychologically and emotionally prepared for this moment for years, which is another reason he could be more significant than a typical third-team quarterback.
Thompson possesses OU ancestry. Growing up in Norman and being surrounded by the program as a youngster was something deep in Casey’s DNA. His father is wishbone wiz Charles Thompson.
He stated as much with pride in March.
Thompson remarked, “I don’t need to be sold on the OU brand; I grew up here.” “I don’t need to be convinced of the value of Oklahoma football or its significance to this community and its supporters.”
Even though he was only recovering from a knee injury, he spent two months at his ideal school, attending classes and witnessing workouts, and he never wavered in his appreciation for the establishment.
He declared, “This is one of the best teams and cultures I’ve ever been on.”
Whether he stays on the third team or begins to climb up the depth chart, there is still a lot of work to be done. Star wide receiver Nic Anderson, for example, stated he hasn’t actually worked with him at practice yet but has “gotten a couple of balls from him just outside the facility.”
Despite having little opportunities with the 1s during the first week of the season, Venables seems impressed thus far, especially in light of the fact that Thompson hasn’t really played the position in eleven months.
Venables claimed that he “showed some of his experience, making decisions quickly.” “He has been doing well.”