Up to this early stage of the 2018 quarterback recruiting cycle, the focus of the new Texas Longhorn football staff has been on out-of-state players. So far, Texas has offered four quarterbacks for the 2018 class, three of which are committed to other programs.
The only uncommitted prospect to receive an offer is Moore (OK) Southmoore dual-threat QB Casey Thompson, who picked up a Texas offer a couple weeks ago.
Key quote: "Texas is top three, top five already. I haven't narrowed a list down, but I know Texas is a priority," Thompson said. "Miami is a high priority, so is North Carolina. North Carolina and Miami have recruited me really hard since the beginning. Texas is definitely in the mix. They're in my top five. Scott Frost at (Central Florida), Justin Fuente (Virginia Tech) talk to me a lot too. Those are the ones I talk to the most."
Close relationship with several UT coaches: Members of the UT staff have been recruiting Thompson from their time at previous stops, which is helping put the Longhorns high on Thompson's list.
"The Texas offer, an offer solidifies how much a school wants you. But I've always been close to the Houston staff, coach (Derek) Warehime, coach (Bryan) Carrington, Tom Herman. Whenever he took the job at Texas, they were already recruiting me," Thompson said. "We talk almost daily. I text two or three coaches a day. They told me they weren't going to give out any offers until they got a QB coach. When I found out Tim Beck got hired, I was obviously excited. Me and Tim Beck were close. He recruited me at Ohio State. One week after he took the job, he came to visit me. Then he offered me. I was very excited."
Not tied into staying close to home: Thompson lives in the state of Oklahoma. His father (Charlies Thompson) played at OU. So did his brother. Thompson's teammate and classmate at Southmoore (Brey Walker) is already committed to the Sooners. In spite of all that, Thompson is keeping an open mind and willing to play for any school in the country that provides him the best opportunity.
"I've been telling everbody that I'm open. I think coaches are now seeing that I'm open. The door closed for me at Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State. They took commitments," Thompson said. "I don't know if they'll take other commits in 2018. The schools that are waiting on me and are making me a priority, those are the ones I'll make a priority and the ones I like the most. I'm open. It doesn't matter where the school is, if the relationship and the vibe with the coaches is good, I'll go there."
UT visit in the works: "I plan to visit Austin no matter what this month. I will be in Austin once or twice this month. It may not happen until junior day, but I will almost for sure be at junior day," Thompson said. "I will visit North Carolina before the process is over with. I'll be in North Carolina for basketball and maybe do a private visit. I think I'm going to visit Miami one more time."
Close ties to top WR Joshua Moore: Recent IMG wide receiver transfer and UT target Joshua Moore is close with Thompson, and the two have expressed a strong interest in playing together in college.
"I'm close with Josh Moore and Brian Hightower. Me and Josh talk daily. We may be a package deal. I'm looking to commit first since quarterbacks go early. I'm probably going to commit sometime this spring. But my family is all for what's best for me and I'm going to do what's best for me," Thompson said.
Thoughts on Texas: "Tom Herman is the first thing that stands out. Austin, Texas, is the second thing that stands out. Tim Beck and the tradition at Texas is what stands out to me," Thompson said. "I think schools like Texas, Miami, Oklahoma - the big-time Power 5 schools, it's easy to build them into a powerhouse again because just how close they are. They're knocking on the door. Texas is a sleeping giant. I think they have a big-time ability to turn it around with Tom Herman's success at Houston."
