Quarterback Casey Thompson, who was born in Oklahoma City, played the majority of his high school football about 20 minutes from OU at Southmoore High School.
While at Southmoore, Thompson passed for 1,180 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 553 yards and five touchdowns in his freshman year. As a sophomore, he recorded 2,670 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushed for 1,011 yards and 20 touchdowns, leading Southmoore to a 9-2 record and 43.5 points per game.
Thompson finished his last season at Southmoore with 2,730 yards and 28 touchdowns during his junior season before transferring to Newcastle High School, where he passed for 3,249 yards in his last high school season.
His high school play earned himself a three-star ranking as a prospect. But when it came time for college, he chose Texas.
At Texas, Thompson redshirted his first year before appearing in four games and recording 84 passing yards during his freshman year and 225 in his sophomore year. As a junior, Thompson took a leap – he started in 10 games and finished with 2,113 passing yards. Texas, however, did not feel like home, so Thompson spent his next two years at Nebraska and Florida Atlantic University. At Nebraska, he improved to 2,407 passing yards in a season before moving to FAU. Rather than continuing his progression at FAU, Thompson reached a low point, as he sustained a season-ending knee injury after three games.
After stints at multiple schools, for his last college season, Thompson returned home.
“Everything came full circle,” Thompson said. “Being able to (grow) up here in Oklahoma City and Moore, end up back here in Norman … I'm really thankful.”
In his lone season at Oklahoma, Thompson appeared in just one game with the final kneel in OU’s 24-3 win against Alabama on Nov. 23. However, that never damaged Thompson’s mentality. He remained focused, particularly on being a leader.
“I just came in the building every day focusing on going 1-0, one day at a time, and for me, I've already played (a lot of) football games,” Thompson said. “Just being able to be a leader in the quarterback room and with the team … I love being with these guys, last year, on Team 130 (and) just being able to be a positive influence,” Thompson said.
Leadership, positivity and mental fortitude are all traits Thompson sees himself contributing at the next level. At OU’s 2025 Pro Day, those were the exact traits Thompson prided himself on having.
“I bring experience. I bring poise and leadership, and I would just say I bring a mentally tough quarterback who has the ability to make people around them better,” Thompson said in front of scouts and media at OU’s Pro Day. “I'm always going to focus on my job and focus on execution and the details, and then really, for me, just trying to bring everyone up around me, and I like that. I've gone through adversity at different places, so I can say, ‘Look what I've done with this receiver or this O line or when I was in the Big 10 or the Big 12,’” Thompson said.
However, those are not the only skills Thompson hopes to bring to an NFL team. Thompson also values his quickness and was able to show that at Pro Day with a 9-foot-5 broad jump, a 33-inch vertical and a 4.28-second shuttle.
Thompson strives for people to take notice of his speed and agility, as he feels they are underappreciated.
“Think people underestimate me as an athlete,” Thompson said. “I just wanted to get out here today and show that off a little bit – being a quick, a dual-threat, athletic quarterback, who’s ready to go to work and just make the most of opportunities.”
Regardless of his future, after all of the injuries and challenges he sustained, performing in front of NFL scouts just 20 minutes shy of home is a blessing in itself for Thompson.
“To literally just be standing where I am today is just a dream come true and a blessing from God,” Thompson said.
This story was edited by Hannah Bryant.
