Tag: Casey Thompson

Oklahoma Sooners’ quarterback still growing as a leader

Jackson Arnold is not a finished product as a player on the field but it’s an area off the field where he thinks he’s made the most growth.

Spring practice is just a few days away from coming to a close as it will conclude with the spring game this weekend. There have been quite a bit of questions this spring about where the offense is at and who will win some of the starting jobs.

The one position where there isn’t much controversy is quarterback. We know this is [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag]’s team going forward. It is encouraging to hear the great reports about [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag] and knowing a veteran like [autotag]Casey Thompson[/autotag] is there as well but this is Arnold’s job.

Arnold spoke after practice on Tuesday about how much he’s grown over this spring. “I feel like I’ve stepped up as a leader a lot more,” Arnold said. “I’ve got a lot more comfortable with this offense, the decision-making process, just all of the above. I’ve become a better player overall this spring.”

For Arnold and any of the quarterbacks who take a snap this year, it might not matter how far they’ve come if the offensive line doesn’t figure things out.

Arnold talked about what he’s seen from the offensive line this spring. “I’m really proud of those guys,” Arnold said. “They’ve really stepped up this spring. We’ve got a lot of guys injured, and a lot of different guys have had to step up to a starter role. I feel like they’ve done a great job so far. They’ve been competing their butts off this past couple of weeks. I’m super proud of them.”

Sooner fans will get to see Arnold and the offensive line in action for the first time during the Spring game this weekend.

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Brent Venables says Sooners quarterback room in best position since his arrival to Norman

“We’re in the best position that we’ve been in since we’ve been here.” Brent Venables likes what he sees from the Oklahoma Sooners quarterback group.

The last two years have been the [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] show under center at the University of Oklahoma. But now we are heading into a new era, the [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] era.

The last time we saw Arnold in action, he had one month to prepare against a really good team with a new playcaller. He made some plays that made you say, “Wow” but he also made some plays that left you scratching your head. It was a very typical first start for a true freshman.

While most want to focus on the three interceptions, he also threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 65 yards on five carries if you take out the sacks.

Now Arnold has an entire offseason to prepare to be the Sooners starter on their way into the SEC.

But it’s not just him that’s impressed the coaches this offseason. Brent Venables shared with the media what he’s seen from his group of gunslingers.

“The whole position is doing really good,” Venables said. “[autotag]Brendan Zurbrugg[/autotag] has gotten lots of reps, too. But between Jackson, Mike (Hawkins), Brendan, and (General) Booty, Casey’s (Thompson) taking every mental rep. He’s right there next to me when we’ve got the team settings. I feel great. We’re in the best position that we’ve been in since we’ve been here.”

That has coincided with a lot of what we’ve heard about how impressive Hawkins has been this spring. A lot of people were worried about the depth there because Arnold only has started one game and Thompson has the only real experience but is coming off an ACL injury.

Venables’ words say a lot about the quarterback situation. There’s a lot of talent there, and in just a few months, Arnold and the rest of the quarterbacks will have a chance to prove it.

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‘It’s a really tough group of guys’: Brent Venables impressed by the early enrollees

Brent Venables has been impressed by the class of 2024 early enrollees.

Spring football is finally here in Oklahoma. Head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] kicked things off with a media session on Wednesday along with all of the newcomers both from the portal and the 2024 recruiting class.

Spring practice starts on Monday with the spring game coming in April 20, 2024.

Still, there is a lot of work to be done from now until the start of the season. Whether that’s getting some guys back who were injured last season like [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag], [autotag]Casey Thompson[/autotag] or [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag] or if it’s replacing someone who had to call it a career in Jacob Lacey. There are also a ton of position battles still to go through as well.

Venables talked about how impressed he’s been with the 22 early enrollees. “It’s a really tough group of guys,” Venables said. “The mental toughness that I watched the last eight weeks is exemplary. It’s fantastic. Nobody shied away. These guys were prepared for the challenge that this entails. It was never easy for any of them but these guys were fearless.”

This class is arguably the best in the Venables era with the elite defensive players they were able to sign along with some stellar offensive guys as well. This only adds to that belief.

Now, the question is how many of those guys will be ready to make an impact in Year 1? Only time will tell.

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Have the Oklahoma Sooners adequately addressed their needs in the transfer portal?

The Oklahoma Sooners were active in the transfer portal, but have they done enough to address their needs?

The Oklahoma Sooners went into the offseason with a number of needs to address via the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag].

Bryant Crews highlighted five positions that the Sooners needed to address in the portal, namely offensive line, defensive line, tight end, secondary, and kicker.

But how well did the Sooners address those needs and where else have they added talent?

With the coaching carousel extending into January with the Alabama and Washington jobs opening up, the transfer portal has heated up again for the next 30 days. Could the Sooners add more talent? We’ll see if they take advantage of the opportunity to add talent from the Crimson Tide or the Huskies.

But until then, let’s take a look at what they’ve done in the portal thus far and if they’ve addressed their needs.

A closer look at quarterback Casey Thompson’s transfer to Oklahoma

A former Nebraska quarterback has landed with a fourth program

The career of former Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Casey Thompson will have one final chapter in 2024. That final chapter will be taking place where it all started for the 25-year-old quarterback, Oklahoma.

On Thursday, Thompson announced that he will be using his seventh and final year of eligibility at Oklahoma. It will be the fourth program that Thompson has been a part of, spending time at Texas, Nebraska, and Florida Atlantic.

After signing with Texas out of high school, Thompson spent three seasons with the Longhorns before leaving following the 2021 season. He would join the Cornhuskers in January of 2022, starting ten games and leading the Huskers to a 4-6 record. In those ten games, he completed 63.1% of his passes for 2,407 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing ten interceptions. He also had five rushing touchdowns that season.

Last offseason, Thompson decided to enter the transfer portal for a second time, committing to FAU in May. He would start each of the Owls’ first three games but suffered a torn ACL in a loss to Clemson that ended his season in early September.

Now, Thompson will likely back up Sooners quarterback Jaxon Arnold in 2024. Find a photo gallery of Casey Thompson’s career below.

Former Husker Casey Thompson commits to Oklahoma

A former Husker is returning home to finish his college football career.

A former Husker is returning home to finish his college football career. Quarterback Casey Thompson announced on Twitter that he is transferring to Oklahoma for his final year of eligibility.

Thompson spent one year at Nebraska after spending four seasons at Texas. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native would then transfer to Florida Atlantic but would tear his ACL three games into the 2023 season.

Thompson will be the third quarterback in his family to don the Sooner jersey, joining his brother, Kendal, and his father, Oklahoma legend Charles Thompson.

In his career, Thompson played 32 games and threw for 5,338 yards, 52 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. His best season came in his lone year at Nebraska, despite not playing in every game. Thompson threw for 2,407 yards, 17 touchdowns, and ten interceptions.

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Former Texas QB Casey Thompson commits to Oklahoma

The former Texas quarterback will be entering his seventh season of football in 2024.

Former Texas quarterback Casey Thompson will be entering his seventh season of football in 2024. Continue reading “Former Texas QB Casey Thompson commits to Oklahoma”

Casey Thompson commits to the Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners have their backup quarterback and it’s someone very familiar with the program.

It has felt like a long time coming but the day is finally here as [autotag]Casey Thompson[/autotag] has committed to play for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Oklahoma native and Sooner legacy felt like an Oklahoma lock out of college but ultimately decided to start his college career playing for the Texas Longhorns.

After starting for one season and with the addition of [autotag]Quinn Ewers[/autotag], Thompson elected to transfer and play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He started one season there before electing to transfer again after the coaching staff that he committed to was let go. He chose to transfer and play his final season of college football for Florida Atlantic.

But after just three games, Thompson was injured and miss the rest of the season. That allowed him to get a medical waiver and return for one more season. He’s elected to spend that final season at a place he and his family know all too well, Norman, Oklahoma.

Thompson comes in accepting a backup role and reports are saying he would be a preferred walk-on although that has not been confirmed yet. But this is a huge get for Oklahoma because they get experience and production behind a first-year starter at quarterback.

Not many teams can say they have a backup quarterback with more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns but that’s what Oklahoma now has which could come in handy if he ever has to be thrown into action.

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Sooners quarterback Davis Beville enters the transfer portal

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Davis Beville entering the transfer portal.

As the Oklahoma Sooners usher in a new era at quarterback, they’ve lost two of their top three passers on the depth chart to the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag].

According to Pete Nakos of On3, [autotag]Davis Beville[/autotag] is entering the transfer portal, joining former starting quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] in the portal. Gabriel’s found a new home with the Oregon Ducks, and now Beville will look to ply his craft elsewhere in 2024.

Beville started one game with the Sooners, the infamous 49-0 loss in the Red River Rivalry game in 2022. During his tenure with the Oklahoma Sooners, he completed just 50% of his passes for 102 yards and an interception. Prior to his time with the Sooners, in two years at Pitt, Beville completed 59.7% of his throws for 339 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

With [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] expected to take the reigns at quarterback in 2024 and an influx of talent at the position in [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag] and [autotag]Brendan Zurbrugg[/autotag], the Sooners still have a talented quarterback room for new offensive coordinator Seth Littrell to work with.

Oklahoma could look to add a veteran quarterback to join a group that also includes [autotag]General Booty[/autotag]. [autotag]Casey Thompson[/autotag] is a name that has been suggested could be a fit in Norman.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Former Texas QB Casey Thompson will enter the transfer portal for his seventh season

Casey Thompson will be entering his seventh season of college football in 2024.

Former Texas quarterback Casey Thompson is entering his seventh year of college football and will play for a new school in 2024. Continue reading “Former Texas QB Casey Thompson will enter the transfer portal for his seventh season”