Ex-Longhorns QB Casey Thompson Named Starter For Florida Atlantic

Tom Herman and Casey Thompson take center stage in Boca Raton to begin the 2023 season.

Former Texas coach Tom Herman will begin a new chapter of his coaching career at Florida Atlantic come 2023, and he'll have a familiar name commanding the huddle. 

Herman has named former Longhorns quarterback Casey Thompson the Owls' Week 1 starter against Monmouth, according to reports. Thompson reunited with Herman after a one-year stay at Nebraska under then-coach Scott Frost.

Thompson, 24, has been the favorite to win the job since transferring from Nebraska to FAU in May. He started 10 games at Texas in 2021 and 10 games at Nebraska in 2022. 

Recruited by Herman to Texas, Thompson was expected to succeed Sam Ehlinger following the COVID-19 season after taking the reigns in an Alamo Bowl victory over Colorado. Herman, however, was fired in favor of then-Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, thus creating a quarterback competition between Thompson and highly-touted recruit Hudson Card. 

Sources: FAU is naming Casey Thompson, a transfer from Nebraska and Texas, as the school’s starting quarterback. He has started 20 college games – 10 at Texas and 10 at Nebraska – and led the Big 12 with 24 touchdown passes in 2021.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 21, 2023

Sarkisian named Card the Week 1 starter, but after mixed play in a road loss to Arkansas, Thompson took over for the remainder of the season. En route to a 5-7 record, he threw for 2,113 yards and 24 touchdowns, the most scores among Big 12 quarterbacks.

A native of Oklahoma City and son of former Sooners standout Charles Thompson, Casey Thompson enters his sixth and final year of eligibility with the Owls. Following his departure from Nebraska, Thompson was one of the more sought-after quarterback recruits in the transfer portal, taking visits to Auburn, Houston, Notre Dame, Texas State and other schools before eventually joining Herman in Boca Raton. 

Initially expected to be a quarterback competition, Thompson beat out various passers to claim the starting job for FAU, including former Central Michigan starter Daniel Richardson. 

Experience likely played a factor in Herman's decision to start Thompson, along with familiarity. Herman, who spent four years in Austin, convinced Thompson to forgo playing at his father's alma mater and sign on with its arch-rival in the Big 12. 

While local fans remember Thompson for his leadership and charisma on offense, national pundits best remember the former Longhorn for his five-touchdown performance in the 2021 Red River Showdown at the Cotton Bowl. The super senior also threw for a career-best six touchdowns, and rushed for another in an overtime loss to Kansas at Royal-Memorial Stadium. 

FAU begins the season with games against preseason MAC favorite Ohio at home in Week 2, before traveling to No. 9 Clemson and Illinois to round out the month of September. Last season, the Owls finished 5-7 in their final year as members of Conference USA, resulting in the firing of former Florida State and Oregon coach Willie Taggart. 

The No. 12 Longhorns open the season at home against Rice on Sept. 2. 

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