Texas DB Jerrin Thompson Gets Clutch Redemption in Win vs. Alabama

Texas Longhorns safety Jerrin Thompson's third-career interception was arguably the biggest of his life, helping cement the upset of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The No. 11 Texas Longhorns took down the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide 34-24 in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, but an upset didn't become evident until the fourth quarter.

Safety Jerrin Thompson dropped into coverage, jumped the route on quarterback Jalen Milroe's pass and returned the interception to the Crimson Tide's 5-yard line. That suffocated the energy of the Alabama faithful in the seats of Bryant-Denny Stadium, and helped the Longhorns pull off the win.

DO YOUR THING @jerrin_thompson‼️🤘

📺 https://t.co/eM6elaehSC pic.twitter.com/ESosLAKDNH

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 10, 2023

Jalen Milroe 🎯 Jermaine Burton

The Alabama duo connect on a 49-yard strike to give the Crimson Tide a 16-13 lead over the Longhorns heading into the fourth quarter.

🎥 @SECpic.twitter.com/va0ALMWkYH

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 10, 2023

Quarterback Quinn Ewers had just dropped one of his six 30-plus-yard completions to tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders for 50 yards. On the next play, Ewers connected with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell for a 7-yard touchdown pass, as the Longhorns regained a lead it had lost for 1:09.

Trailing 20-16, Milroe looked to play the hero through the air he had exhibited at the end of the third quarter on his 49-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jermaine Burton. This score came at the expense of Thompson, who was out-sped by Burton down the field which resulted in the Tide's go-ahead touchdown.

© Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Texas had eight players in the box against Alabama's 12 personnel formation — one running back and two tight ends — two cornerbacks on each receiver split out wide and Thompson over the top.

Thompson was not in a center field high safety position, shading over to Burton's side of the field to give Longhorns cornerback Terrance Brooks help over the top if the Crimson Tide receiver decided to run a fly route.

After the play-action fake to running back Roydell Williams, Milroe never took his eyes off Burton. Thompson read that and broke to undercut the route even before Milroe's release, racing 32 yards down the sidelines down to the Crimson Tide five-yard line.

On the next play, Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks plunged forward into the end zone on a second-effort run which gave Texas its largest lead of the game 27-16.

The Longhorns' 14 points in 15 seconds led to a deficit that was too big for the Crimson Tide to overcome, snapping Alabama's 57-consecutive non-conference win streak.