Jerrin

Thompson

Schooler (6'2/201) began his college career at Oregon as a safety, but he arrived in Austin as a wide receiver. With the head coaching change, and the redshirt senior deciding to not enter his name into the transfer portal, Schooler will be back on the defensive side of the football this fall. In 2016, he accounted for 74 total tackles (1.0 for loss) and four interceptions as a free safety at Oregon. He’ll likely back up Jerrin Thompson this fall, but Schooler should not have much trouble getting onto the field.

Texas managed to do something that it has rarely done in recent years: land a commitment from the Lufkin (Texas) HS program. Thompson (6'0/183) originally planned to announce his college choice on July 6, but he pushed things back and in late July he was offered by Texas. On Sunday the four-star safety announced his decision to become a Longhorn, with Texas beating out TCU, Arkansas, Oklahoma State and LSU. “On the field, Thompson flashes traits that are associated with both traditional safety roles,” Gabe Brooks of 247Sports wrote in his analysis. “He is a hitter who will bring violence over the middle of the field akin to a strong safety, but covers significant chunks of territory in coverage as a center field-like free safety.” Thompson is just the second Lufkin product in the last 20 years to commit to Texas, following in the footsteps of 2010 signee Carrington Byndom according to Clint Buckley of 247Sports.

Thompson (6'0/172) looks to be dealing with a slate of finalists consisting of Arkansas, TCU, Ole Miss, LSU and Oklahoma State, though with over a month still remaining before he actually makes his pledge, we wouldn’t completely shut the door on the possibility that another school enters the mix late. Notre Dame, for instance, could end up a heavy player, here. The Lufkin, Texas, native has taken official visits to both Arkansas and TCU (he’s readily familiar with the Horned Frogs, having visited them multiple times unofficially as well). Rivals ranks Thompson as the No. 19 safety prospect in the 2020 class.

Thompson (6'0/172) is ranked 13th among 2020 safeties on 247Sports.com’s Composite List. The four-star prospect from Lufkin, Texas (Lufkin HS), who was named District 8-5A-I Defensive MVP this past season, picked up the LSU offer on Wednesday and took a visit to TCU earlier in February. Of the eight schools on Thompson’s list Arkansas was the first offer, doing so in January 2018.