JD PicKell explains why Casey Thompson is likely to end up at Florida Atlantic

QB Casey Thompson is one of the better names to enter the transfer portal following this spring. Still, as he enters his sixth year, what’s the best potential landing spot for the former Longhorn and Husker?

Well, to On3’s JD PicKell, that final stop could very well be in Boca Raton with the FAU Owls. After some rumblings that indicated he could have ended up in the SEC, PicKell believes this would be the best choice for the senior quarterback for no other reason than pure familiarity.

“I wholeheartedly believe (that) we’re gonna see Casey Thompson end up at FAU,” stated PicKell during a recent episode of ‘The Hard Count’. “I think he’s gonna end up at FAU for a couple of reasons. And the first of which being (to) remember who is the head coach of FAU right now? That’s right: Tom Herman, who was, at one point at time, the head coach at Texas. And a lot of people, even when Casey Thompson was at Texas under Steve Sarkisian and he was the starting quarterback for a period of time there, saying, ‘Yeah, he’s doing some good things. But he was really a Tom Herman-guy.'”

“He was a guy that fit better in Tom Herman’s scheme. His skillset fit better with Tom Herman,” PicKell said. “Well, now, that door is wide open for Casey Thompson and Tom Herman to pick up where they left off.”

The acquaintance between Thompson and Herman emphatically makes all the difference to PicKell. That’s because, heading into next fall, Thompson’s collegiate clock is ticking. Eventually getting somewhere that will give him the best chance to be a QB1 is his best bet. Considering how far back they go, PicKell thinks that’s exactly the kind of opportunity that Herman can provide.

“He doesn’t need to prove himself. That’s one of the biggest things. Remember, Casey Thompson? He’s got one year left to play college football. That’s it – one year. He’s not trying to go somewhere where he has to win over the staff and prove himself all over again,” said PicKell. “Tom Herman knows what he’s getting in Casey Thompson, Tom Herman brought Casey Thompson to Texas for a reason. He knows what he’s getting. And Casey Thompson, to the same token, knows what he’s getting in Tom Herman. There’s some familiarity there and that makes all the difference in the world for Casey Thompson as he ends up picking his next school, which, 100%, I believe will be FAU.”

Thompson has thrown for over 4,800 passing yards, 47 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions during his 29 career games. He has also rushed for nine of his additional 10 scores over his past two seasons. That production earned him a ranking as a Top-20 QB and the No. 209 player in the portal according to On3’s Portal Rankings.

The sand in the hourglass is running out on Thompson as far as his collegiate career goes. That’s the biggest reason as to why, in his eyes, PicKell sees him competing for a familiar face in the AAC for his final campaign.