Jerrin Thompson opens up on addition of Jalen Catalon

Jerrin Thompson has welcomed former Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon to the Texas defensive back group with open arms, and he believes it’s going to pay off handsomely.

Joining the Longhorns for the 2023 season, Catalon is looking to right his career after a season-ending injury in 2021 caused him a bit of a setback. Since the injury, he’s played just seven games over the past two seasons.

Still, Catalon has the potential to be great at Texas. He is a former 2022 preseason Phil Steele First-Team All-American. While at Arkansas, Catalon recorded 159 tackles in four seasons, while also chipping in with 14 defended passes, five interceptions, and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Speaking with the media, Thompson elaborated on how Catalon’s getting along in Austin, explaining how the former Razorbacks defender is even teaching him a new trick or two.

“When Catalon came in, we had conversations like, just general, and I learned a lot from him technique-wise, and he taught me some stuff, you know what I’m saying,” explained Thompson. “So Catalon, he already knew, just from him coming in and having a simple conversation with him, he knows a lot already.”

Evidently, Jalen Catalon is fitting in great with the Longhorns, and could go on to be an underrated addition by coach Steve Sarkisian. However, the success of Texas’ 2023 season will likely come down to the play of quarterback Quinn Ewers, who Thompson has seen some stark growth in.

“Quinn, you can tell that he’s come a long way, learning like the defense and knowing what we’re playing, even if we’re disguising on him,” explained Thompson. “He does a good job of looking-off the safeties. I’m saying he came a long way, just from that aspect.”

Moreover, Thompson isn’t the only one who’s seen Ewers’ immense growth. The aforementioned Sarkisian believes winter conditioning did gigantic things for his quarterback. 

Not just by getting into shape but also by learning to be comfortable in the offense. A first year under someone like Sarkisian can be complicated, especially when going through a quarterback competition.

“I think Quinn had a really good winter offseason conditioning,” Sarkisian said. “I think he got himself in really good shape. He definitely feels more comfortable. He’s throwing the ball very naturally, very comfortably. 

“From a decision-making standpoint, the reads are just happening that much quicker, that much more decisive. I think the management of our style of offense, right? The shifts, the motions, the varying tempos.”

As you can see, Texas has something brewing with players like Jerrin Thompson and Jalen Catalon on defense, while Quinn Ewers mans the offense. Exciting times are ahead for the Longhorns.