Steven Sipple: With master’s in hand, Casey Thompson sets sights on once again winning NU's starting QB job. "Everybody's on the same page," his father says
Casey Thompson clearly embraces competition, even amid adversity. He proved it throughout the 2022 season, and he’ll try to prove it again in 2023, once again as a Nebraska quarterback.
“Listen, his thinking is he left the season as a starter and he expects to return and start next season,” Charles Thompson, the player’s father, said Monday. “That’s where his mindset is.”
“There’s been no doubt what Casey is planning to do,” the elder Thompson added. “The coaches have been fully aware of that. Everybody’s on the same page.”
Casey Thompson, who’ll be a sixth-year senior in 2023, recently underwent a procedure on his throwing shoulder that likely will sideline him during spring ball, Nebraska’s first spring season under new head coach Matt Rhule and new offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield.
“We could’ve opted to not have surgery, but we didn’t want it to roll into next season,” the elder Thompson said, indicating his son suffered a shoulder injury in mid-September against Oklahoma.
“He dealt with the shoulder almost all year,” Charles Thompson added. “People didn’t know it because they saw him out there playing and competing and executing. People don’t recognize it sometimes when you’re playing at less than 100 percent physically.
“He lost a little velocity on his balls here and there but still was able to play at a high enough level where he still wanted to continue to play. We knew as soon as the season was over that it was something we needed to address.”
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Thompson expects to be fully ready in summer
The elder Thompson noted that Casey Thompson waited until the end of last spring to have a procedure on the thumb of his (right) throwing hand. Conversely, Casey decided to go ahead with a procedure on his shoulder soon after the 2022 regular season because his rehabilitation will be done in time for summer workouts. Casey’s rehab likely will last “sometime until midway through spring,” Charles Thompson said.
At that point, Charles Thompson said, his son will be able “to do some limited throwing.” Then, Casey Thompson will be fully ready to practice during the summer, which will get him in rhythm for the 2023 season.
He’s already begun the process of learning Satterfield’s playbook.
“If his production and his toughness and ability to learn offenses at this point doesn’t speak for itself,” said the elder Thompson, his voice trailing off.
“Bottom line, we just felt it was the smartest thing to more or less put spring more in jeopardy than the upcoming season.”
Casey Thompson has talked to at least two quarterbacks, Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) and Charlie Brewer (Baylor), who are acutely familiar with the Rhule/Satterfield way of operating. The elder Thompson said in Nebraska’s new system, quarterbacks will be expected to both run and throw at a high level.
Casey Thompson has proven adept in both areas, his father noting his son’s running prowess earlier in his career.
As it stands, Casey Thompson could be one of six scholarship quarterbacks on the roster for spring ball. Another will be Jeff Sims, the former Georgia Tech starter who announced Sunday that he’ll transfer to Nebraska.
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“Just so the record shows, we were aware they were going to take either a high school or portal quarterback. I know a lot of people wonder what our thoughts on Sims are. Our thought is, ‘Welcome to the room, but we came to Nebraska to play football, not watch.’”
-Charles Thompson
Thompson wins over Nebraska fans
Thompson certainly proved his physical and mental toughness while starting 10 games in 2022. Playing through an assortment of injuries, he completed 173 of 274 passes (63.1%) for 2,407 yards and 17 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions. He often had to dodge defenders behind an inconsistent offensive line. He was particularly adept at completing deep passes.
The line’s inconsistency helps explain Thompson’s minus-21 rushing yards on the season. He’s actually a pretty good runner.
Thompson, on a drop-back pass play, was tackled hard to the turf late in the second quarter of an Oct. 29 home game against Illinois. He left the game and didn’t return because on the play his elbow slammed into ground and he lost feeling in his throwing hand.
He missed the next two games, losses to Minnesota and Michigan, before returning for the final two contests of the regular season — including a 24-17 win against Iowa on Black Friday in which he threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions.
Turns out, Casey Thompson wasn’t just dealing with nerve damage in his throwing hand.
“He could’ve very easily sat out the last the last four games,” Charles said. “He’s been dealing with his shoulder injury pretty much since the OU game.”
Oklahoma defeated Nebraska 49-14 on Sept. 17 in Lincoln, a week after Scott Frost was fired as the Huskers’ head coach.
“He wanted to play in the Michigan game (Nov. 12),” Charles said. “He wasn’t necessarily technically ready, but in his mind, he wanted to go after it.”
Charles Thompson proud of son’s toughness
In a 15-14 loss to Wisconsin on Nov. 19, Thompson was 12-for-20 for 106 yards and two touchdowns, with zero picks.
“As a dad, I couldn’t be prouder of this kid,” said Charles Thompson, a former Oklahoma option QB extraordinaire. “I mean, he’s done everything the right way. He’s handled all his adversities. At the end of the day, your title is a student-athlete, and he’s certainly handled both sides of that.
“He’s been a great student, and he’s been a really great athlete at two institutions.”
He got his bachelor’s degree from Texas in May of 2021.
Friday, he formally received his master’s from Nebraska.
He’s won over a legion of Nebraska fans.
And he’s not done here, yet.
He’s coming back to compete for the starting job.
“He’s coming back as if it is his job,” Charles Thompson said. “I know everybody likes to be excited about the new shiny penny or new shiny horse that entered the stable. But at the end of the day, Casey was a Cornhusker all last year. He ended the year on a high note and expects to return and do everything he can to help the program get to where it needs to be.”
