Texas Football: 5 Orange-White Game bold predictions

4. Casey Thompson outplays Sam Ehlinger

We’re seeing a potential passing of the torch a few years down the line this off-season between rising junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger and redshirt freshman Casey Thompson. Even early enrollee 2019 signee Roschon Johnson is having a handful of promising scrimmage plays thus far in spring ball.

Due to an illness he was dealing with earlier in spring drills, Ehlinger missed a good amount of time. That allowed Thompson to get valuable first-team reps in the better part of both spring scrimmages during the past two weekends. Ehlinger should be getting the first-team reps at least at the beginning of the Orange-White Game.

However, this is a prime opportunity for Thompson to show what he can do with a good amount of playing time for his second straight spring football game appearance. Much like fellow 2018 Horns signee quarterback Cameron Rising, Thompson didn’t get any playing time during the 2018 campaign. He needs to make the most of his outing here.

There’s no more Rising or Shane Buechele in the quarterback room this year. Thompson can lock up the backup job behind the traditionally injury prone Ehlinger with a solid cap to his second year of spring camp. If he doesn’t play well, Johnson could be in waiting to take that backup job when he gets the chance.