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The Texas Longhorns are expected to have freshman cornerback Josh Thompson back in time for the start of spring practice after the Nacogdoches product underwent successful arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday, according to a release from the school.
The 6’0, 200-pounder is one of the leading candidates to take over at nickel back with junior PJ Locke III moving back to safety and Antwuan Davis lost to graduation.
During the 2017 season, Thompson was a standout on special teams, accumulating 13 tackles and serving as a gunner on the punt coverage unit. In that phase, Thompson was responsible for downing four punts inside the 10-yard line during the regular season and several more in the Texas Bowl against Missouri. Against Oklahoma State, he made a tackle inside the 10-yard line in punt coverage.
A consensus four-star prospect in the 2017 recruiting class, Thompson is known for his physicality and athleticism — he recorded a vertical leap of more than 40 inches in high school.