Physical CB Josh Thompson signs with the Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns secondary will be Nacogdoches-heavy in the coming years after cornerback Josh Thompson signed with the ‘Horns on Wednesday to join former teammate Brandon Jones, the nation’s No. 1 safety in the 2016 recruiting class.

Thompson will head to Austin this summer after remaining firm to Texas since flipping his commitment from TCU last summer, just days after earning an offer at a summer camp.

Since then, the 6’0, 180-pounder stuck with the Longhorns through the coaching change despite picking up offers from Penn State, UCLA, Arizona State, and Ole Miss.

In fact, Thompson was one of the best recruiters down the stretch for new head coach Tom Herman, showing some leadership skills that could translate to his time in Austin.

A consensus three-star prospect, Thompson is ranked as the No. 336 player nationally, the No. 39 cornerback, and the No. 48 player in Texas, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

At a Nike event last year, Thompson ran a 4.57 40-yard dash, a 4.27 shuttle, and posted a 40.4-inch vertical leap, with that vertical demonstrating the type of explosive power that Thompson possesses.

He’s also run a faster verified 40 time — a 4.48 at the ETSN Combine last May.

Already at a college-ready weight, Thompson has a sturdy frame and ideal height that makes him suitable to play any position in the secondary, including nickel corner and both safety positions.

So he’s a versatile prospect who could play a number of roles for the ‘Horns depending on need and how he develops his coverage skills.

Here’s an evaluation of Thompson from Inside Texas:

How he fits at Texas: Thompson is a fighter in addition to being a great athlete, he’s exactly the kind of cornerback that Strong and Bedford love because he’s never out of a play and gets involved against the run game. He’s definitely fast enough (4.48 40 and 4.38 shuttle) to hang outside at corner but what you find repeatedly on film is the kid using his initial burst (36 vertical) and length (6-foot-0) to close on the ball and break up passes when it initially appeared that there was an open passing window. He reminds me of OU’s Zach Sanchez crossed with K-State’s Danzel McDaniel with his sticky fingers and sharp breaks combined with savage instincts. – IB