Elite WR Brenen Thompson commits to Texas

The Texas Longhorns are looking to add elite playmakers with the final remaining spots in their 2022 class and did just that with the addition of Spearman wide receiver Brenen Thompson on Wednesday.

The consensus four-star prospect is one of the top receivers in the country and is a legit challenger for one of the fastest players in the 2022 class — Thompson is a track star in his own right, clocking a verified 10.38 100-meter dash for the Lynx as a junior. On the gridiron, Thompson was named first-team all-state in his junior campaign, as well as receiving all-district honors as both a receiver and a defensive back.

Thompson fits the mold of a playmaker in Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s offense, coming in at 5’10, 165-pounds with an ability to escape defenders with his speed.

The recruiting battle came down to some usual suspects, with the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas A&M Aggies listed among the finalists with Texas. Thompson was on-site for the Longhorns’ blowout of the Rice Owls and got to see the Texas offense running on all cylinders. With both the Aggies and Cowboys struggling to pass the ball this year, Texas seemingly took advantage of its offensive performance to push this over the edge.

Thomspon becomes the highest-rated player in the 2022 class, marking commitment No. 22 for the Longhorns this cycle. His commitment moves the Longhorns ahead of the Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the No. 2 class this cycle. He’s ranked as the No. 87 prospect nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, and the No. 11 wide receiver, which makes him the highest-ranked recruit in the class for Texas.

Analysis (by Daniel Seahorn):

Let's just go ahead and get the obvious out of the way in regards to Thompson. The kid can absolutely GO whether the ball is in his hands or not. Thompson has the kind of speed that erases angles and blows hamstrings of defenders trying to stay with him in coverage. Thompson possesses legitimate sprinter speed and it translates to the field when he puts the pads on. You don’t want to find yourself in space with Thompson because more times than not he is going to win the battle. Thompson will immediately bring special teams value the moment he touches campus as a kick returner and it will be a surprise to nobody if he takes a few touchdowns to the house early in his career. Thompson possesses a slight frame at his listed 5’10, 165 pounds, so he is not going to be the type of receiver that will muscle up on defensive backs. He is a guy you will have to scheme into space and get creative with how he gets his touches early as he adapts to the speed of the college game. Thompson also plays all over the field for Spearman, so it is no surprise that he is a bit raw as a route runner at this stage in his development. Back on the plus side of things, Thompson does display solid hands, good ball skills, and the ability to play bigger than his measurables at times on tape. He has the potential to be an absolute menace after the catch due to his speed and elusiveness once he adjusts to the collegiate game and is up to speed on the offense.