Throughout the his first three years on the Forty Acres, including a 2019 campaign that was cut short due to a season-ending foot injury, Josh Thompson has largely been a career backup and special teams specialist.
During his 13 appearances as a sophomore — which included three early starts — and three pre-injury appearances last season, Thompson collected experience at both nickel and safety. So, with the development and high expectations of former U.S. Army All-American Jalen Green, the emergence of then-sophomore D’Shawn Jamison throughout the second half of the season, and the late-season flashes provided by then-freshman Chris Adimora at nickel, it was expected that Thompson would continue to provide reserve support for Texas’ young, developing defensive backs as a redshirt junior.