by Bill Seals
One of the top quarterbacks on Iowa State’s wish list for the 2021 class will be starting at the varsity level for a second consecutive season this fall.
Gilbert (Ariz.) Mesquite’s Ty Thompson, who took an unofficial visit to Ames in late-July, is coming off a sophomore season in which he passed for 2,361 yards and 21 touchdowns to nine interceptions. The athletic signal-caller also rushed for six scores.
Thompson said the Cyclones have made a big early impression on him.
“I think what Coach (Matt) Campbell is doing with the culture is great,” said Thompson. “I think he’s going to turn the program around. I’ve really been impressed with their mindset, as far as off the field first, the locker room-type stuff and the culture. They have good coordinators to coach up the recruits, make the best solution and put that on the field.”
The 6-foot-4, 203-pound quarterback said his visit on July 28th provided a first-hand glimpse into the inner workings of the program.
“Getting out there on a visit was big for me,” Thompson said. “I got to meet the coaches, Coach Campbell and Coach (Joel) Gordon. I’d be dealing with those coaches the most if I decided to go there. I’ve also been contacting them on my own.
“It was great seeing what kind of academic stuff they have. Being a student-athlete, I want to get the best degree I can. Then, of course getting to the football side it was nice seeing how the offense works and how they deal with the quarterbacks.”
I-State coaches like that Thompson brings a lot of the same traits as another Gilbert, Arizona, quarterback that did big things in Ames last season.
“They think that, based on my film, there are a lot of similarities in what I bring to the table and what they run,” he said. “Coach Gordon likes that I’m a pass-first quarterback, can extend plays with my legs and make explosive plays like Brock (Purdy). He said they really like me, otherwise they wouldn’t have offered.”
In addition to ISU, Thompson also has Power-5 offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College and Wisconsin. He is a three-star quarterback with a Rivals rating of 5.5 and is considered the eighth-overall prospect in Arizona for 2021.
Thompson is also the latest in a line of quarterbacks with Division I aspirations…a group that was pioneered in a way by Purdy.
“That’s huge for Arizona,” Thompson said of Purdy’s heroics. “I see him, Bryce Perkins and Spencer Rattler doing great things in college. It’s put Arizona on the map, as far as being a quarterback state. I think that Brock being successful this past year puts us on the radar and gets us great coverage as recruits.”
One of the top quarterbacks on Iowa State’s wish list for the 2021 class will be starting at the varsity level for a second consecutive season this fall.
Gilbert (Ariz.) Mesquite’s Ty Thompson, who took an unofficial visit to Ames in late-July, is coming off a sophomore season in which he passed for 2,361 yards and 21 touchdowns to nine interceptions. The athletic signal-caller also rushed for six scores.
Thompson said the Cyclones have made a big early impression on him.
“I think what Coach (Matt) Campbell is doing with the culture is great,” said Thompson. “I think he’s going to turn the program around. I’ve really been impressed with their mindset, as far as off the field first, the locker room-type stuff and the culture. They have good coordinators to coach up the recruits, make the best solution and put that on the field.”
The 6-foot-4, 203-pound quarterback said his visit on July 28th provided a first-hand glimpse into the inner workings of the program.
“Getting out there on a visit was big for me,” Thompson said. “I got to meet the coaches, Coach Campbell and Coach (Joel) Gordon. I’d be dealing with those coaches the most if I decided to go there. I’ve also been contacting them on my own.
“It was great seeing what kind of academic stuff they have. Being a student-athlete, I want to get the best degree I can. Then, of course getting to the football side it was nice seeing how the offense works and how they deal with the quarterbacks.”
I-State coaches like that Thompson brings a lot of the same traits as another Gilbert, Arizona, quarterback that did big things in Ames last season.
“They think that, based on my film, there are a lot of similarities in what I bring to the table and what they run,” he said. “Coach Gordon likes that I’m a pass-first quarterback, can extend plays with my legs and make explosive plays like Brock (Purdy). He said they really like me, otherwise they wouldn’t have offered.”
In addition to ISU, Thompson also has Power-5 offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College and Wisconsin. He is a three-star quarterback with a Rivals rating of 5.5 and is considered the eighth-overall prospect in Arizona for 2021.
Thompson is also the latest in a line of quarterbacks with Division I aspirations…a group that was pioneered in a way by Purdy.
“That’s huge for Arizona,” Thompson said of Purdy’s heroics. “I see him, Bryce Perkins and Spencer Rattler doing great things in college. It’s put Arizona on the map, as far as being a quarterback state. I think that Brock being successful this past year puts us on the radar and gets us great coverage as recruits.”
