Paul Thompson (American football)

Infobox NFLactive
name=Paul Thompson


caption=Paul Thompson celebrates the 2006 win over Missouri
currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentpositionplain=Quarterback
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|11|23
birthplace=Leander, Texas
heightft=6
heightin=4
weight=216
debutyear=
debutteam=
college=Oklahoma
undraftedyear=2007
pastteams=
* Green Bay Packers (2007)*
* Tennessee Titans (2008)*:*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
status=
highlights=
* No notable achievements
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=TD-INT
statvalue1=--
statlabel2=Passing yards
statvalue2=--
statlabel3=QB Rating
statvalue3=--
nfl=THO639540

Paul Thompson (born November 23, 1983 in Leander, Texas) is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Oklahoma.

Thompson has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans.

Early years

Thompson attended Leander High School in Leander, Texas and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In football, as a senior, he passed for 1,600 yards and rushed for 1,053 yards.

College career

He was ranked as the #8 athlete in the country upon entering college.fact|date=September 2007 He had been courted by both the University of Texas and Oklahoma but chose to play for the Sooners because they would give him the opportunity to play quarterback. He turned down Texas due to the fact they wanted him to play as a wide receiver.fact|date=September 2007 Ironically, after former Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar took over as the starter in 2005, Thompson was moved to the wide receiver position.

2002 season

He arrived on campus in the fall of 2002 as a backup to both Jason White and Nate Hybl. He was scheduled to be redshirted that season. During the second game of the year against Alabama, starter Jason White hurt his knee, forcing Hybl to take his spot. More importantly for Thompson was the fact that he would not be redshirted in 2002. He would receive playing time in four games, but did not start, remaining the second string quarterback.

2003 season

After the Sooner Rose Bowl win, Hybl graduated, leaving White and Thompson the quarterback job. Jason White earned the top spot, once again leaving Thompson on the bench. White led the team, and ultimately ended up winning the Heisman Trophy. Paul played in 10 games in 2003.

2004 season

Thompson expected to have the job all to himself in 2004, but special circumstances allowed Jason White to play another year.fact|date=September 2007 White led the team to an undefeated regular season. Thompson was redshirted for the season.

2005 season

With Jason White gone, Paul would battle with Rhett Bomar for the starting spot. Thompson earned the starting role against TCU in the first game of the season. Thompson was benched in the middle of the game in favor of Bomar. From then on, Bomar would take most of the snaps under center, leaving Thompson to a new position, wide receiver.

2006 season

In his last collegiate season, chances for Thompson to start at quarterback or wide receiver looked unlikely. On August 2 2006 Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn were dismissed from the football team. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-oklahoma-bomar&prov=ap&type=lgns Yahoo! Sports - Sports News, Scores, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more ] ] Thompson regained the duties of the starting quarterback for the Sooners. His first game as starter for the 2006 season was a 24-17 victory on September 2 2006 against UAB. Thompson threw for 227 yards with two interceptions and two touchdown passes, including a 69-yard pass to Adrian Peterson for a touchdown. It was soon after this performance that Thompson would be renamed Paul "Prime-Time" Thompson. [ [http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=578715 Rivals.com College Football - UAB gives Oklahoma all it can handle ] ]

After going 3-2 in their first five games, he helped lead the Sooners to 8 straight wins, including the Big 12 Championship Game win over Nebraska in Kansas City. This win propelled the Sooners to a BCS berth in the Fiesta Bowl on New Years Day. The Sooners lost this game in overtime in a very close game, in which Paul Thompson threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Paul then was later added into The Oklahoma Cowboy Hall of Fame.Fact|date=June 2007

Professional career

Green Bay Packers

Thompson entered the 2007 NFL Draft as a wide receiver, but went undrafted. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers. He was released on September 11.

Tennessee Titans

On January 9, 2008, Thompson signed with the Tennessee Titans. He was recently waived on July 24.

References

External links

* [http://soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/thompson_paul00.html Oklahoma Sooners bio]
* [http://titansonline.com/team/players/bio.php?PRKey=437 Tennessee Titans bio]

Persondata
NAME=Thompson, Paul
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Football player
DATE OF BIRTH=November 23, 1983
PLACE OF BIRTH=Leander, Texas
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=