Casey Thompson will be FAU’s starting quarterback in 2023, according to an ESPN report on Monday.
The Owls open the season against Monmouth on Sept. 2 and play their first FBS opponent, Ohio, on Sept. 9 at home.
Thompson, a Nebraska transfer, and Central Michigan transfer Daniel Richardson had been competing for the starting role.
Thompson, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound graduate student, had played for current FAU head coach Tom Herman at Texas.
Thompson threw for 2,407 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions on a 63% completion rate last year at Nebraska, his one and only year there. He tallied 2,113 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine picks while completing 63% of his passes the year before at Texas. He rushed for nine touchdowns in the last two years combined.
Richardson, a 5-10, 205-pound sophomore, threw for 1,988 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 56% of his throws in 2022. The year before, he chalked up career highs of 2,633 yards and 24 touchdowns while throwing six picks and completing 60% of his passes.
No matter who the starter was, FAU’s quarterback was going to have a solid cast around him.
Larry McCammon III, an All-Conference USA first-teamer last year, was second in CUSA with 1,004 rushing yards to go with seven touchdowns while averaging 5.2 yards per attempt. He also caught 15 passes for 166 yards and a score.
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LaJohntay Wester is returning at wide receiver. He was on the All-Conference USA honorable mention list a season ago as he was eighth in the league with eight touchdown receptions as well as top 15 for catches (62) and receiving yards (719). He added 106 yards and a touchdown on 15 rushing attempts as well. He also earned all-conference honorable mention accolades as a punt returner. He racked up 136 yards on 14 punt returns, averaging 9.7 yards per return.
And FAU’s offensive line, which returns four players who started multiple games last season, helped the Owls tie for the second-fewest sacks allowed in Conference USA last season with 14 and rank third with 184.6 rushing yards per game.
The Owls might be competitive in their first season playing in the AAC with Thompson leading the way.
