The college football career of Ty Thompson has been anything but predictable.
Coming out of Mesquite High School in Arizona, Thompson wasn't just another recruit. He was a consensus five-star talent, a Gatorade Player of the Year, and the highest-rated quarterback recruit in Oregon Ducks history. Fans in Eugene saw him as the natural heir to Justin Herbert. Instead, he spent years stuck behind Anthony Brown and Bo Nix.
Then came the move to Tulane. Everyone expected Thompson to finally take the reins of an offense in New Orleans. But football is a brutal business. After a rollercoaster 2024 season that ended in a disappointing bowl performance, Thompson didn't just change schools again—he changed his entire identity on the field.
The Ty Thompson position change from quarterback to tight end is officially a reality for the 2025-2026 season. It’s a move born out of necessity, athleticism, and a desire to keep the NFL dream alive.
The Gasparilla Bowl: A Career-Altering Night
To understand why a quarterback with a "five-star" label would suddenly decide to start blocking and running routes, you have to look at December 20, 2024.
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Tulane was facing Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl. With regular-season starter Darian Mensah opting out for the transfer portal, the stage was finally set for Thompson. This was his "audition." It was supposed to be the moment he proved he could lead a program.
It didn't go well. Honestly, it was a mess.
Thompson finished the night 17-of-40 for 199 yards, three touchdowns, and three costly interceptions. While he showed flashes of his running ability, the passing consistency just wasn't there. When the clock hit zero, the narrative around Thompson shifted. He briefly entered the transfer portal after the game, but the market for a veteran quarterback with those struggles was cold.
Rather than fading into the background at a lower-level school, Thompson withdrew from the portal in early January 2025 and chose a different path: staying at Tulane as a tight end.
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Physicality Over the Pocket
The logic behind the Ty Thompson position change is actually pretty sound when you look at the measurables.
Thompson stands 6-foot-4 and weighs roughly 225 pounds. Even during his time as a backup at Oregon, coaches raved about his raw athleticism and "weight room warrior" mentality. He wasn't a "statue" quarterback; he was a runner. In the 2024 regular season at Tulane, he actually led the team in rushing touchdowns for a significant stretch, finishing the year with 260 yards and six scores on the ground.
Basically, he’s built like a modern "flex" tight end.
Why the Transition Makes Sense
- Athletic Profile: He runs a 4.6-ish forty. For a quarterback, that’s fast. For a tight end, that’s elite.
- NFL Valuation: The NFL is full of former college quarterbacks who converted to other positions—think Logan Thomas or Taysom Hill. Scouts love the "quarterback brain" in a receiver’s body because they understand defensive coverages and timing better than most.
- Need at Tulane: The Green Wave lost key tight ends like Alex Bauman to the portal. Coach Jon Sumrall needed a playmaker who could create mismatches.
Learning the "Dirty Work" in 2025
Switching to tight end isn't as simple as just catching passes. You've got to block. You have to put your face in the chest of a 270-pound defensive end and hold your ground.
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During the spring and summer of 2025, reports from Tulane’s camp were surprisingly positive. Thompson was seen catching multiple touchdowns in scrimmages, using his height to box out smaller defensive backs. However, the transition hasn't been without its hurdles.
Injury luck hasn't been on his side. Throughout the fall of 2025, Thompson dealt with a nagging Grade 1 hamstring strain and a knee issue that kept him off the initial depth charts. In fact, he was ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 season in late October after failing to see the field due to these setbacks.
It’s a frustrating twist. He has the tools, but his body hasn't allowed him to showcase them in a live game yet.
What’s Next for Ty Thompson?
Because he didn't appear in a game during the 2025 season, Thompson has the option to extend his eligibility into 2026. This would give him one final, healthy crack at the tight end experiment.
Most people look at a "position change" as a sign of failure. But in Thompson’s case, it's more about adaptation. He could have walked away or transferred to a Division II school to keep playing QB. Instead, he stayed at a high-level G5 program to learn a new craft.
If he can stay healthy in 2026, he remains one of the most intriguing "what if" players in the country. The arm talent that made him a five-star recruit is still there—maybe we’ll even see some trick plays—but his future now lies in his hands and his blocking.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Evaluators
- Monitor the 2026 Roster: Check if Thompson officially uses his medical redshirt to return. If he does, he’ll be one of the most experienced "rookies" at the position in the AAC.
- Watch the Weight: If Thompson hits the 240-pound mark by next spring, it’s a sign he’s fully committed to the blocking aspect of the tight end role, not just being a "big receiver."
- Follow the "Good Works": Thompson was a 2025 Allstate Good Works Team nominee. His character isn't in question; he’s a leader on campus regardless of where he lines up.