Tennessee Titans Release Former Texas Longhorns Safety

The Tennessee Titans have parted ways with a former Texas Longhorns safety.
Texas Longhorns defensive back Jerrin Thompson (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown after intercepting the ball from Wyoming Cowboys wide receiver Ayir Asante (5) during the Texas Longhorns' game against the Wyoming Cowboys, Saturday, Sept. 16 at Darrell K Royal   Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Thompson went on to score a touchdown.
Texas Longhorns defensive back Jerrin Thompson (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown after intercepting the ball from Wyoming Cowboys wide receiver Ayir Asante (5) during the Texas Longhorns' game against the Wyoming Cowboys, Saturday, Sept. 16 at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Thompson went on to score a touchdown. | Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

AUSTIN -- Texas football saw record-breaking success at the 2025 NFL Draft last month but not all former Longhorns are getting to live out their professional dreams quite yet.

The Tennessee Titans announced Monday that they released former Texas safety Jerrin Thompson after signing him to an undrafted free-agent deal. Tennessee also released West Florida cornerback Virgil Lemons in order to make room for the signings of UConn wide receiver TJ Sheffield and former Baylor and TCU tight end Drake Dabney.

Thompson played last season at Auburn after spending the first four years of his collegiate career with the Longhorns.

Jerrin Thompson
Sep 14, 2024; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers safety Jerrin Thompson (1) lines up for a play against the New Mexico Lobos at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images | John Reed-Imagn Images

With 12 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, Texas set a new program record in the seven-round era for the most players taken in a single draft. This also tied for the fourth-most all-time by one program, as Georgia (2025), Alabama (2018) and Ohio State (2016) have all also reached that mark.

Thompson was teammates with 10 of these Longhorns at Texas, which included playing four seasons each with cornerback Jahdae Barron and defensive lineman Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton. The Titans also signed Longhorns linebacker David Gbenda to an undrafted deal. He too spent four seasons in Austin as Thompson's teammate.

Thompson finished his Texas career having played in 49 games while posting 176 total tackles, 18 pass breakups, five interceptions, and one pick-six.

In his only year at Auburn, Thompson had 65 total tackles (45 solo), one sack, five pass breakups and two interceptions. One of his interceptions came in the four-overtime win over the Texas A&M Aggies in November. He also had a season-best 11 total tackles that game.

Thompson will now look for his next NFL opportunity, whether that be competing for a chance at a 53-man roster or even a practice squad spot.


Published
Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

Zach Dimmitt is the Deputy Editor for Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He also contributes as a writer for the On SI channels of the Oregon Ducks, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Bills on SI, Philadelphia Eagles on SI and Seattle Seahawks on SI. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Dimmitt received his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. He originally started with SI’s Fan Nation network in 2021, providing extensive coverage of the NFL and NBA along with college football and basketball. In that time, Dimmitt has published thousands of stories and has reached millions of people across multiple fan bases. You can follow him on X at @ZachDimmitt7

Share on XFollow ZachDimmitt7