Quarterback Ty Thompson, a five-star 2021 football recruit committed to Oregon, will become the first Gilbert Mesquite football player to compete in the High School All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 9.

The game, one of the most prestigious of national high school all-star games for seniors, is nationally televised by NBC.

Thompson, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, The Arizona Republic’s top 2021 football prospect in Arizona, announced his commitment to the game on social media Tuesday morning.

“It’s just a huge blessing and really a big surprise,” said Thompson, who lead the Wildcats to their first 4A championship last season. “I’m super excited to get to go to San Antonio and compete with the best players in the nation and meet up with some of my friends going to Oregon with me.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity to get better and it will help make that final transition between high school and college.”

Thompson is planning to enroll early at the University of Oregon after finishing up this semester at Mesquite.

After two games this season, Thompson has completed 33 of 58 passes for 715 yards and eight TDs with no interceptions. He has a 140 QB rating. He has also run for 64 yards and two TDs.

Last season, when Thompson really got on the national map, he passed for 4,074 yards and 45 TDs and ran for 562 yards and six scores.

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