[GoRU]

'09 FL DE Demi Thompson

Weakside defensive end
Longwood (FL) Lake Mary

Ht: 6-foot-1
Wt: 237 lbs
Forty: 4.94 secs
Vertical: 32 inches
Shuttle: 4.35 secs
GPA: 3.4
Class: 2009 (High School)

ESPN

Thompson is an interesting kid. On paper he lacks ideal height, but looks taller and leaner than you would imagine on film. He is a productive player that looks to present some nice upside. He has a solid get-off and at times can look quick, but needs to be more consistent in this area. He does a very good job of using his hands. He will lead with them and maintain separation. He displays the ability to be able to shed and displays good base level strength. Like many high school prospects he needs to watch his pad level, but he displays the ability to play with knee bend and keep good leverage. He moves well laterally, but needs to be sure to keep good position and not allow himself to be reached. He displays the ability to step and shoot a gap, but does not come across as a kid that gets a lot of quick penetration. He can push his way up-field when he gets to half-a-man. He has good short-area change-of-direction skills and displays good speed when pursuing, He needs to improve his pursuit angles. He is a solid tackler. As a pass rusher he flashes some good things as he is active with his weapons. He can get to the shoulder and work past a blocker. He looks to need to develop a plan of attack to help him more quickly navigate around obstacles. Size could be a minor concern in some peoples eyes, but Thompson comes across as a fairly athletic kid who with some continued development could mature into a good college defensive lineman.

FloridaFB

THE THOMPSON REPORT
NAME: Demi Thompson
SCHOOL: Lake Mary
CITY: Lake Mary
POSITION: DE
HEIGHT: 6-1

WEIGHT: 237

40 TIME: 4.9 (Reported)
HEAD COACH: Scott Perry

SCOUTING THOMPSON: Having the chance to see and talk with this outstanding prospect, even he was amused at the way people were evaluating him from game film alone. This is one of those young men who will become a top-flight prospect - despite the fact that he doesn’t have the height you are looking for at this position.

First of all, he runs extremely well, has superior strength and first step quickness is amazing. He blows by offensive linemen because he knows how to use his hands, is very strong and maintains tremendous leverage.

Having watched him play three separate times, this is a football player who has a motor and uses it the entire game. Physically, he is tough, rarely misses out on initial tackles and knows how to get after the quarterback as well as putting himself in a position to make tackles.

While he still has much to learn, this is certainly a prospect who will gain the respect of college coaches because he is a “gamer” who loves the sport, is very smart and knows how to play the game of football.

Put a player like this in a testing combine alone and you will never see the things you can when watching him in full pads on the football field. Tremendous prospect who continues to fly beneath the radar screen because of his lack of height!

THOMPSON TIDBITS: Last year, Thompson played in just six games for the Rams, coming up with 37 tackles and 5 sacks. That total also includes two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. This spring, he has taken full advantage of the combines to put himself on the map, which he has done quite nicely.

In the classroom, his 3.4 grade point average has also given himself a huge advantage when it comes to the recruiting process.

WHAT THE COLLEGE RECRUITERS ARE SAYING: “Having watched this young man play over the past two years, we would have to say that his strength, quickness and athletic ability will help thrust him into the spotlight.”

HIS BAGS ARE PACKED: While the spring and summer will produce more exposure, schools such as UCF, USF, Purdue and Cincinnati already have Thompson on their respective radar screen.