2015 First Five-Stars: Trenton Thompson
They are the best of the best. The players wanted by every program and destined to make a big impact at the college level and beyond. Rivals.com has identified the first five-star prospects for the 2015 class and is unveiling them this week. Ten prospects have been awarded five-stars but are not ranked at this time, and we will profile two each day. One of today's five-stars is Albany (Ga.) Westover School defensive tackle Trenton Thompson .
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Trenton Thompson, DT, Albany (Ga.) Westover School
Attributes: 6-foot-3, 283 pounds, 4.9 40
Trenton ThompsonClick THE THOMPSON FILEHere to view this Link.
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 283 pounds
High school: Albany (Ga.) Westover School
Sophomore highlightsClick HIGHLIGHT REELHere to view this Link.
Scouting Report: Thompson is the kind of defensive lineman who does his damage at the point of attack. Despite measuring 6-foot-3, he knows how to keep a low pad level and center of gravity, allowing him to get valuable leverage against offensive linemen. He also has a good motor to go with his technical skills, helping him to knock players off balance and drive them into the backfield. Unlike some other players at his position, Thompson rarely takes a play off and is a factor against the run and the pass.
Analyst's Take: "What I like about Thompson as a player on the field is his size and strength. He has everything you look for in a defensive tackle, especially in the Southeast, where the best of the best are usually cultivated. But what also sets him apart is his love for the game. He seems determined to get better, whether it be bigger, faster, stronger or just more fundamentally sound. His willingness to grow and continue to improve as a player will pay dividends at the next level and even before then as he tries to push to be the top player in his class." -- Woody Wommack, Southeast recruiting analyst, Rivals.com
Why He's a Five-Star: "Defensive tackle is one of the most important positions in football, so a marquee guy who is athletic and can not only penetrate and get push but also run plays down to the outside is rare. Thompson is very strong at the point of attack and adept at splitting blocks and shooting the gap. He's a high-energy defensive tackle with athletic ability, and that's rare as well. Many of these top guys take plays off or slide by at times on talent, but Thompson works hard every play and brings it. I love his attitude and nastiness on the field. He's big but also athletic enough to play end in a 3-4 if he wanted to; that's also rare." -- Mike Farrell, national recruiting analyst, Rivals.com
His Coach Says: "This past offseason was tremendous for him. He worked extremely hard in the weight room. That's what I love about him; he has a great work ethic. He's up to 292 pounds, he's running a 4.9, and we expect big things from him on the field this year. He's quick off the ball. He does a good job of fighting double teams, which he sees a lot of. His motor getting to the ball is among the best I've seen, and he has the knack of finding the ball and making plays. He has great footwork and does a great job of finishing plays. It's a godsend for a defensive coordinator to have a guy of his stature up front. We know that great defenses are defined by the defensive line, and having him up front demanding double teams and keeping offensive linemen off his linebackers is going to make us great. We gave up a total of 22 points a game, so we want to cut that in half this year and hopefully he'll be a big part of us making a run." -- Octavia Jones, head football coach, Westover School.
Odds and Ends: Georgia was the first school to offer Thompson, and the Bulldogs appear to be the early leader for his services. ... Thompson has said he's not likely to choose a program that runs a 3-4 defense. ... Thompson grew up idolizing NFL defensive tackles Warren Sapp and Haloti Ngata. ... As a sophomore, he had 65 total tackles, including 12 for loss and five sacks.
NFL Player Comparison: Darnell Dockett, Arizona Cardinals
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