Florida RB drawing a national crowd

Lakeland (Fla.) George Jenkins running back Tyease Thompson is used to drawing a crowd on the football field.

What’s been happening during the spring recruiting period has been a bit of an adjustment.

“I think he’s been a little overwhelmed by it all,” Jenkins coach Casey Vaughn said. “It’s been a constant stream of coaches coming in here to see both him and M.J. (linebacker Mozell Axson). One leaves, and another comes in. We had 12 in one room the other day.

“I made 100 fliers to hand out at the beginning of spring, and we ran out of those a long time ago.”

Thompson (6-1, 180, 4.4) has been carrying offers from LSU, Maryland and Iowa State since the beginning of spring. In recent weeks, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Purdue have turned up the heat. Coaches from all three schools visited in the last week.

“I think Pitt is close to offering,” Vaughn said. “They’ve kind of indicated verbally that they will, but nothing official yet. They told me they want to be sure he’s serious about their program and they’d like to know they’ve got a good shot before they make it official.”

Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kanasas, Kansas State and Iowa have also been involved with Thompson.

And where does he stand with Florida’s “big three?”

“The in-state schools have all shown interest, but not quite as much as other schools from across the country,” Vaughn said. “I think they want to get him in their camps this summer before they really make any kind of offer, but that may cost them in the long run. It wouldn’t surprise me if he went out of state.

“He just wants to go somewhere that will line him up and tailback and give him a good shot to play early.”

As a junior, Thompson rushed for more than 1,800 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. He recorded more than 2,300 total yards, earning Class 4A all-state honors.

Vaughn said he plans to make unofficial visits or camp appearances at Georgia, Florida, Miami and Pittsburgh this summer.