Tigers, Terps, Cyclones offer RB

Junior to Watch: Tyease Thompson

School: Lakeland (Fla.) George Jenkins HS

Position: Running Back

Size and speed: Thompson is 6-foot-1, 180 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.

Statistics: As a junior, he rushed for more than 1,800 yards, averaging eight yards per carry, and scored 19 touchdowns. He finished with 2,300 yards in total offense.

Honors: Was selected first-team Class 4A all-state by the FSWA, all-county and all-district at running back.

Favorite Schools: LSU, Iowa State, Maryland, Miami, Florida State, Auburn, Texas A&M.

Skinny: May is expected to be a busy time around the George Jenkins High School practice facility as one of the Eagles’ stars has already picked up a handful of early scholarship offers.

That player, running back Tyease Thompson, has drawn offers from LSU, Maryland and Iowa State and is being watched closely by the likes of Miami, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida State, N.C. State, Stanford and Texas A&M.

“Tyease is the real deal,” George Jenkins coach Casey Vaughn said. “We expect about 80-100 schools in here for spring practice.

“He’s a kid that you just put the ball in his hands and get out of the way. He makes things happen even when there’s nothing there. He can turn a broken play into a touchdown just like that. He’s got the great vision and extra burst of speed that all the great backs have.”

Vaughn said Thompson made things look easy at times last season on his way to Class 4A all-state honors.

“You watch the film, and it just looks like he’s toying with people at times,” he said. “Then, when he chooses to turn it up a notch, he’s gone.”

Vaughn also considers Thompson one of the most aggressive players he’s coached.

“I know one thing: he’s mean as snot,” he said with a laugh. “He’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever seen. Not in a bad way, but just in the sense he had to grow up that way. He’s an extremely tough kid, both mentally and physically. He earns a lot of respect.”

LSU appears to be the early leader in the hunt for Thompson’s services.

“I think he’s leaning pretty heavily that way,” Vaughn said. “But if he could stay in state, maybe Miami or Florida State, I think it would be a tougher decision. Both of those schools have shown some interest and want to get him in their camps to evaluate him up close. For whatever reason, though, we haven’t heard as much interest from Florida. I’m not sure why.”

Thompson plans to attend the Nike combine at Miami this spring. He also wants to attend the Hurricanes’ summer camp and “maybe Auburn, Florida State or Texas A&M,” according to Vaughn.

Academically, Thompson maintains a 2.5 GPA and has scored an 880 on his first SAT attempt. He is expected to be fully qualified, Vaughn said.