Thompson Ready for Primetime Matchup

Deonte Thompson's demeanor off the football field is rather quiet as he’s not one to talk about himself or the schools that are interested in him or the one’s that he is truly interested for that matter.

But on the field is a different story.

On the field is where All-American wide receiver Deonte Thompson out of Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, Florida, does his talking and he does it loud.

Thompson who is being recruited by just about everyone lists Miami, Florida, Notre Dame, USC, Ohio State, Tennessee and South Carolina among his top schools of choice in no particular order.

But when he’s on the field he gives good reason for the country to be after him.

Against Palm Beach Gardens last Friday in Glades Central’s 21-20 preseason classic loss, he had three catches for 50 yards including a 37-yard touchdown reception where he burned the corner by at least three yards.

“It was just a little exhibition game,” Thompson said. “A lot of our guys didn’t play so it wasn’t that big of a deal. It just gives us a little work to see where we are. It really didn’t matter much.”

With a huge contest in Duncan, South Carolina against the nation’s sixth ranked team, Byrnes High School, winner of 58 of its past 60 games, Thompson said one of the main things was to be healthy going into Saturday.

“We were thinking about it, but we just didn’t want anyone to get hurt,” Thompson said. “We just wanted to stay healthy for Byrnes.”

However, even when he could have been on the sideline late in a meaningless game, he chose to be on the field even though he was suffering from turf toe and in a lot of aching pain.

It’s an attitude like that fits in quite well at the “U”. As junior at Glades Central, Thompson had 35 catches for 767 yards, a ridiculous average of 21.9 yards per catch. He also had 12 kick returns for 515 yards and two touchdowns, an even sicker 42.9 yards per return.

Even with a major contest in South Carolina this weekend where all of his focus lies, Thompson still commented about Miami and his comments should make UM fans feel more than good.

Not only is Thompson the breakaway type of receiver the ‘Canes sorely need with blazing 4.28 speed in the 40 and the ability to separate like Santana Moss did, but he is a playmaker. His elusiveness is nasty. His separation shows he knows how to get open and his attitude is what’s needed in Coral Gables.

It’s time for the ‘Canes to impress him when he’s at the Miami-FSU game Labor Day night at the Orange Bowl.

“I feel great about Miami. I went down there to check it out,” Thompson said. “It’s a great atmosphere. They are one of my top choices. Most definitely I’ll be there (at the FSU-UM game).”

And hopefully wearing a “U” on his helmet next fall.