Deon Thompson [5’ 9” 171 lbs] 2014 Tampa Bay Tech RB

Interest: Miami, FIU

Squat: 420 lbs
Bench: 250 lbs
Dead lift: 365 lbs

Ignite Results:
Vertical – 35″
Short Shuttle – 4.31 seconds
3Cone – 7.3 seconds
Bench Reps (185 lbs) – 11

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He lives with father and sister in Tampa, Fla. He sees his mother, maybe, two times a week – over a webcam.

“I try to fight it,” says Tampa Bay Tech sophomore running back Deon Thompson. “I wonder about it a lot.”

He hopes for her safety – she lives and works in a war-zone.

Deon Thompson looks up to his mom. She inspires him.

“She is always pushing me because she wakes up at 4:30 a.m. every morning,” Thompson said.

His mother worked as a hair dresser, but stopped. She found it hard to get back into the business so she moved to Kuwait. “She goes through a struggle; when she stopped being a hair dresser it was hard to get back into it so she moved overseas.”

Thompson uses his mother’s story as motivation.

“I always say it’s good because it makes me stronger. She tells me to always go harder,” he explained. “It makes me stronger.”

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Deon Thompson is a developing sophomore talent. As a freshman the 5-foot 9-inch Titan saw action in two games rushing 10 times for 83 yards and 1 touchdown. He increased his work load this year.

However, his season was cut short due to a few minor injuries though.

“I had a few good games, but got a mild concussion and a high-ankle sprain and missed some games,” Thompson said. “I’m 100 percent now.”

He is 100 percent and spending a lot of time in the weight room as well as on the track. He and fellow 4 x 100 runner Richard Benjamin have developed a bond.

“The biggest thing for me right now is working out with Richard Benjamin,” said Thompson. “He pushes me a lot. I want my recruiting to end up being just like his.”

Along with team workouts – Thompson says that he and Benjamin get together on the weekends.

Deon competed in the 2012 Ignite Combine where he displayed his quickness and strength. After turning in a 4.31 second short shuttle time the 171-pounder bench pressed 185 pounds 11 times.

“I’m a freak in the weight room,” he said. “I know how to get the job done – I can run you over or shake you. I got speed, quickness and toughness.”

Following his participation in the Ignite Combine Thompson competed at the Nike Sparq Combine where he says he felt like he had to get his name out there because no one knew him like they do in Tampa.

“A lot of people asked about me at the combine,” he said. “They wanted to know what school I went to and what class I was.”

On a very chilly evening Thompson ran a 4.65 40-yard dash time – a time that he wasn’t happy with.

“I think the cold probably interfered with my 40 time,” he said. “I ran a 4.5 at the Nike combine.”

As Thompson and the rest of the Titans continue to mature – he says they will be a nuisance to deal with next year.

“We’re gonna be a real fast offense, probably run a play every 20 seconds,” he said. With big-play and the ability to stretch the field Thompson says that they are going to spread things out a lot more and run up the field.”

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As he matures Thompson will continue to be a sought-after recruit in the 2013 class. He expects offers to start coming to him during spring ball.

He says that his skill set matches up with everyone else in his class.

“I like me [and what I can do] more than anyone else in my class.”

Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleBennettUT