TAMPA – The Hillsborough Terriers’ season didn’t go exactly as planned this year, but that doesn’t mean they’re lacking in talent nor the ability to turn things around–and in a hurry next season. One of those constant contributors on both sides of the ball for The Big Red for the past three seasons is Senior CB/WR Mike Hampton. His most natural position looks to be at the cornerback position, but he can also play wide receiver if you need him catching nearly 600 yards’ worth of passes last season finishing with just of 900 yards for his career.
On the island, he’s become a player that most coaches would like to avoid if possible. Hampton’s six interceptions this year is by far-and-away his best season in that category, but he’s also posted 51 tackles and 37 tackles in the last two season respectively with two-thirds of those coming solo. Hampton’s speed also garnered some attention this summer when he visited Jimbo Fisher’s Camp in Tallahassee and ran a 4.4 40-yd dash in front of those coaches.
Hampton sat down with us this week to give us five good minutes with some answers regarding the Terriers’ season, along with his feeling regarding his personal development plus how his recruitment has gone thus far. Here now is Mike Hampton in his own words.
BCP: Give us a quick rundown on the season for you and the Terriers this season.
Mike Hampton: “The season didn’t go as planned or as we thought it would. We set out a goal to win every game, but that didn’t happen obviously. Offensively, we didn’t do what we were supposed to do, but we had a pretty good season on defense. I felt like individually for me on defense it was better than last year. I felt like I was way more aggressive and physical on that side of the ball.”
BCP: Was the aggressiveness on the defensive side something your coaches told you that needed to be worked on? Or was that a product of your own self-evaluation?
Mike Hampton: “It was a combination of both–I heard from a lot of my coaches and from schools that were recruiting me that I needed to improve in that area.”
BCP: Give us a little insight on how your recruitment is going and if you’ve got any updates on that front.
Mike Hampton: “My recruitment is going pretty good–ever since I dropped my senior highlights, I’ve gotten a lot of follows on Twitter and DM’s from coaches giving me some positive feedback on how much they’ve like the highlights and how I’ve played this season.”
BCP: Is there anybody in particular you’d like to reveal? Or is that something you’d rather not jinx and keep grinding in hopes that offer will come?
Mike Hampton: “I think I’m going to worry about naming those schools another time. Right now I’m going to concentrate on gaining those offers.”
BCP: What is it that you’re hearing from those coaches on the back channels? Are they offering any specific advice? Or is it the same as the general feedback they’ve been giving you?
Mike Hampton: “They say they really like what they see and that they like my size. They like how physical I’ve been at the line and in man coverage along with my ball skills plus my attitude.”
BCP: So you’ve got your senior film dropped, and now comes the waiting game–which makes your situation extremely common in this business. What sort of approach are you taking at the moment from a personal standpoint? Is it based in “I can’t do anything more on the field and in the classroom–I’ve done all I can do and it’s up to the coaches to see that?”
Mike Hampton: “Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel to be honest.”
BCP: Did you have a moment in the season that everything started to click?
Mike Hampton: “Not this season, but it was my first game ever against Armwood and I was able to run down a player running the kickoff back from the other side of the field.”
BCP: What’s your message to the other recruits that feel as though they’re not getting the love they think they deserve?
Mike Hampton: “Don’t worry about the stars–don’t worry about the offers–play as hard as you can and things will come.”