Mark Thompson’s lofty goal for 2016 season

Kelvin Taylor needed 14 games and 259 carries to become the 11th Florida Gators running back to surpass 1,000 yards in a season. Junior College transfer Mark Thompson believes he can become the twelfth, which isn’t a revelation, but Thompson believes he’ll only need seven games to add his name to that illustrious list.

“It’s realistic definitely for sure,” Thompson responded when asked about his lofty goal. “If I’m doing the right thing, coming to practice working, coming to the games working harder, than yeah it’s realistic.”

Thompson, originally from La Mott, Pennsylvania spent the last two years Dodge City Community College in Kansas. Thompson holds the records for most career touchdowns (26) and rushed for 1,298 yards on 268 carries in 2015. He added 18 touchdowns but he admits that the SEC is a whole different world than junior college. To make the transition smoother, Thompson has worked hard to get in shape for the season.

“[I’m] In better shape, with the tempo of things. You know it’s not fast to me anymore,” he said of how he’s grown since arriving on campus in the spring. “it’s kinda slow to me now actually, which is a good thing. And that’s the biggest change, that’s been my biggest change from Spring to camp now.”

Thompson can hear the clock ticking. He knows that as a junior college transfer he isn’t afforded time to acclimate like other newcomers t the program and he has no intentions of waiting for his turn. He wants to take it, but he’s entrenched in a deep, competitive battle for the starting running back job with sophomores Jordan Cronkrite and Jordan Scarlett, freshman Lamical Perine and senior Mark Herndon. The five-some have been splitting carries in practice, with most of the first team work going to Thompson and the Jordan’s.

“We come ready to work every day at practice,” Thompson said. “Whoever works the hardest gets the ball the most.”

On the field Thompson stands out, not just for the red hair he sported for about a week, but because he’s a physically imposing presence. At 6-2 and 240 pounds, Thompson has had to turn coaches back throughout the years when they wanted to move him to defense, specifically linebacker. That hasn’t been the case at Florida, where he was recruited to carry the ball and deliver punishment, something the Gators’ defenders have become familiar with during fall camp.

“He’s a load, I mean that’s a big-time SEC back,” redshirt senior defensive lineman Bryan Cox Jr. said. “When you think of SEC backs, you think of your Derrick Henry, Fournette, you think of a big back that can run. And I think he’s gonna present that problem to other teams.”

If Thompson wants to break 1,000 yards in his first season with the Florida Gators he’ll need to beat out the other backs for the starting job, and he’s not going to do that if he doesn’t protect the football. Thompson’s ball security during spring camp was noted by the coaching staff and he put the ball on the ground again in the Orange and Blue game. That has led to Thompson making a new friend, one that he carries with him everywhere.

“Even when I’m at home playing Xbox. One hand on the controller and one hand on the ball,” he said.

“I did almost everything you can do to work on ball-handling and controlling the ball and ball security, and haven’t fumbled yet,” Thompson said before knocking on the wooden table in front of him. “I don’t plan on fumbling the rest of camp or the whole season.”

Becoming a 1,000-yard back at Florida should be attainable for Thompson. Doing it in seven games? That’s highly questionable, but if people aren’t laughing at your goals, your goals are too small.

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC

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