Auburn freshman Christian Thompson accepts adapting to change as part of playing football.
That’s something that stood out to St. Thomas Aquinas High School coach George Smith, and it’s something that stood out to Auburn defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads.
Thompson’s ability to adjust is also a major reason he could see significant playing time at safety – a position he didn’t even play last season – as a true freshman.
Thompson spent last season playing inside linebacker, where he has spent a significant portion of his playing days. In fact, it wasn’t until Thompson transferred to from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach to St. Thomas Aquinas as a junior that he moved to safety.
“When I came in there, I didn’t know anything (about the defensive scheme),” Thompson said. “I wasn’t expected to go in there and start right away or even play. But I came in and I worked hard. I listened to what the coach told me and I found myself on the field earlier than a lot of people thought I would be.”
Smith remembers he didn’t have major expectations for Thompson right away. But when workouts started, Thompson impressed the coaching staff. When practice arrived, he earned a spot on the field.
“He took very little time at all (to catch on),” Smith said. “We’re probably even more complex than a general high school team, too. I don’t know the complexity of (Auburn’s) defense, but he picks things up very well.”
Thompson said transferring to St. Thomas Aquinas helped him immensely as a player because of what he called a “college-like atmosphere.”
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Christian Thompson
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| Position: S
High school: St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale
Height: 6-1 Weight: 195
Notes of interest: As a senior had 76 tackles, including 14 for loss ... Also had one sack, one interception and a fumble recovery ... Named 5A second-team All-State as a senior ... Helped St. Thomas Aquinas to Florida 5A state title.
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Rhoads, defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh last season, didn’t directly recruit Thompson. But he is familiar with the St. Thomas Aquinas program.
“If you know the history behind St. Thomas Aquinas High School, you know it’s a tradition-rich program,” Rhoads said. “Not only has it produced several championships and several championship-contending ballclubs, it’s also produced a high amount of individual player talent. They’ve got guys going to major programs all over the country and on to the NFL from there.
“To come in there as a junior and still be able to break into the starting lineup and play, you don’t do that unless you’re a really good player. And you don’t play in Coach Smith’s system down there unless you’re a high-quality young man also. For Christian to come in and do that, it speaks a volume of what we think he can become as a player.”
While Thompson knew colleges would likely recruit him as a safety, he moved back to linebacker to help his team last season. Smith said Thompson stood out regardless of the position he played.
“He runs very well as a safety,” Smith said. “He can hit you, and he has great hands. It’s a cliché, but he has a tremendous nose for the ball. Then, moving him to inside linebacker, he made that transition very well.”
Smith says he believes Thompson will ultimately bulk up to 220 or 225 pounds and could be a major factor as a collegiate linebacker. Auburn has a knack for turning safeties into linebackers, having done so with both Will Herring and Karlos Dansby in recent years.
Thompson is open to the possibility.
“I know I’m aggressive enough to play it,” Thompson said, “so if I get big enough and they say they want to move me down, I don’t have any problem doing it.”
Tomorrow: Cornerback D'Antoine Hood
