The Details: The Most Interesting Man In College Football
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Six games. Four defensive touchdowns.
Shaq Thompson is so dangerous on a football field he scares Chuck Norris. The linebacker’s season has been so impressive, The Most Interesting Man in the World only watches college football if the junior is playing.
Sure, these jokes are silly, but so is what Thompson has accomplished in 2014. Like teammate John Ross said after Washington’s win over Cal, “He’s not normal.” Ross would know. After all, he frequently flies at an altitude that could be characterized in a similar fashion.
Thompson is playing at such a high level Washington’s coaching staff believes he could play as many as five different positions for the Huskies. That is not hyperbole.
He has the right combination of size, strength, instincts and athleticism that allows him to anticipate and make plays on both offense and defense. Ever since he stepped on campus, coaches have had to resist the urge to utilize him as a two-way player.
This year, though, He has become one of the Huskies’ most valuable offensive weapons by making plays on defense.
He has as many defensive scores as Ross has receiving touchdowns so far this season. In fact, throw in Thompson’s rushing touchdown against Eastern Washington and the standouts are currently tied for the top spot on the team with five apiece.
“Four touchdowns in a career for defensive guys is unbelievable,” Washington linebackers coach Bob Gregory said. “What he’s done is pretty special.”
What he’s done is score more touchdowns by himself this year than SMU has as a team.
“It’s the way he prepares,” teammate John Timu said. “They say you win games in practice and I think he’s done that.”
With each week and every touchdown, people across the country are starting to ask, “How does he do that?” The Huskies have been watching Thompson make impressive plays in practice for so long, they expect it on Saturdays.
“He does it every day,” Timu said. “There’s always something crazy you see.”
What Shaq Thompson has done is score more touchdowns by himself this year than SMU has as a team.
Thompson’s touchdowns started against Eastern Washington with a 57-yard run on his third collegiate carry – he only has nine offensive touches. Then he scored twice against Illinois – a 36-yard pick-six and a 52-yard fumble recovery. Georgia State found a way to keep him off the scoreboard, but he has returned fumbles in back-to-back games.
Every time the ball has ended up in Thompson’s hands on defense this season, he has finished the play in the end zone. In fact, when Hau’oli Kikaha was asked about Thompson’s 100-yard scoop and score against Cal, he laughed and said his first reaction was, “I should have guessed.”
Thompson isn’t the kind of player who enjoys answering questions about personal accomplishments. He tends to talk in short, hushed sentences. He is the kind of athlete who would rather praise a teammate than boast about individual accolades.
When asked about his penchant for defensive touchdowns, he only needed one word and a smile.
“Magnet,” he said.
Named to ESPN.com’s Midseason All-America Team, Thompson’s talent is national news. Washington coach Chris Petersen said Thompson has the “it factor.” He puts himself in positions to make momentum-changing plays at pivotal moments.
His touchdown against Cal changed the game. He demonstrated why, right now, he is The Most Interesting Man In College Football.
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