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On Wednesday morning, the Timberline High School senior signed a national letter of intent to play football for the school in Cheney, which he described as “like a big family.”
He was one of two South Sound football players who signed to play for an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision team; Tumwater lineman Josh Hanson (6-foot-7, 250 pounds) honored his October verbal commitment to Portland State and signed with the Big Sky-rival Vikings.
Fellow Timberline senior James Segura-Mitchell joined Thompson in the Blazers’ signing day celebration, signing with Central Washington. Other area NCAA Division II football signees are Tumwater’s Hayden Klein (Central) and Taylor Wood (Western Oregon).
The family atmosphere at Eastern was a big factor for Thompson, a 6-2, 195-pound all-everything-type player for the Blazers. A member of The Olympian’s All-Area team as a wide receiver, Thompson had 22 catches for 499 yards and was a two-way all-3A Narrows honoree at receiver and defensive back.
He also was a big threat on special teams, returning punts and kickoffs for a combined 206 yards. He said Eastern plans to have him play free safety.
“We’re excited about him and his length and athleticism,” Eastern coach Beau Baldwin said of Thompson.
“He has the ability and skills to cover ground. In our defense, when we run with two high safeties, we want players who can cover that half of the field. He can do that.”
Eastern first got in touch with Thompson last summer and he received a handful of offers from other schools, including CWU and Western Oregon. Baldwin even drove eight hours plus for an in-home visit with Thompson in Lacey during the week-long record snowfall and ice storm two weeks ago.
Knowing Eastern won the 2011 FCS title, behind a group of South Sound- and Washington-based players, was a big influence in Thompson’s decision.
“They have the coaching staff to get there and have a nice recruiting class,” Thompson said. “One thing that they stressed is they all play as a unit.”
Segura-Mitchell, who played quarterback, defensive back, wide receiver and returned punts and kicks the past season, sported a throw-back Wildcats letterman jacket in honor of signing with Central. Going to the Ellensburg school is a family tradition; his parents, James (football) and Aurelia (track and field), also were athletes at Central.
“Central has always been there,” Segura-Mitchell said. “They’re a very competitive (Division II) school, they’re ranked high year after year. What I like about their position coaches is they know what they’re doing and they’re really cool.”
Not only is signing day special for the student-athletes, it’s also a special day for Timberline coach Nick Mullen. In Mullen’s five seasons at Timberline, he’s sent 17 players – and possibly more later this spring – on to the collegiate level.
“This is one of my happiest days,” Mullen said. “I love seeing my kids sign and turning the page on their next chapter. It makes me feel we’re doing something right.”
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/southsoundsports
