Prepredzone Minnesota Showcase MVP series – Brody Thompson

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>40&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Broad jump&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; L Drill </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5.0&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 9'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 7.09</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where Elk River defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1612778' first='Brody' last='Thompson'] went at the Prepredzone.com Minnesota Showcase, big plays followed. Those stand-out plays were a big reason the junior was named one of the Combine MVPs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"It went really good," Thompson said. "I thought I was one of the top defensive backs there. I think I recorded the most interceptions there and showed my skills, especially in the red zone drills and on the deep balls."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson came into the day with two main objectives.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"My goal was, of course, to win the MVP and help my college recruiting."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His route to an MVP performance was not just the big plays he made.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"One of the biggest things was my physical play," Thompson explained. "I made a lot of plays on the ball, and with interceptions, I made plays on the ball. I was basically reading routes and knowing what the quarterback was going to throw."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Showcase was just another day of a football-focused offseason for the junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I have been training for football this offseason. I have been in the weight room every single day. On Saturdays, I work with a coach who helps me with my defensive back skills and safety skills."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I have been working on my basic footwork skills – like my backpedal – and breaking on the ball as hard as I can," Thompson continued. "I am also working on using my bigger frame against smaller receivers."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On an actual football field, Thompson's skills at the Showcase transfer nicely to games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I am able to read the field. My other strength is my hitting. I was one of the hardest hitters on our team."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson expects his role from last season to be similar to this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I played mainly free safety, but sometimes I roll down, and in specific situations, I will follow the best receiver around the field."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Off the field, speed – more than physicality – is the key to a Thompson family passion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I drag race. My dad has been doing it for twenty-five years, so he got me into it. I am taking a break from it during high school, but I want to get back into it again soon. I will be going to race nationally with my dad."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although it is early, Thompson has enjoyed a nice start to the recruiting process. "Recruiting has been going really well. I have had many junior day invites from DIII and DII schools. I have been to St. Thomas' junior day, and have been talking to Eu Clair, Augsburg, Minnesota State–Moorhead, and Jamestown. St. Olaf started recruiting me right after the combine."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->