Sept. 1, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Check out the latest installment of SamfordSports.com's monthly feature stories which highlight the Bulldogs' talented student-athletes. September's piece features football player Sean Thompson and was written by Sports Information Director Joey Mullins.

Sean Thompson has always been told he is undersized to play linebacker. It's something the six-foot, 210-pound senior from Hoover has dealt with all of his life.

"That's kind of what I was in high school because I kind of stopped growing after middle school," Thompson said.

Thompson said that is something that has always served as motivation for him as he continued his athletic career.

"It's never slowed me down," Thompson said. "It's always been motivation for me to work harder in the weight room, just proving myself to everybody."

Thompson played his high school football at nearby Spain Park High School. Thompson had a stellar career with the Jaguars, tallying an impressive 119 tackles as a senior, and 85 tackles in his junior season.

He was named his team's Most Valuable Player, and he was an All-Metro selection. Thompson was a success off the field as well, earning the Finley Award, which honors outstanding character.

Thompson said as he was growing up, playing college football was always a goal of his.

"I've always dreamed about playing college football," Thompson said. "When I was a kid I played baseball and other things like that, but I definitely loved football."

Even though he dreamed of playing college football, Thompson never knew it was a real possibility until he first started getting recruited.

"You never really feel like you can play until something actually happens," Thompson said. "I started getting recruited late in my junior year of high school and that is when it became more of a reality that I really might get the chance to play college football."

When Thompson was in the process of making his decision where to continue his academic and athletic career, he says Samford head coach Pat Sullivan was a big factor in his decision to play for the Bulldogs.

"The biggest thing was Coach Sullivan," Thompson said. "As a person, I saw he was a great guy who is going to take care of me, push me and make me work hard. That really was a determining factor in me coming to school here."

Thompson said he was not completely sure at first he wanted to attend school so close to home.

"Actually, that was one of the hardest decisions, going to school so close to home," Thompson said. "But it really has been a good experience for me, because I can run home every now and then and see my family, so it's really good."

The transition from high school football to college football was not always an easy one for Thompson.

"It was a little tough for me," Thompson said. "Guys are a little bigger, better athletes, you can't do some of the same things you did in high school. But it really wasn't too tough. I knew coming in it was going to be different. I just worked hard and tried to get better every day."

Thompson was a key contributor in his first season in a Samford uniform. As a freshman, he saw action in 10 of the team's 11 games. He tallied 10 tackles, including eight solo stops and two tackles for a loss.

As a sophomore, Thompson played in 10 games again, this time starting two contests. He had 28 tackles, including 20 solo tackles.

In his junior season in 2010, Thompson stepped into the regular starting lineup for the Bulldogs, starting all 11 games.

"It's a big jump," Thompson said. "Because when you're a backup, you think, `maybe I'll get in, maybe I won't,'. But, coming to the game as a starter, you know you're about to play. It was really a big transition, but I loved it. I love starting and I love playing."

Thompson had 25 total tackles and 20 solo tackles in 2010. He also had his first interception, to go along with four quarterback hurries as a junior.

Prior to his senior season, Thompson was named the winner of the Charles Williams Memorial Jersey. The jersey, the number five, is given to a senior leader each season. Charles Williams was a Samford player who was killed in a car accident in the spring of 2003.

"It's definitely a great honor, because he was a great person and a great player," Thompson said. "It's an honor to wear his jersey. And the people before me who have worn it, they have all been great players with great character, so I'm just trying to live up to the expectations that go along with wearing this jersey."

Thompson said heading into his senior season his main personal goal is to play to the best of his ability and hopefully help the team win a Southern Conference championship.

"My goal personally is just to play each game to the best of my ability," Thompson said. "If that means that I make five tackles that game or maybe 12, I just want to play the best I can in each game."

After graduating from Samford, Thompson, who is a sports medicine major, hopes to continue his education.

"Hopefully I'll make it to Medical School," Thompson said. "From there, I'll just see where it goes."