On Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, Central Bucks East senior Vince Thompson Jr. was recognized for making a commitment to play football and compete in track at Villanova University.
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Vince Thompson Jr. – Villanova University (Football/Track)
Major: Civil Engineering
Final list of colleges: Villanova, University of New Hampshire
Reasons for choosing Villanova: “Basically, my mom went there, my sister went there, and my dad went there, and I wanted to go there. With both of my parents being alumni, there were more opportunities at Villanova than there would be at New Hampshire.”
What was the progression that led you to compete in both track and football at the collegiate level? “When I went down to meet with coach (Andy) Talley – track was my number one sport, but I got into football. I asked him if I could do both, and he said I could.”
Coach John Donnelly says: “Vince really waited for his time. As a junior, he was a special teams player and play sporadically. We knew from a talent standpoint that he’s gifted. He ran a 10.7 100 in the springtime, and he ran a great 40 time for us in the summer and spring. We just knew we had a tremendous amount of speed in him, but the experience wasn’t there.
“Vince was our first 1,000-yard rusher in a couple of years, and he just got better and better. We played Pennridge, which was the number three seed in the district, our second last game of the year, and Vince rushed for three touchdowns and 180 yards against a very good defense. I see a tremendous upside as he is starting to grow into himself as a player and get more confident. He’s really - in leaps and bounds - taken big strides.
“He’s a great kid, very coachable. He doesn’t say a lot but leads by example. He’s very well liked by his teammates. It’s nice to see great things happen to good kids like that.”
Assistant coach Matt Freed says: “What really stood out to me was the fact that he was a guy that worked incredibly hard. He was a great athlete and a great player, but he never, ever pointed the finger at himself – he never bragged or boasted. He’s probably one of the most outstanding athletes in the high school, but you’re talking about a kid that’s humble but has all the tools to be successful.
“On the field, he could lead through his actions - knowing his role, knowing what he was supposed to do every play. He’s a man that leads by example. In terms of athletic ability, he’s one of the most explosive players I have ever coached. When he gets in the open field, it’s lights out. Not too many people can catch him.”
About Vince:
Favorite food: Philly Cheesesteaks
Favorite movie: American Gangster
Favorite music: Hip Hop/Rap
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