Why Tennessee football coaches told Lipscomb LB Kris Thompson they waited before giving him offer

A Lipscomb Academy reunion in Knoxville?

That could become a reality if Mustangs linebacker Kris Thompson decides the lure of Tennessee football is too strong to pass up.

Thompson received the news he’d been anxiously waiting for when Tennessee, and coach Josh Heupel, offered the three-star 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior earlier this month. The clock now begins for him to make a decision that could land him on the same team with Vols signees Kaleb Beasley and Edwin Spillman in the fall of 2025.

“UT coaches, came to see me work, move around and after that, they told me they wanted to me come to junior day (Feb. 3),” said Thompson, who also holds offers from from Ole Miss, Florida, Michigan, Louisville, Oklahoma State, UAB and Colorado among others. “I went straight to their office and they told me I was always on their recruiting board, but they just wanted to come see me.”

It was a sigh of relief for Thompson, who had been hoping for an offer from Heupel. He’d watched as Vols coaches came to Lipscomb Academy to recruit players like Beasley, Spillman and offensive lineman Chauncey Gooden and defensive back CJ Jimcoily.

“What’s funny is we had talked about it and he was so disappointed that he hadn’t had a Tennessee offer at first,” new Lipscomb Academy coach Jamie Graham said. “They came up to the school before and would talk to other guys. It wasn’t a jealousy thing (for Kris). I grew up watching Florida State as a kid and if they came to my school and didn’t offer me, I’d be upset too.”

The months prior to his offer, Thompson tried to not overthink it. He knew he’d have time to state his case.

“UT is one of my favorites,” he said. “I know that, for myself, when people see me play, it’s a no-brainer. They got to get me. I figured the offer was coming, but I just kept praying and left it in God’s hands and on HIs…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-tennessee-football-coaches-told-204203851.html

Author : The Tennessean

Publish date : 2024-02-27 20:42:03

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