It isn’t often that a junior tailback runs his team all the way to a state title in Georgia’s highest classification yet goes relatively unnoticed along the way by major college programs. For Nick Tompkins, those major college programs are finally starting to notice as the Brookwood two-way standout is now up to fifteen offers with two ACC programs in front of everyone else.
“It all happened really fast,” said Tompkins about all of the attention that has suddenly shifted his way after several other notable rising senior Georgia running backs have pledged to schools ranging from Alabama to Florida to Auburn. “Georgia football is really competitive.”
Tompkins was a force in the backfield as his high school team won the Georgia Class 5A state title in 2010, though it is his work in the defensive secondary that had several schools interested early on. Wisconsin, where Tompkins’ father played, and Stanford have both offered Tompkins as a cornerback/athlete, but Tompkins says he likes running back better. “I feel like I’m most effective at running back.”
Wisconsin is still in the hunt but has told Tompkins he would be considered an “athlete,” not running back. “They (Wisconsin) were only going to sign one running back and they gave that to another back,” Tompkins revealed on Monday’s Official Visit. “They want me to come up for an official visit.”
Arkansas and Clemson are two others that have shown early interest, but Tompkins wonders if those schools are really interested. “I don’t get the feeling with those coaches that they really are recruiting me, that they really want me.”
Two schools do seem to really want Tompkins though, one being the hometown school of Georgia Tech. Unlike at Clemson and Arkansas, the Georgia Tech coaching staff has built a very strong relationship with Tompkins. “I like what I could do in that offense as an A-Back.”
Tompkins hinted that the coaches have talked to him about running the ball and going out to catch passes out of the backfield. “They want playmakers. I have great vision and great breakaway speed.”
Maryland received a visit last weekend from Tompkins and he came away very impressed with the Terps program. “I really liked that visit,” Tompkins gushed. “I went to the spring game and went to breakfast with coaches and some of the 2011 commitments.” Tompkins admitted that it was “nice to be around players that could be your teammates.” He noted he will continue to follow Coach Randy Edsall and his program this year.
Maryland and Georgia Tech are “up there right now,” in his top two and Tompkins wouldn’t add who was in third place, or even if there was a third. He did say that he would definitely consider the Georgia Bulldogs if Mark Richt and company offered. “I’d try to get on campus though.”
Tompkins is one of the hottest names in recruiting these days as he is a key player at the important low supply/high demand position of running back. He knows he has plenty to work on with ten months to go before National Signing Day 2012. The back says he plans to hit the weight room hard this summer and will work on his route-running. “I want to work on my lower half, try to add more power.” Tompkins also plans on ending the recruiting process this July with a pledge. This summer will be a busy one and two ACC programs are hoping the summer ends with his pledge.
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