Tyson Thompson

Tyson Calvin Thompson (born May 21, 1981) is a former American football running back/kick return specialist in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at San Jose State University.

Tyson Thompson
No. 28
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1981-05-21) May 21, 1981
Irving, Texas
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:225,727,220 lb (102,388,145 kg)
Career information
High school:Irving (TX)
College:San Jose State
Undrafted:2005
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:30
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Thompson attended Irving High School.[1] As a junior in 1998, he rushed for 525 yards in a single game against L. D. Bell High School (Hurst, Texas), third most in Texas high school history and the most ever by a runner in UIL Class 5A, which at that time housed the state's largest schools.[2]

As a senior, he rushed for 2,418 yards on 358 carries and was a semi-finalist for the 1999 Texas Class 5A Player of the Year award.

College career

Thompson enrolled at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas. In two seasons he saw limited playing time but still recorded 1,063 rushing yards on 159 carries and 12 touchdowns. In his final game, he rushed 25 times for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns against nationally ranked Glendale Community College. He transferred after his sophomore season to San Jose State University.

He closed his collegiate career at San Jose State University, playing in all 11 games with eight starts at running back while also seeing action as a kick returner. He posted 811 rushing yards (led the team) and his 5 touchdowns (third on the team). He declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Thompson was not selected in the 2005 NFL Draft due to concerns about his lack of experience at the Division I level. He impressed the Cowboys with his speed during a tryout at their practice facilities in Valley Ranch and was signed as an undrafted free agent, to compete for the reserve running back and kick returner positions.

After making the team, although he was third on the running back depth chart (behind Julius Jones and Marion Barber), a Jones injury allowed him to rush 20 times for 75 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles and was named NFL Rookie of the Week (Week 5). He finished the season with team records for kickoff returns (57) and kickoff return yardage (1,399), while ranking ninth in the NFL with a 24.5-yard average.

His 2006 season ended when he broke his left ankle in the seventh game against the Carolina Panthers, after being tackled out of bounds on a kickoff return. In 2007, he was declared inactive in 9 games and was not re-signed at the end of the year, after losing his returner job to Miles Austin.[3]

Las Vegas Locomotives (UFL)

In 2009, Thompson was selected in the UFL Premiere Season Draft by the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League.[4] He was signed on August 5,[5] but was released before the start of the season.

Tri-Cities Fever (IFL)

On January 29, 2010, he signed with the Tri-Cities Fever of the Indoor Football League.[6] He left during the season after signing with a team in the United Football League.[7]

References
  1. "Thompson breaks week-old record". Lubbock Avalanche Journal. Associated Press. November 4, 1998.
  2. "SPORTS IN BRIEF". Washington Post. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  3. "Cowboys keeping the 'Hotel' open; left tackle Flozell Adams re-signs to protect Romo". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  4. "Ex-Cowboys dominate UFL draft". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  5. "UFL Las Vegas signs 19 players". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  6. "Drafts leaving Fever for new Dallas franchise". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  7. "Thompson sets bar for Rutherford as Fever RB". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
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