North Carolina State University Athletics
Senior Spotlight: Scott Thompson
9/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 9, 2014
“Being a senior I have mixed emotions. I’m excited that its here and that I get to play one more year with my team at Carter-Finley, but also sad because it is my last guaranteed year of football, so I want to make the most out of this season,” Thompson said.
The biggest thing Thompson knows he will miss is the sounds of loyal Wolfpack fans cheering in the stands of Carter-Finley.
“One moment I will never forget is when we beat Florida State two years ago when they were ranked third in the country,” Thompson said.
“I remember hearing the stands erupt when we won, and it was so awesome to be apart of that moment. Afterward, I couldn’t stop pinching myself when I was at Backyard Bistro with my family because I just couldn’t believe we had won.”
Growing up on the west coast, the Orange County native and third-ranked long snapper in the country out of high school was naturally recruited by top California football powerhouses UCLA and Stanford.
Thompson grew up in a UCLA fan household, but even during the recruiting process, NC State stuck out in his mind as the place that seemed most fitting for the Bruins-raised fan.
“I was recruited heavily by Stanford and by NC State, and was also recruited by UCLA and Texas A&M. UCLA and Texas offered too late in the process, and when Jim Harbaugh left Stanford he left with my scholarship; the new staff said there was only room for me as a walk-on,” Thompson said.
“NC State stuck out to me as the best place to go because it wasn’t just football they recruited me on. They didn’t try and sell me on how many players from the program have gone on to the pros, instead they tried to sell me on the academics and the environment of the community. They really rolled out the red carpet and made me feel like I wasn’t just a player to them.”
As a true freshman, Thompson contributed on the field right away as a part of the Wolfpack’s special teams rookie trio with punter Wil Baumann and kicker Niklas Sade in 2011. He played in 10 games and participated in 112 special teams snaps.
During the start of his junior season, Thompson’s hard work in practice and his success on the field from the previous seasons earned him a spot on Phil Steele’s 2013 preseason first-team All-America list.
“I remember waking up from a nap to texts from a bunch of family and friends saying ‘congratulations,’ and I had no idea what it was for, but then I got online and saw that I was selected for preseason first-team All-America,” Thompson said.
“I knew that I had been working hard and was getting better but it was still a really exciting feeling knowing I was selected.”
After his 2013 campaign, Thompson was named a postseason first-team All-American pick on Steele’s list, and has been named again to the 2014 preseason list.
“After being named last year and selected in the preseason this year I am definitely aiming to make the team twice in a row,” Thompson said.
An important part to his long snapping success is the other two members of the Wolfpack special teams trio, Sade and Baumann, and the camaraderie that they have on and off the field.
“We spend so much time around each other and are so close with one another. We’re always together during practice and we live together. We pretty much do everything together,” Thompson said.
“We have been together though the highs and lows together over the last three years. They are the best guys and teammates I could ask for and I wouldn’t trade them for anyone else.”
As he readies for his final year, Thompson hopes the message that he leaves after his time is up is one that is positive and that his time at NC State has made an impact on the program.
“The message I would want to leave is that I did my job and I did my best for my team, and that I was one of the best during my time here. I also hope that I have helped to make this place and this team better in some way,” Thompson said.
Thompson is readying for his final year in the classroom as well. A sports marketing major, he is currently volunteering with NC State’s athletics communications department.
Looking ahead to the postseason, Thompson has one definite plan; to cut and donate his hair that he has grown for over a year.
“Last year Joe Thuney and I had a bet on who could grow their hair out the longest. After a month Thuney ended up cutting his. Even though I had won I at first wasn’t sure what I should do with it, but I decided to let it grow. After the season is over I want to cut my hair and donate it to locks of love.”
Outside of NC State football, Thompson uses the passion he has for the sport and helps coach with his instructor, legendary long snapping guru Chris Rubio, at his training camps. He helps Rubio a couple of times every year at his camps in North Carolina, Las Vegas and California.
“I enjoy helping out at the camps and coaching the kids. It’s rewarding because they look up to us college players and see us as stars,” Thompson said.
“I remember being like them when I was younger I looking up to the college guys, and now I’m one to these future long snappers and I enjoy helping them improve.”
RALEIGH, N.C. - With his final season as a Wolfpacker in full swing, Scott Thompson reflects on the memories he has made not only as a player, but as a part of the NC State football culture.
“Being a senior I have mixed emotions. I’m excited that its here and that I get to play one more year with my team at Carter-Finley, but also sad because it is my last guaranteed year of football, so I want to make the most out of this season,” Thompson said.
The biggest thing Thompson knows he will miss is the sounds of loyal Wolfpack fans cheering in the stands of Carter-Finley.
“One moment I will never forget is when we beat Florida State two years ago when they were ranked third in the country,” Thompson said.
“I remember hearing the stands erupt when we won, and it was so awesome to be apart of that moment. Afterward, I couldn’t stop pinching myself when I was at Backyard Bistro with my family because I just couldn’t believe we had won.”
Growing up on the west coast, the Orange County native and third-ranked long snapper in the country out of high school was naturally recruited by top California football powerhouses UCLA and Stanford.
Thompson grew up in a UCLA fan household, but even during the recruiting process, NC State stuck out in his mind as the place that seemed most fitting for the Bruins-raised fan.
“I was recruited heavily by Stanford and by NC State, and was also recruited by UCLA and Texas A&M. UCLA and Texas offered too late in the process, and when Jim Harbaugh left Stanford he left with my scholarship; the new staff said there was only room for me as a walk-on,” Thompson said.
“NC State stuck out to me as the best place to go because it wasn’t just football they recruited me on. They didn’t try and sell me on how many players from the program have gone on to the pros, instead they tried to sell me on the academics and the environment of the community. They really rolled out the red carpet and made me feel like I wasn’t just a player to them.”
As a true freshman, Thompson contributed on the field right away as a part of the Wolfpack’s special teams rookie trio with punter Wil Baumann and kicker Niklas Sade in 2011. He played in 10 games and participated in 112 special teams snaps.
During the start of his junior season, Thompson’s hard work in practice and his success on the field from the previous seasons earned him a spot on Phil Steele’s 2013 preseason first-team All-America list.
“I remember waking up from a nap to texts from a bunch of family and friends saying ‘congratulations,’ and I had no idea what it was for, but then I got online and saw that I was selected for preseason first-team All-America,” Thompson said.
“I knew that I had been working hard and was getting better but it was still a really exciting feeling knowing I was selected.”
After his 2013 campaign, Thompson was named a postseason first-team All-American pick on Steele’s list, and has been named again to the 2014 preseason list.
“After being named last year and selected in the preseason this year I am definitely aiming to make the team twice in a row,” Thompson said.
An important part to his long snapping success is the other two members of the Wolfpack special teams trio, Sade and Baumann, and the camaraderie that they have on and off the field.
“We spend so much time around each other and are so close with one another. We’re always together during practice and we live together. We pretty much do everything together,” Thompson said.
“We have been together though the highs and lows together over the last three years. They are the best guys and teammates I could ask for and I wouldn’t trade them for anyone else.”
As he readies for his final year, Thompson hopes the message that he leaves after his time is up is one that is positive and that his time at NC State has made an impact on the program.
“The message I would want to leave is that I did my job and I did my best for my team, and that I was one of the best during my time here. I also hope that I have helped to make this place and this team better in some way,” Thompson said.
Thompson is readying for his final year in the classroom as well. A sports marketing major, he is currently volunteering with NC State’s athletics communications department.
Looking ahead to the postseason, Thompson has one definite plan; to cut and donate his hair that he has grown for over a year.
“Last year Joe Thuney and I had a bet on who could grow their hair out the longest. After a month Thuney ended up cutting his. Even though I had won I at first wasn’t sure what I should do with it, but I decided to let it grow. After the season is over I want to cut my hair and donate it to locks of love.”
Outside of NC State football, Thompson uses the passion he has for the sport and helps coach with his instructor, legendary long snapping guru Chris Rubio, at his training camps. He helps Rubio a couple of times every year at his camps in North Carolina, Las Vegas and California.
“I enjoy helping out at the camps and coaching the kids. It’s rewarding because they look up to us college players and see us as stars,” Thompson said.
“I remember being like them when I was younger I looking up to the college guys, and now I’m one to these future long snappers and I enjoy helping them improve.”
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