Dylan Thompson Finally Gets Chance To Leave His Mark At Virginia
Posted on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018, 6:50 pm
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By Jerry Ratcliffe
Only minutes after Virginia had dropped a heartbreaking, 30-27 overtime loss at Georgia Tech last Saturday night, Dylan Thompson limped into the make-do interview area in Bobby Dodd Stadium and faced media that covers the team for the very first time.
Thompson, a graduate transfer from Ohio State, had just started the first game of his college career, and do so under very stressful circumstances. Facing Georgia Tech’s triple option, which featured the nation’s No. 1 running offense in the country, and offensive lineman that use the cut block, can test any defensive lineman’s mettle.
Still, Thompson poured his heart and soul into the game, came up with six tackles and was part of a Virginia defensive effort that held the Yellow Jackets to 100 yards less than their average rushing totals per game.
“The last couple of weeks he has started to make it through practice,” Mendenhall said of Thompson’s progress. “That just means from beginning to end. With that, he’s qualified for repetition, and with the repetition he’s been able to demonstrate his ability. With demonstrated ability, and now increased need, that all kind of came together last week, which was week 11. Just in time.”
Thompson announced his intentions of transferring from Ohio State back in the spring, but took longer than expected to graduate and enroll at UVa. Once he was here, he was behind and is just now getting up to speed.
The “just in time,” part of Mendenhall’s statement was in reference to how Thompson’s presence has helped because the defensive line has taken its lumps in recent weeks, most recently losing defensive end Mandy Alonzo for the rest of the regular season. The lack of bodies and experience has added to the stress of keeping the D-Line healthy enough, especially against the nation’s top running attack.
“Dylan played well and he tried hard,” Mendenhall said of Thompson’s effort against the Yellow Jackets. “I was really proud of him, not only for sticking to it, but through it. He’s a fifth-year player coming from a program of prestige, coming in under circumstances that we expected more and he expected more.”
Those expectations were just the opposite until Saturday, Mendenhall said because both parties had hoped for a much better beginning.
“Better late than never,” Mendenhall said. “It is actually more impactful now that he’s finally reached that knowing how difficult the transition has been for him. I was really happy for him. He’s just handled himself really well. He’s worked hard. He’s been humble and learned and embraced and likes what he’s doing and where he is.”
Thompson said that his experiences at Ohio State and Virginia are not that different in the big picture.
“The work demand [at UVa] is definitely something to get used to,” Thompson said. “I’ve been off from football the past eight months with a bicep injury from Ohio State and it took a lot of time to recover.
“I didn’t do a lick of running, and I came in (to Virginia) thinking I was going to be fine,” the former Buckeye said.
Wrong.
“Next thing I know, I had dropped into another savage program,” Thompson said. “I’ve been in love with [UVa’s program] from the moment I got here. The work ethic, the guys want to get better, the culture is unbelievable.”
Thompson’s playing time at Ohio State was very limited due to recurring injuries and a stretch of academic shortcomings, but he has endured, survived, and now at his best.
“I’ve been through a lot and I definitely believe in the saying: ‘God give his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers,’” Thompson said.
Getting ready for the Georgia Tech game was a test.
“We made major strides during last week with all the guys we’ve lost on defense,” Thompson said. “A lot of younger guys have stepped up, I’ve stepped up. I call myself a young guy. I’ve been in college for five years and this is my first start, but I’m on the same level as all them.”
Thompson said that while he’s a graduate player, he’s been impressed with the culture at Virginia and that “I’ve been helped by some of these young guys. I’m a fifth-year senior and a freshman is helping me.”
Even after a loss, and was obviously hobbled due to the physical nature of Saturday’s game, Thompson seemed invigorated, ready for more. He’ll get more action this week in the regular season finale at Virginia Tech on Friday, then another two weeks worth of practice prior to UVa’s bowl game.
It has been quite a journey. While Thompson wears No. 68, he still doesn’t have a name on the back of his jersey.
“How much time do we have?” Mendenhall said when asked about Thompson’s journey.
“Any time we consider a graduate transfer there is a couple core principles that are in place,” the coach said.
Mendenhall will only consider a grad transfer under the conditions that they’ll get their master’s degree, and if they are at a position of need where they could become an immediate starter or have an immediate impact. That was the case with Thompson, although his injury and physical condition required more time.
“We thought Dylan would do that,” Mendenhall said. “Upon arrival, his eventual arrival, after taking extra time to qualify academically, by the time he arrived a large amount of preparation was already done. Entire training camp was missed, if I remember right.
“And our program is not easy,” the coach said. “We work really hard and we have very high expectations, and physical conditioning, and mental toughness, and the demand daily is at a premium.”
The big Buckeye _ all 6-foot-5, 280-heavily tattooed pounds of him _ missed all of that. Mendenhall said that Thompson has spent the better part of his time at UVa “just gasping for air and trying to get enough oxygen with trainers, and just trying to make it through practice.”
To get through the entire game last week, impressed the coach.
“We’ve worked really hard in practice and the last couple of weeks we’ve pushed ourselves harder because people have been going down, and we realized it’s time for everybody to grow up,” Thompson said. “I’m so proud of everyone who played [Saturday], and even the defensive guys who didn’t play because they’re all part of our room.
“There are so many young guys on this team that are going to be big names on this team in the future,” Thompson said. “The work ethic they are starting to show is unbelievable.”
Thompson won’t be along for that ride, unless it’s at the grad assistant level. His goal is to become a college strength coach because he likes helping other players.
While the entire defense stepped up, so did Thompson, enough so to earn a start and to start and finish a game physically in very demanding conditions.
“Tonight was a very big step forward for me,” Thompson said. “I know I have more work to do, but I’m going to watch the film and try to get better.”
What was it like getting his first collegiate start while facing Georgia Tech’s option offense?
“I was actually having a blast with it,” Thompson said. “In some weeks prior, I haven’t done my best, and I don’t know what it was about last week, but I felt like I had a big week of practice. It’s a very challenging offense go go against but our defensive line is willing to put in the work to do what we have to do.”
