BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Dayviontae Thompson knew what he wanted, and he held out until he got it.
Thompson will be joining the Mississippi State University football program as a preferred walk-on, making it official almost a month after he graduated from Union County High School.
“Honestly, I’m just grateful and humbled and blessed by God with this opportunity,” Thompson said.
The 6-3, 240-pound linebacker/defensive end had several offers from smaller schools, but he wanted the chance to compete at college football’s highest level.
“I was just being patient,” Thompson said. “I knew wherever God wanted me to go, it would happen sooner or later. Whenever the moment felt right, He would let me know. I felt like this was the right decision.”
Thompson, who played two seasons for Union after two seasons at Bradford High School, said Mississippi State is the right program for him because of its environment.
“They treat you like a family,” he said. “They don’t look at anybody differently. Everybody on the team is treated the same. They show you love and really care about their athletes. I like that.”
Another selling point is the city of Starkville, where Mississippi State is located.
“It’s a nice small town,” Thompson said. “It reminds me of my hometown of Starke. That’s another thing I love about it.”
Thompson, who goes by the nickname of “Bubba,” led Union in tackles last season with 58 (eight for loss) and had six sacks. In his junior season, he made 58 tackles (22 for loss) and 10 sacks.
Union Head Coach Andrew Thomas said Thompson is a player who really should’ve gotten more attention from Division I schools.
“He’s kind of a prime example of how the transfer portal and everything is kind of hurting high school football,” Thomas said. “He’s a Division I football player who kind of just slipped through the cracks.”
Thomas said Mississippi State is getting a player who’s athletic and versatile.
“We were able to do a lot of stuff with him,” Thomas said. “We were able to move him around. We brought him off the edge. He played middle linebacker for us last year, but the year before, he was a D end.”
Thompson said his goal is to work hard and improve his overall game so that Mississippi State can utilize him in multiple ways.
“I just want to be better at everything,” Thompson said. “I don’t want to be good at just one thing. I want to be a hybrid player and be able to do everything.”
Thomas is eager to see the transformation Thompson’s body goes through, saying, “When he gets up there and gets on a nutrition plan and an all-around weight-room program at that level, there’s no telling what his body is going to turn into. He’s got a high ceiling.”
His physical development will complement Thompson’s desire to play the game.
“He plays with such great passion and effort,” Thomas said. “That’s what’s easy to watch on film. He’s an easy sell to someone when you see how hard he plays. You never have to worry about if this kid is going to give you effort, which is why I think he’s got a very good chance to succeed.”
Thompson put in hard work off the field as well to give himself this opportunity, which is what really impressed Thomas, who said Thompson did more than just meet Mississippi State’s minimum academic requirements.
“He busted his butt and stayed with it off the field to be able to put himself in this position,” Thomas said, adding, “That’s what makes you proud of him, that he was able to not give up and do what he needed to do.”
Thompson admitted his grades weren’t where they needed to be to play at the type of school he wanted. He gave thanks to his “great teachers” and others as part of a support cast that kept his spirits up as he did what he needed to do.
Now, he’s one of three members of UCHS’ Class of 2023 who are getting the opportunity to play football at the Division I level. Daylyn Diston and Markus Strong are going to East Carolina and Oklahoma, respectively.
“It’s really special,” Thompson said. “We all talked about being great one day. Just seeing it happen is amazing. It’s a blessing.”
When asked what it would feel like stepping onto the field for the first time as a Mississippi State Bulldog, Thompson said, “It might feel unreal and a little nerve-wracking, but I’m going to be very excited.”
Thomas believes Mississippi State coaches will be excited, too, when they see what kind of player they have in Thompson.
“He’s really a steal for Mississippi State,” Thomas said. “I can just see him as one of those stories where he goes in as a walk-on and ends up being a big-time player. He’s got that potential.”
