Name: Eldridge Thompson
Position: OLB
Height/Weight: 6’2” / 218 lbs.
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Rating: Consensus 3-star
Unlike Davonne Bowen and Sherrod Greene, Thompson will be entering with some college experience, having played a couple of years at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. He didn’t play much thanks to a shoulder injury in September, but toughed it out in the game he was injured in before going into surgery to repair the damage. Expect to see him in the starting lineup right away as he comes in ready to help the team right out of the gate.
Strengths: His college experience will be a huge plus for this Gamecocks team as they look to rebuild the linebacker position. Thompson’s first year at Coffeyville was a success - he led the team with 102 tackles while recording three sacks and four TFLs. He’s already familiar with a pair of current Gamecocks - corners Jamarcus King and Steven Montac - so that will help with his transition.
Weaknesses: The shoulder injury is a concern. It’s not easy to bounce back from, and it kept him off the field for several months of his second year at Coffeyville. Fortunately, he is enrolling in May while he works on passing a math class, but he’ll have to work that much harder to get back into the swing of things, especially since his original plan was to enroll early.