SSZ Zoneman Trophy Finalist Tyler Thompson has given a verbal commitment to play Division I football at UMass

Ocean Township running back and 2015 SSZ Zoneman Trophy Finalist Tyler Thompson has given a verbal commitment to play college football at UMass.  Spartans head football coach Don Klein confirmed the news to Shore Sports Zone via email and Thompson made the announcement on his Twitter page:

 

Thompson finished second in the voting for SSZ’s Zoneman Trophy behind Boston College quarterback Anthony Brown.  The award, created by Shore Sports Zone owner Rich Chrampanis in South Carolina, has previous winners that include Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons, Florida State quarterback Everett Golson and Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, who caught two TD passes in the 2016 national championship game.

Thompson put up over 5,000 yards of offense in his four year career.  What makes his overall statistics even more impressive is the fact that he broke his leg just past the midway part of his junior campaign and came back to put up huge numbers in his senior year.

 

Tyler Thompson Ocean Township Career Stats
Rushing:
2012 – 183 Attempts, 1005 Yards (5.5 avg.) 9 TD

2013 – 221 Attempts, 1481 Yards (6.7 avg.) 18 TD

2014 – 167 Attempts, 808 Yards (4.8 avg.) 4 TD

2015 – 235 Attempts, 1,572 Yards (6.7 avg.) 21 TD

Totals – 806 Attempts, 4,866 Yards (6.1 avg.) 52 TDs

Receiving:

2012 – 7 Catches, 33 Yards (4.7 avg.)
2013 – 5 Catches, 90 yards (18 avg.) 1 TD
2014 – 16 Catches, 144 Yards (9 avg.)

2015 – 17 Catches, 286 Yards, (16.8 avg) 2 TDs

Totals – 45 Catches, 553 Yards (12.3 avg.) 3 TDs

Total Stats – 851 Touches, 5,419 Yards (6.4 avg. / touch) 56 total TDs (52 Rushing, 3 Receiving, 1 Punt Return)
UMass is currently a Division I independent that just left the MAC Conference.  If Thompson sees the field as a true freshman he’ll get a chance to compete against some of the nation’s best.  The Minutemen open the 2016 season in the Swamp against the Florida Gators and has games against Boston College, South Carolina, BYU and Hawaii as part of their schedule.