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Elkins' Thompson has grown up with elite mindset
But I had seen that Twitter handle before… back in 2011. His brother, Corey Thompson, graced the cover of VYPE's 2011 Football Preview. He went by @ELITE23_CT and still does. Since then, Corey starred at LB for LSU and played for the Buffalo Bills.
"I hear it all the time," Blake said. "You are only this or that because of your brother. I just stay humble and keep driving. Corey just tells me to have a goal and stay motivated to meet that goal. Then set another goal…
"Honestly, I want to be better than Corey someday."
Corey Thompson
…
Here's an interesting fun fact. Did you know that Elkins has four active players in the NFL in DJ Hayden, Ross Blacklock, Kenneth Murray and Jake Matthews. Thompson was No. 5 but is currently a free agent.
What's the special sauce?
"It's all about coach Dennis Brantley," he said. "He puts those goals in our heads early, but he also preaches staying humble and not trying to be a superstar. Just keep your head down and work."
Thompson lives by that mantra and anchors a solid Elkins defense.
"I feel like I'm very rangy and a good ball-hawk," he said. "In today's football with everybody playing in space, you have to be able to open-field tackle. I think that's one of my strengths."
Thompson holds offers from the likes of UIW and Northern Arizona, but has one school in his cross-hairs.
"I really like Southern," he said. "I like the trend of athletes playing at HBCUs. The social justice movement is very important. But really having the opportunity to have offers and have my school paid for is a blessing."
Now that's an elite mindset.
VYPE Football 2020 Preview: All-VYPE Public School Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Dematrius Davis, North Shore
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Trevor Woods, Katy Taylor
First Team
Quarterback
Kyron Drones, Shadow Creek
Jalen Milroe, Tompkins
Cardell Williams, Westfield
Offensive Line
Hayden Conner, Katy Taylor
Kam Dewberry, Atascocita
Reuben Fatheree II, Foster
Bryce Foster, Katy Taylor
Jaeden Roberts, North Shore
Running Back
Jaydon Blue, Klein Cain
L.J. Johnson, Cy-Fair
Julius Loughridge, Mayde Creek
Mitch Hall, Magnolia
Wide Receiver
Shadrach Banks, North Shore
Dylan Goffney, Bridgeland
Cody Jackson, Foster
Joseph Manjack IV, Tomball Memorial
Tight End
Elijah Bean, Summer Creek
Fernando Garza, Katy
Donovan Green, Dickinson
Landen King, Atascocita
Kicker/Punter
Carter Brown, Pearland Dawson
Nemanja Lazic, Katy
Defensive Line
Taurean Crawford, Elkins
Anthony Holmes Jr., Westfield
Albert Regis, La Porte
Malick Sylla, Katy
Cameron Whitfield, Pearland Dawson
Linebacker
Shepherd Bowling, Katy
Terrence Cooks Jr, Shadow Creek
Derrick Harris Jr., New Caney
Justin Medlock, Manvel
Secondary
Robin Neely, Cypress Ranch
Cameron Oliver, Fort Bend Travis
Hunter Washington, Katy
Mark Wilson, Clear Lake
Second Team
Quarterback
Ronald Holmes, Northside
Colton Marwill, Tomball Memorial
Daelyn Williams, DeKaney
Offensive Line
Kelvin Banks, Summer Creek
Canon Boone, Dickinson
Caleb Rodkey, Ridge Point
PJ Williams, Dickinson
Matthew Wykoff, Magnolia
Running Back
Dashawn Daniels, Chavez
JP Martin, Cy Falls
Alton McCaskill, Oak Ridge
Ahmonte Watkins, Klein Forest
Wide Receiver
Matthew Golden, Klein Cain
CJ Guidry, Shadow Creek
Charles King, North Shore
John Paul Richardson, Ridge Point
Tight End
Marcus Collins, Magnolia West
Ben Postma, Cypress Ranch
Mason Tharp, Klein
Jack Witmer, Cy-Fair
Kicker/Punter
Caleb Mendez, Pearland
Sean Nesemeier, Atascocita
Defensive Line
Keith Cooper, Dickinson
DeMone Green, Heights
Jacob Psyk, Strake Jesuit
Kason Tullos, Klein Oak
Trent Ward, Klein Collins
Linebacker
Rodney Dansby, Bellaire
Dylan Hazen, College Park
Ty Kana, Katy
Harold Perkins, Cy Park
Secondary
Jalen Emery, Shadow Creek
Denver Harris, North Shore
Bryce McMorris, Bridgeland
Blake Thompson, Elkins
Honorable Mention
Quarterback
Aldyn Bradley, Spring
Luke Grden, Friendswood
Jalen Morrison, Heights
Conner Weigman, Bridgeland
Offensive Line
Luke Lapeze, Summer Creek
Max Merril, Strake Jesuit
Ethan Onienwa, Cinco Ranch
Aaron Session, Morton Ranch
Lamont Vaz, Fort Bend Marshall
Running Back
Damon Bankston, Katy Paetow
Marquis Shoulders, Tompkins
Ja'Den Stewart, Dawson
Wide Receiver
Tre Harden, Montgomery
Randy Masters, Shadow Creek
Latrell Neville, Fort Bend Hightower
Tight End
Var'Keyes Gumms, Dekaney
Parker Menefee, Ridge Point
Trent McGaughey, Shadow Creek
Kicker/Punter
Enock Gota, Dekaney
Sergio Rubio, Fort Bend Travis
Defensive Line
Alonzo Brown, North Shore
Kevon Garcia, Dekaney
Michael Noubussi, Manvel
Tyler Onyedim, Foster
Lukia Rawls, Klein Cain
Ryan Williams, Shadow Creek
Linebacker
Dylan Dixson, Pearland
Jayhvion Gipson, Langham Creek
Aarun Lockett, Humble
KC Ossai, Oak Ridge
Joey Verret, Cy Creek
Secondary
Javon Gipson, George Ranch
Travis Greenawalt, La Porte
Julian Humphrey, Clear Lake
Dalton Johnson, Katy
Donald Lee, Klein Collins
Cameron Moore, Fort Bend Travis
Romario Noel, Cypress Ranch
Dru Polidore, Katy Tompkins