Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Thompson studies NFL great Jerry Rice to improve
10/14/2020 8:41:00 PM | Football, Word on the Herd
Sophomore leads Marshall in receptions and receiving yards in 2020
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Broc Thompson was born in 1999, so one might think the young wide receiver would pick a current NFL pass catcher whom he could emulate.
Thompson, though, focuses his attention on one of the all-time greats, even if he is from before his time.
"I study a lot of Jerry Rice," Thompson said. "I'm a big Jerry Rice fan. I'm a big technique guy."
Thompson did mention current NFL receivers Keenan Allen and Davante Adams, too. Thompson doesn't consider himself a blazing fast receiver, so it is no surprise he has latched onto the likes of Rice, Allen and Adams. Like Thompson, all three of those receivers are 6 feet, 2 inches tall. Rice ran a 4.71 40-yard dash time, which is exactly what Allen ran at Cal's Pro Day in 2013. Adams timed at 4.56 in the 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2014.
Rice, of course, is statistically the greatest receiver to ever play football. He is the all-time NFL leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, and owns more than 100 NFL records. Allen and Adams have combined for six Pro Bowl appearances and four 1,000-yard seasons.
"I like taking bits and pieces of their games and try to make it my own," Thompson said. "Those are big technique guys; they aren't blazing 4.4. guys. They are technique guys, run good routes and catch the ball."
Thompson has developed into Marshall's go-to receiver by having a blend of those attributes: good technique, running good routes and catching the ball. He leads the Thundering Herd in receptions (12) and receiving yards (198) through three games, and is coming off a career-high 94 receiving yards in last Saturday's win at Western Kentucky.
Marshall (3-0, 1-0 Conference USA) plays at Louisiana Tech (3-1, 2-0 C-USA) this Saturday at 6 p.m. This game will be broadcast by CBS Sports Network. Thompson figures to again be one of the favorite targets of redshirt freshman quarterback Grant Wells, who has developed a rapport with Thompson since they arrived on campus together in January of 2019.
Wells has often looked toward Thompson in big moments. This season, seven of Thompson's 12 receptions have moved the chains for a first down. Against WKU, Thompson had receptions of 30, 40 and 23 yards, all setting up rushing touchdowns by Brenden Knox. The 30-yard reception came on the first play of the game, and Knox rumbled for a 45-yard touchdown on the next play.
"There's plays that we call for him, but when you're running the offense the right way, the ball is going based off of scheme more than here's your read, get him the ball," Marshall offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey said. "Grant and Broc have a good feel for each other; they understand each other. Broc has done a good job of winning some 1-on-1 battles."
Thompson has twice as many catches as anyone else on the team, squelching any notion of a sophomore slump. The son of former Major League Baseball veteran Ryan Thompson is accustomed to bright lights and the big stage and understands his role on the team.
Thompson has 31 career catches without a touchdown, but that doesn't bother him. Thompson's top four games in receiving yardage – 94 vs. WKU and 91, 91 and 54 last season – all came in Marshall wins. That's what he cares about the most.
"I'm a big team win guy," Thompson said. "Whatever the scheme is drawn up that week, whether we're going run the ball a hundred times or throw the ball a hundred times, whatever my coach asks me to do, that's what I'm going to do. If I'm in the scheme that week to make some big plays, I'm going to try my best and step up and make those plays for my team."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and an eight-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
