In December 2020, Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz and his staff secured a big win when they landed 4-star safety Isaac Thompson out of St. Louis University High School. Rivals currently ranks Thompson the No.12 best safety nationally and No. 3  in Missouri. Thompson, a two-way varsity starter, is known for his versatility on the football field and could likely play at safety at the college level. 

The St. Louis native landed offers from many high-level Division 1 programs, including Florida, Iowa and Penn State. 

“I would say one word that would describe my recruitment is a blessing,” Thompson said. “Being recruited by some of the top programs in the nation wasn’t a huge deal to me at the time, but looking back on it, it was cool to have that experience because so many kids dream of that.”

Thompson is forging his own path. He turned down an offer from Michigan State where  his father, Hickey Thompson, played throughout the ‘90s.  

“I always thought about my dad’s footsteps because he taught me everything I know about football,” Thompson said. “I look up to him when it comes to everything about football, but I didn’t think that was the best decision at the end of the day.”

When it came to choosing a school, MU checked all the boxes. 

“I knew I wanted to play in the highest level of college football, which is the SEC, and I don’t think it gets better than doing that in your home state,” Thompson said. “I then started building connections with the Mizzou coaches like coach Drink, coach Wilks and coach Cheese (Luper), and they became more family than anything.”

Thompson has many goals for his time at Missouri and said he hopes to make a difference for his hometown.

“I want to represent St. Louis, and I want to make it popular again for St. Louis kids to stay in their home state and play for Mizzou,” Thompson said. “I also, of course, want to make it to the next level — to always be able to represent Mizzou in the best way.”

Edited by Kyle Pinnell | kpinnell@themaneater.com