Home › Football Recruiting
Vols have all Thigpen is searching
Athlete commits to UT with need to participate in football, track
Thigpen
STORY TOOLS
More Football Recruiting
- Lineman Boyd getting plenty of attention
- Vols in long line for top lineman
- Web cams new tool for coaches to connect
Share and Enjoy [?]
Get Reprints
Tennessee had everything Damien Thigpen was looking to find.
The 5-foot-9, 171-pound athlete from Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, Va., committed to play football for UT on Sunday.
Thigpen visited UT on April 13 to see the Vols' facilities and watch them scrimmage.
Thigpen said he was impressed by the way UT's offense allows its running backs to make plays.
"They don't just line them up in the I-formation," he said. "They put them out wide and move them around. I like that."
That's because it fits Thigpen's style of play, which is based off speed.
Thigpen, who also plans to run track at UT, said he believes the Vols' offensive coaches will create ways to get him the ball in open space.
"That's my running back style," he said, "more speed and elusiveness than power because of my size. I'm only going to get faster with my age and more training."
Thigpen chose UT over Auburn, West Virginia, Stanford, Boston College and Connecticut.
Thigpen toured West Virginia, Stanford, and Connecticut this spring, but he couldn't find a comparison to UT.
"The caliber of players is much higher at Tennessee," he said. "Nobody else I wanted to look at had what I needed."
Two schools that hardly looked at Thigpen were Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Thigpen said he wasn't upset by the lack of interest from the two in-state schools, but he plans to show them they made a mistake by not offering him a scholarship.
"I do that for anybody who hasn't offered me," he said. "Whoever hasn't offered me is going to pay when I'm on the field."
That time will be split because of Thigpen's plans to run track at UT.
Thigpen won the Group AAA state championship in the 300-meter hurdles (37.44 seconds) last year, and plans to run the 110-meter hurdles and 100- and 200-meter dash this spring.
Thigpen said he recognizes the challenge of competing in two sports in college.
"It's going to be difficult," he said, "but many athletes do both. I'm going to work to be successful."
Thigpen is UT's third commitment for the 2009 class.
Thigpen joins wide receiver Je'Ron Stokes from Northeast High School in Philadelphia, Pa., and fullback Dominique Allen from Henry County High School in Paris, Tenn.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
- Tebow helps circumcise impoverished children in Philippines
- Better late than never for Holloway
- Pearl stays busy and it pays
- Kentucky offers another scholarship to ninth-grader
- Now is the time for Lady Vols
- Former Vol Cameron Mayo faces three charges
- Adams: Graduation is better than a touchdown for Staley
- Baugh's surgery a success
- Hochevear learning 'how to win in big leagues'
- WNBA GMs believe Parker will be top rookie, help Sparks to title
Posted by dburgVol on April 21, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep em coming! Now give me a DT and a DE with nasty attitudes. Go Vols!
Posted by Ironcity on April 21, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like he has a lot of speed. That picture looks like a prison photo. Could they not get a better picture?
Posted by dburgVol on April 21, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's the same picture from scout.com. Yes he does have speed. 4.3 speed. Superfast!
On another note, does anybody know anything about Brandon Warren, the TE that is supposed to be coming to UT? Is he eligible?
Posted by Michael1204 on April 21, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to Tennessee! Looking forward to seeing you play and wear the orange!
Posted by Michael1204 on April 21, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dburg, apparently I heard Warren is still trying to get his grades up at Pellissippi State.
Posted by Plasticman on April 21, 2008 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dburg, I heard this weekend that Warren is still in school (Pellissippi St. in Knoxville) trying to gain enough credits to be eligible. Best case scenario, he gets his credits, UT is able to get a waiver so he can play immediately and he starts practice in the Fall. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Posted by yemmusdarb on April 21, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, I've been wondering about Warren myself. I read somewhere that he was going to enroll in the 2nd term of Summer??? There's not been much talk about him the past few months. I'm more anticipating the arrival of Gerald Williams the LB who committed 3 years ago and will just now be eligible to play at UT.
I'd also like to know where all of our JUCO signees are like Rae Sykes, Dustin Lindsey, and Rufus Williams. Has anyone heard anything on them? I thought I'd heard Lindsey was no longer considering UT after his JC stint and was looking at MTSU. I think it was because UT wanted him to play LB and he wanted to stay at RB.
NOW ON TO THIS KID--- I hope we use him on KO and PUNT RETURNS!!! It's hard to tackle a guy who runs 4.3 and is so small, especially when you're running towards him as fast as you can. Just ask anyone who tried tackling LSU's little guy last season.
Posted by dburgVol on April 21, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard that Lindsey was not going to be academically eligible, Rae Sykes is doing great in JC football, and that Cory Hall, from Chattanooga is turning into a freak. Those are linemen that we need.
Posted by Phowell23 on April 21, 2008 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Future kick off return specialist and WR/RB at UT. Great speed. Future nickname: The Orange Blur
Posted by Phowell23 on April 21, 2008 at 11:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Check out the latest video of the top OL recruit for 2009, Morgan Moses. This kid is a beast and he's considering TN. Can play OL or DT.
http://www.rivals.com/video.asp?secti...
Posted by DaddyVol on April 21, 2008 at 11:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep'em coming. Go VOLS.
Posted by FWBVol on April 22, 2008 at 12:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If I understand the NCAA rules correctly, by sitting out the 2007 season Warren would be eligible to play for UT this fall if all of his academics were in order. With the rare exception of a kid who has been redshirted then getting a medical redshirt, or, as in the case of J.T. Mapu who took a recognized two-year mission trip, a kid has five years to complete four years of eligibility.
It would be great to get Warren and help build depth at tight end.
Posted by IBleedOrange444 on April 22, 2008 at 12:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to UT Damien. You're gonna like it here. Don't worry about VT, their campus sucks anyway!
Posted by sjt18 on April 22, 2008 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Warren could play as early as this fall. Could play either DE or TE.
Sykes and Rufus Williams redshirted last year and will play for Coffeyville this fall. Hall is playing in MS. All appear to be on track to get in next year.
Lindsay would have come in this year but still didn't qualify.
Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on April 22, 2008 at 2:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
FINALLY, a kid from today's generation with speed who wants to run track. Once upon a time, track guys playing receiver made us known as Wide Receiver U.
Posted by fulmersbelly on April 22, 2008 at 3:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's going to be extra difficult to catch him because he's so blurry! And pixelated! That should scare the crap out of the defenses.
Honestly, there's a new recruit and the best picture we could get of the kid is that one? Can someone not get on his myspace and find a higher res pic?
Posted by wjackson on April 22, 2008 at 6:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cmon guys. You know all the pics KNS uses have always been crap. I think they used that stupid Freshman pic of Ainge with blonde streaks in his hair all four years. KNS lives in the 70s. Get some technology guys. Maybe somebody should donate them a digital camera. Or a staff member. lol
Posted by pdhuff on April 22, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
dburgvol 10:40 - I give you an amen.
Congrats to the young man. Now please load the defensive wagon. We don't need any more bite scars in the arse like last year. Defense-defense-defense!
Posted by Bigger_Al on April 22, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Stanford offered him, he must be a smart guy as well as a speed guy.
Posted by Ashley on April 22, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
132 days till Football Time In Tennessee!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on April 22, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like the fact that he chose us over Auburn and West Virginia. Those are two programs that are supposedly "more relevant" today than TN.
Posted by knoxsingle on April 22, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to Mr. Thigpen! It's a great time to be a Vol. Our new offense will get him the ball in space and let him use his elusiveness.
Posted by Huntingdonvol on April 22, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to Tennessee young man!I think our virgina connection is solid with our new coaching staff!Everyone needs to go back in here and look at Powell23 post at 11:49 and look at MOSES,MAN THIS IS A BEAST OUT THEIR WATING FOR A KILL!
Posted by WD40plusVol on April 22, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Adding to FWB, and with the understanding that I don't know all the NCAA rules, I believe there are two issues regarding Warren and UT.
One, since FSU did not release him, not only does he have to sit out a year (that year ends May?) but he can not be offered a scholarship or even talk to program about one. Thus why no mention by Fulmer or UT.
Second (speculation alert), since Warren withdrew from FSU mid-term he may have seriously damaged his GPA and is having to work extra hard to get it back up to be admitted AND be eligible.
We should know by end of May where he stands. Correct me where I am wrong.
Posted by raynochonspeed on April 22, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GVX editors: Just because it's online doesn't mean you can take the day off.
What a horribly-phrased headline. It doesn't even make sense.
Posted by thesavageorange on April 22, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good news!This is already the 2nd 4* commit.(for the * lovers)We only had 4 4*'s in the entire 08' class, and one of them was from 3yr's ago.Plus we signed 0 young men from PA or VA.Whether you like him or not, Larry Slade was the lead recruiter for both Stokes and Thigpen.
By the way sjt18, you nailed it on Poole and Hubbs fessed up.
Hubbs:" He is really good about maximizing a run by getting north and south quickly. And he has done it this spring with a wounded knee, which certainly demonstrates his toughness. Obviously, Poole is behind Arian Foster and Lennon Creer. However, I think we (Rivals.com) didn't rank Poole highly enough last year."
Posted by givehim6 on April 22, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Doe's anyone remember how many commitments we had this time last year? I don't think we had 3, seems like were getting a new commitment every week now. GO VOLS!
Posted by bolton on April 22, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Morgan Moses Video: More pancakes than IHOP.
Posted by hmhawk on April 22, 2008 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If we keep getting committments like this I may quit dreading the 09 season.Glad to have ya Damien and I could care less about the picture.
Posted by ThurmondEppy on April 22, 2008 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Vols have all Thigpen is Searching"??? Huh?? C'mon KNS.
Posted by dburgVol on April 22, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You're right savageorange. All those guys yelling for Slade to be fired should acknowledge that he was pivotal in these guys recruitment and that his secondary is the strongest part of the team. I'm glad I never bought into it. He took a young but talented group of dbs and has developed them into a very strong group, possibly our best. Only time will tell. Great job coach!
Posted by pdhuff on April 22, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can't mess with anyone named Damien. I think that was the moniker of the kid in the "Omen".
Wide berth.
Posted by Michael1204 on April 22, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh and I love how our new coaches are making an impact already. With Clawson and Scott being from Virginia, we can start plucking players with more ease from Virginia, NJ, Pennsylvania, etc. What's even better is that other SEC teams don't have that great of roots up in that area, so the door has been opened to us to take advantage of our connections we have now.
Posted by KAvolsfan on April 22, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds similar to Jabari Greer a few years back.. Greer also ran track at UT and was a stud... go vols!!
Posted by IPOrange on April 22, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Things are looking much better already for '09. We still need DLs. Let's go after the big fellas too, coach.
Posted by pdhuff on April 23, 2008 at 5:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
IPOrange 9:43 pm - great suggestion. Perchance we need a recruiter strictly for DL.
We have as many DBs as Bama does DTs. They have us bested in mullets. however.
Poole can be a game-breaker going N-S if he can avoid the I-bug.
Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on April 23, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if this kid is any relation to Yancy Thigpen....
Posted by spam247buster on April 23, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
KAVolsFan-- I hope you're right-- more like Jabari Greer, less like Leonard Scott (though I certainly admired Leonard Scott's contributions to the track team).
Posted by kdt0725 on April 24, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)
4-star on Rivals.com...4.34 speed...and what I like the most: 1420 SAT...pretty outstanding score. Shows he's a smart kid with good character.
Posted by UTByrd on April 25, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like he'd be like a waterbug on go juice. The aforementioned Moses looks like he could lead a blind running back to the promised land. Life just keeps getting better in Voland.
(Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.