Rick Patrick, Greene Publishing, Inc.
Former Madison County High School (MCHS) Cowboy football star and current running back for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL), Chris Thompson, has just completed his most productive year yet as a professional football player.
Thompson, a 2009 graduate of MCHS, was a star running back for the Cowboys before going on to play for Florida State University (FSU). Thompson's career at FSU was plagued by injuries, including a torn ACL in his knee and breaking two vertebrae in his back. Those injuries cut short both his junior and senior seasons at FSU. Despite those injuries, Thompson was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round (154th pick overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. Much of Thompson's time during his first two seasons with the Redskins was spent on the team's practice squad. In 2015, Thompson saw more playing time, appearing in 13 games that season.
Thompson saw action in all 16 games of the 2016 season, primarily as a running back in third down situations. For the season, Thompson rushed for a total of 356 yards on 68 rushing attempts. This gave Thompson an impressive 5.2 yards per carry average. Thompson also scored three rushing touchdowns, including a season long 25 yard run for a touchdown, securing a victory for the Redskins over division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, during week 14 of the season on Sunday, Dec.11. Thompson also had 349 yards receiving on 49 pass receptions, scoring two receiving touchdowns. Thompson's longest pass reception of the season came in week two against the Dallas Cowboys when Thompson caught a 38 yard pass.
Thompson is the son of Maurice and Cynthia James and Jerome Thompson of Greenville.