When he closed his eyes as a kid, Juwan Thompson dreamed of becoming the next Michael Jordan, not the next Peyton Manning. Thompson didn’t grow up watching football. For good reason. He starred in hoops in Atlanta. By age 16, he had morphed into a bruising 3-point shooter who could dunk at 200 pounds. That’s when he first began thinking about attending Duke. Having experienced too much drama with his high school program, he said, he shifted his focus from basketball to football during his junior year. He rushed for 1,622 yards and 22 touchdowns as senior at Woodward Academy, leading him to the Blue Devils — as a football player.
Thompson forged his identity through his versatility. Duke used a stable of running backs, leaving Thompson with scant opportunities. He left his stamp on special teams, and even started one game at linebacker as a senior.
Signed as an undrafted rookie for $3,500, Thompson forced the Broncos to keep him by having a terrific training camp. “It was an easy decision,” general manager John Elway said.
Now a sculpted 220 pounds, Thompson is excelling on special teams in the NFL while also serving as a reserve running back. He sat down last week and talked Duke, the Mannings and autographs with The Denver Post.
Q: What was it like when you found out you made the team?
A: It was an overwhelming feeling. A lot of joy. But I knew everything was about to turn up. I just approached it like every day was an opportunity. Just because I was undrafted didn’t mean I didn’t have a chance. You have to be willing to sacrifice and play multiple positions. I was relentless in my drive, and tried to take advantage of every opportunity.
Q: Many players see special- teams duty as a necessary evil. You embrace it. Why?
A: You don’t really understand until you are on them. I learned in college how much it can help the offense and defense, and even determine the outcome of a game. I embrace it. I want to do multiple things, not be a one-dimensional guy. I’d say I prefer delivering a big block to a big hit. Mainly because with a big block it means a touchdown is probably coming behind you.
Q: Until recently, Duke was considered a forgotten football program. What led you there?
A: It was a place I looked to originally because it’s where I wanted to play basketball. When I saw the letter come in, I knew it was a school I wanted to go to, whether it was for sports or academics. The program didn’t matter. I knew you could rebuild because my high school had to rebuild. I didn’t want to go to a big school where there were a million stars everywhere, and you don’t get looked at because of the politics. Duke was a good fit for me.
Q: Your senior year, you played linebacker one game?
A: I didn’t know if I could say yes or no or if I even had a choice. I had like five or six tackles on kickoffs at that point and they wanted one of the more athletic guys to shadow (Virginia Tech quarterback) Logan Thomas. They felt like I was one of the better tacklers on the team. I had three tackles in six plays. I kind of wish I had started playing there at the beginning of the year.
Q: You met Peyton and Eli Manning at their Duke passing camp. Did you start thinking then that you might end up with the Broncos?
A: Actually, I thought I was going to New York with Eli. That was my thinking at the time. Coming to Denver, I had a little comfort, having met some of the guys. But I knew it wasn’t going to be like, “Hey, what’s up, Peyton,” like he was going to be my best friend on the team. I was coming here to work and earn the players’ respect.
Q: You sign a lot of autographs. Why is that important?
A: If I see it in my mailbox, or if there’s somebody waiting out front, I want to sign. Some say it can be overwhelming. So far it’s been great. I love being able to put a smile on someone’s face. I wasn’t a big autograph collector. My best is probably the football signed by Peyton and Eli when they were throwing at Duke.
Q: You graduated from Duke with a major in sociology and a minor in education. What were your plans if football didn’t work out?
A: It was important to get my degree. I graduated two days after the draft. I walked the line, did the whole thing, then next day left for camp. I was prepared to be a teacher or a grad assistant. I had been accepted into grad school. So I had a backup plan ready, just in case.
Juwan Thompson file
Starred as a young baskeball player. Could dunk by eighth grade, and was a 200-pound, 3-point shooter by his sophomore year.
Ditched hoops for football as a junior at Woodward Academy in Atlanta. Ran for 1,622 yards and 22 touchdowns as senior, earning honorable mention all-state honors.
Started one game as a freshman at Duke, and began showing his versatility on special teams.
Rushed for a career-high 457 yards as a sophomore, earning the Bob Pascal Award as the school’s most outstanding offensive back.
Finished his four-year career with 24 starts, 1,244 rushing yards and 56 catches.
Started at linebacker his senior against Virginia Tech, shadowing quarterback Logan Thomas, finishing with three tackles in six plays.
Signed with the Broncos for $3,500 as undrafted free agent, and made team with strong camp as a running back (29 rushes, 143 yards) and special teams ace.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
