Dolphins rookie Ced Thompson has overcome and overachieved. | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Dolphins rookie Ced Thompson has overcome and overachieved.

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In a profession where everyone is living the dream, few are doing it to the extent of Dolphins rookie safety Ced Thompson, the fifth-round pick from Minnesota.

"To be here," Thompson said during rookie mini-camp, "coming from L.A., living a really rough childhood growing up, and then going to Bombay Beach living in a population where it's a maybe 100 people and everything is abandoned…and the water is polluted and everything.

"Oh, man, I can't really put into words how I feel. It's an unbelievable feeling."

Thompson, who became an Academic All-Big Ten selection after becoming the first in his family to graduate high school, is viewed mostly as a special teams player by the Dolphins.

He was second on the team at Minnesota with 83 tackles last season (he also had two interceptions). As a junior in 2013, he led the Gophers with 79 tackles.

"Late in the draft these are the types of guys that you want to add to your roster," said Chris Grier, the Dolphins' director of college scouting.

Safety is among the Dolphins' deepest positions with starters Reshad Jones and Louis Delmas being backed up by Michael Thomas, Walt Aikens, Don Jones, and Jordan Kovacs. It'll be tough for Thompson to creep up that depth chart.

"The depth chart is not really something I'm worried about," Thompson said, "because if I go out here and do my job and give 100 percent effort every day, whatever my role may be will take care of itself."

Thompson has already attracted the eye of coach Joe Philbin. "He's a guy that finishes drills, listens well, follows directions, wants to do things the way you coach it," Philbin said. "Obviously there are a lot of things to correct, but I think he's shown those attributes that we thought he had."

Thompson was steeled by extreme circumstances.

He used to wake up at 4 a.m. to take a two-hour bus ride to high school. After a cousin was shot and killed, his parents wanted to escape gang-riddled South Central Los Angeles so badly they moved to Bombay Beach, a barren, desolate patch of land in the Sonoran Desert with a population of about 300.

The bus would pick up 10 kids in Bombay Beach, and then wind through Southern California's hot, arid mountains and coves to pick up another eight kids.

"The worst part," Thompson said, "was having no A/C on the bus."

It was a rough life in Bombay Beach, a town with no gas station or hospital. But it was better than living in South Central Los Angeles, where you tried to stave off death, not boredom.

"That's the environment where I was from," Thompson said. "When you're walking down the street going to school you were looking behind your back because you don't know what's going to happen."


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-ced-thompson-20150517-story.html
 
Wow. Great story. That's really good for him to overcome such adversity, and now to be drafted into the NFL.. Pulling for him hard to turn into a good starter like Reshad did from the 5th rd
 
Agreed. I'm rooting for him big time. Good luck!
 
Two things. Cedric Thompson makes a great impression.

Second. Our competition at defensive back is fascinating. We've got a bunch of guys sort of in that middle to lower class type of talent. We need more upper class talent back there. Let's hope some guys come out of the pack and separate themselves.
 
Two things. Cedric Thompson makes a great impression.

Second. Our competition at defensive back is fascinating. We've got a bunch of guys sort of in that middle to lower class type of talent. We need more upper class talent back there. Let's hope some guys come out of the pack and separate themselves.

This has plenty to do with Jeff Ireland whiffing in 2013. Can't fix it all in 2 offseasons . . . gotta coach up a few guys . . . maybe Ced will be one of them.
 
Watching this kids film and knowing he is a converted CB....talent is there and he has the potential to be very, very good. Makes plays, attacks....his issue will be understanding the nuances of the position since he is new to it, but once he gets it...he's got starter ability.
 
Watching this kids film and knowing he is a converted CB....talent is there and he has the potential to be very, very good. Makes plays, attacks....his issue will be understanding the nuances of the position since he is new to it, but once he gets it...he's got starter ability.
He definitely has the athleticism. But safety is the last line of defense and a key takeaway position.

Ultimately, it will be his reading of the game and quick decision making ability that will determine whether he is a fringe special teamer or a potential starter and star.
 
Two things. Cedric Thompson makes a great impression.

Second. Our competition at defensive back is fascinating. We've got a bunch of guys sort of in that middle to lower class type of talent. We need more upper class talent back there. Let's hope some guys come out of the pack and separate themselves.

And third. Cedric has a brother called Tedric.
 
Found a 2013 article with a little more depth on Cedric Thompson's background. As mentioned by other posters, the story makes you want to root for the guy.

http://www.startribune.com/out-of-n...mes-from-dusty-outpost-july-7-2013/214505161/

There's also a short 1:38 video on the page where Cedric talks a bit.

From the article:

Thompson hopes to make enough money after he graduates, from the NFL or elsewhere, to open a program at Jesse Owens Park to help young athletes get into college. He looks back on his own experiences — with no ACT preparatory class, for example — knowing how much he would have appreciated the same guidance.

“That’s probably why there’s a lot of violence back home,” he said. “We don’t have the youth programs for kids around the ages when you need that stuff, like 12 and 13. That’s when you start getting in trouble.”

As for his other goals, Thompson said, “My mama wants a house, and I want my dad to have a new beginning. That’s what I say to push myself when I’m struggling.”
 
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