STARKVILLE — Stewart Reese recalls the exact moment he met junior linebacker Erroll Thompson on a football field.
Both freshmen at the time, Thompson came at the 6-foot-5, 345-pound junior offensive lineman. Delivering a massive blow, Reese refers to the sequence as the hardest he’d ever been hit in his life.
“I don’t remember it,” Thompson said through a smirk. “But I know Stu is a big guy and I guess that’s a really good compliment.”
Never one for the spotlight, the Florence, Alabama native is quietly determined at a position tailor made for loud talkers and violent hitters. Yet with his subtle demeanor and humble persona, Thompson will be tasked with leading a revamped defense into 2019.
“He’s a head-hunter,” senior defensive back Maurice Smitherman said. “He’s going to stuff the hole and there isn’t any running back that’s going to get through there.”
Thompson’s impact is easily quantifiable in numbers. The junior finished 2018 with 87 tackles — nine for a loss — 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions in 13 games.
Beyond the numbers, this season offers a slightly different, albeit more official role, for Thompson.
Following the annual Maroon and White spring game April 13, coach Joe Moorhead entered the locker room at Davis Wade Stadium. Standing in the center of his team, he revealed to the team Thompson and senior center Darryl Williams would serve as captains for the upcoming season.
“It has a nice ring to it,” Thompson said minutes after the announcement. “It’s really a tremendous honor. I really didn’t have any clue so I really appreciate (my teammates) for trusting me to lead the way and I’ve got to trust those guys also.”
Standing in the shower, he reflected on defensive players past that allowed him to reach this point.
“I was thinking about (Dezmond Harris) and Gerri (Green) and how those guys kind of molded me for this time and this opportunity,” Thompson said.
For context, Green is now with the Indianapolis Colts, while Harris concluded his MSU career with 112 tackles — 5 1/2 for a loss — and two sacks despite two separate ACL tears during his collegiate playing days.
Though the honor may have been a surprise, there was reason to believe this would be Thompson’s defense in 2019.
With the departures of Montez Sweat and Jeffery Simmons on the defensive line, MSU’s linebackers will likely be relied on in the pass rush more heavily than a season ago.
A blitzer by trade, defensive coordinator Bob Shoop hasn’t shied away from the idea of bringing pressure from the second level.
“When we’re in the staff room trying to find a way to make the offensive coordinator, offensive play caller and the quarterback as incredibly uncomfortable as they can possibly be for those three hours on Saturday,” Shoop said. “It’s probably not going to change. Who the blitzers are and the blitzes we run may be different than they were a year ago, but I think that style of play will remain very similar.”
Further, with Willie Gay Jr.’s status up in the air for week one against Louisiana, Thompson becomes all the more important. According to Moorhead, Gay has battled a lower body injury the past few weeks — though he remains hopeful Gay can play in the opener.
The Bulldogs also boast a stable of experienced options behind Thompson and Gay. Senior Leo Lewis is slated for a major role this season, while classmate Tim Washington boasts a wealth of experience as a backup option.
Additionally, freshman Aaron Brule has earned rave reviews throughout the spring and summer. Brule notably returned an interception for a touchdown in the spring game.
“I feel like we’re the best in the nation,” Thompson said of the linebacking corps. “We still have a lot of work to do but coach (Chris) Marve is pushing us, coach Shoop is pushing us and I feel like we have the guys to be literally the best in the nation.”
Others aside, Thompson remains the unbridled leader of both the linebackers and defense. A preseason first-team All-SEC selection and a candidate for the Nagurski, Bednarik and Butkus awards, he’s also earned a plethora of recognition ahead of the 2019 season.
But as is the case with most things involving Thompson, the humble 6-foot-1, 250-pounder is not so much concerned with his own recognition. Rather, it’s a chance to lead that he truly cherishes.
“I’m just trying to come out and make my teammates and myself better,” Thompson said.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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