Malden junior linebacker receives offer from Southeast Missouri State

Malden junior Nick Thompson had a pretty good Saturday.

Not only did he win the shot put and discus at the Cape Central Invitational, but he picked up his first collegiate football offer.

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz had planned to visit with Thompson, a linebacker for the Green Wave, at the track meet.

Thompson found Matukewicz, who introduced himself and his daughter Georgia, and was told that he wanted to give him an offer and that he "didn't have to pay for my books or anything."

He was also told that he's only the second athlete from the Class of 2016 that has received an offer from the Redhawks -- the other would be Central's Al Young.

"I was pretty excited. I couldn't be still," Thompson said. "My phone was dead. I was running around trying to get my phone charged. I was trying to call my coach, I was trying to call my mom, just trying to call everybody. It was just a very humbling experience. I was very excited. I know it's the beginning of a new chapter in my life so I'm happy about that."

Thompson and Young both attended the University of Missouri's Junior Day in February. Thompson attended a practice at Arkansas State last week and will be visited by coaches from the Austin Peay staff in early May. Both Arkansas State and Memphis coaches have expressed that they want him to attend their camps during the summer.

He participated in a Rivals combine at O'Fallon High School in Illinois last Sunday along with about 700 other football players. He finished in the top 10 in the shuttle run, vertical jump and broad jump.

The Semoball Awards finalist for defensive player of the year recorded 94 tackles during his junior campaign. He had five interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns, and also recorded seven sacks.

Thompson isn't going to rush into any decision about his collegiate future, but is interested in playing for Matukewicz and the Redhawks.

"I think Coach Tuke is a very good coach, and I think he's trying his hardest to turn the program around and I respect that because I've been part of a program like that and I would most definitely like to have a coach like that," Thompson said.

Thompson helped the Green Wave to a 13-1 record last season, with their lone loss coming in the Class 2 state semifinal to eventual state champion Lamar.

Matukewicz cannot comment publicly on recruits due to NCAA rules.