‘The Cardinal Countdown: 22 Days Until Kickoff’

LEKHY THOMPKINS #22

Height: 6’2” 

Weight: 235lb

Position: RB

Class: Freshman

Hometown: Alamo, TN

Summary: Some guys walk into the program looking for help, they build a good work ethic, build a strong foundation of understanding in the schemes, develop a relationship with the coaches, and work their way into a nice role on the team that then grows into something larger as they get bigger and stronger and faster at the collegiate level. Then there are guys who come in and look like they might be getting a few snaps for the Bengals in their spare time, these are the “all-bus” guys, meaning they walk off the bus and raise the eyebrows of the opposing fans and players. Lekhy is one of those guys.

You can read 6’2” 235lb on paper all day and think, “yeah that’s a bigger guy”, and then you can go out to an open practice and stand ten feet from Thompkins and wonder if you are even the same species (raises my hand). After dominating in Tennessee Lekhy transferred to IMG Academy for his senior year and played some tough competition across the country. He still managed to put up over 1,100 yards on the ground and grabbed nine touchdowns as a Senior. As one might imagine the offers were pouring in, and the Cards fought off Miami, Virginia Tech, Colorado and others for his services earlier this year. So how are they going to use him?

Its no secret the RB room is stacked up with the return of Brown & Brown Law Services, not to mention Davis from Mizzou and the ‘UK Killa’ Jennings, BUT with the five for five ruling I see zero reason as to why Thompkins will not play, and potentially play consistently, this year. Barclay has already noted his size as a great short yardage weapon, and putting him in as a decoy from time to time can help as well. What will Lekhy look like a year from now, or two? Who knows, but my guess is he could be RB1 alongside Briggs Cherry in a couple seasons if he sticks it out, and I’m already excited about the potential of that right now. Big get, big addition to program, and I trust Barclay to have him ready when called.