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Darwin Thompson says he’s faster and more flexible than ever

By Matt Conner

EAST LANSING, MI - AUGUST 31: Darwin Thompson #5 of the Utah State Aggies tries to get around the tackle of Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second half at Spartan Stadium on August 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 38-31.(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - AUGUST 31: Darwin Thompson #5 of the Utah State Aggies tries to get around the tackle of Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second half at Spartan Stadium on August 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 38-31.(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Darwin Thompson is a weight room warrior, but a lighter playing weight has him feeling faster and more flexible than ever.

Darwin Thompson might be a one-year wonder, but he made the absolute most of that single season at Utah State. It was enough to have his name turned in by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Chiefs sixth round pick from this past April’s even turned heads all season long in the Mountain West with his incredible strength, vision and balance for such a small package. At only 5’8, Thompson packs a punch as a running back, to the tune of an incredible 6.8 yards/carry average for the Aggies (first in the conference).

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Last season, Thompson ran the ball 153 times for 1,044 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught another 23 passes for 351 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.

After the season was over, Thompson started to appear on draft boards of analysts who were finally clued in to the talent and he began to draw raves for his contact balance. The Chiefs loved his toughness and his ability to create yards even after taking that first hit from a defender. When speaking with reporters from training camp on Thursday, Thompson said he’s gotten so strong because he knew he had to make up for being so short in the first place.

“I gotta make up for my size somewhere and that’s the weight room,” he said. “Every day. Day in and day out, I spend time in the weight room knowing that I’m only 5’8, so I gotta build my base, my core, and it shows on the field. My contact balance, it shows up because of the weight room. If I was 6’2, 220, how much more would that add to me, but I’m 5’8 and I gotta make up for it somewhere.”

The commitment to work out so much has given him a lot of muscle, but the pre-draft process and pro workout regimen has actually helped him lose weight. He still has a strong core, but he’s 10 pounds lighter than he was in college, which has given him more speed.

“I’ve gained a lot more muscle. I’m actually 190 right now,” says Thompson. “In college, I played around 200 or 205, but I’m 190 right now and I move a lot faster. I’m more flexible, and I can do a lot more things. I feel comfortable at 190. I feel a lot quicker and faster.”

If anything, having Thompson a bit faster and more flexible could reap dividends when given the myriad tasks that Andy Reid demands of his running backs. Thompson says Reid’s creative game plan forces a running back to really stretch himself and become great.

“The screen game, the inside zone, the power scheme—it’s a lot of what I did in college, but this offense stretches you to be a great running back. I mean, they split you out as a receiver at the slot. It really stretches you to be a great running back in this offense.”

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Thompson will be competing with Darrel Williams and Carlos Hyde for reps behind Damien Williams, who has been given the starter’s mantle heading into training camp for the Chiefs in the backfield.

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