NFL Hopeful: Tom Compton, USD

by Kolbe Nelson
March 26, 2012 6:38 PM


Andrew Luck, the top college quarterback in the country, will probably get endorsement deals, humongous signing bonuses and numerous other perks when he's picked in the upcoming NFL Draft. Those luxaries dissapear when the lesser known players get picked in the lower rounds, but that's ok. All USD's Tom Compton wants is to hear his name called.

"I'm not really caught up in the whole, where am I gonna fall in the draft." Compton says, "My agent keeps telling me I'm gonna get drafted and as long as that happens, I don't care where it is."

The 6'6", 314 pound offensive lineman from a Twin Cities suburb has a pretty good chance to be the first Coyote selected in the NFL draft since Chul Schwanke was picked by the Los Angeles Rams in the 11th round of the 1986 draft. So Compton knows how special this is not only for him, but also for his school.

"It's a pretty good feeling being able to represent everybody like that." Compton says, "I'm just trying to work my hardest and hopefully make these people proud of me. I'm doing my job trying to represent them."

For Compton this is all kind of a shock. He always had dreams of making it to the NFL, but he never really thought they would materialize.

"When I was a lot younger, not really." Compton says, "When I got here, my position coach, he told me someday you'll be playing in the NFL. I was 18 at the time, I was like ok, but as it kept going, as the years went by it just became more of a possibility."

Compton says although there were predictions he may go pro early in his college career, it still hasn't sunk in yet how close he is to making the national football league.

"Not really," Compton says, "I'm just focusing on working hard and I think as we get up to the draft, a couple days before, I'll be biting my nails a little bit, but overall, I'm just taking it day by day."

Right now, several mock drafts have Compton going somewhere around the fourth or fifth round. His response to that should be no surpise though.

"They can project me wherever they want, but as long as I get in," Compton says, "That's what I'm looking for."

Who needs endorsement deals?

Follow KDLT Sports at @KDLTSports and KDLT Weekend Sports Anchor Kolbe Nelson at @KolbeNelson for opinions, links, and updates on Twitter. And don't forget to check out the KDLT Sports Facebook Page