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Audio Interview -- Player Spotlight (09.02.09) -- LISTEN

SCOUT'S TAKE

Skinny: Thompson isn’t the biggest cornerback in the land, but somehow he always finds a way to make plays. The question is going to be, without the size, what type of true recovery speed does he have? Most people think he is a 4.4 guy, but we won’t know until we get a stopwatch on him. As a junior, Thompson had 70 tackles, 14 passes broken up, 7.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions.

Stock: Thompson is a ball hawk and although he can play zone, he is better in man-to-man coverage. If this guy was around six feet tall he would be going into the season with a first-round grade.

Career: Thompson was a two-time first-team All-Pac-10 selection, earning the honor in each of his final two campaigns. He started all 52 games possible over his four-year collegiate career (2006-09) to set a school record for starts as he held down a starting cornerback job for each of his four seasons. Thompson finished his career as Cal’s all-time leader in pass breakups with 36 while other notable final career totals included 257 tackles, seven interceptions that he returned for 204 yards, 43 passes defended, 20.0 tackles for loss (65 yards) and 36 punt returns that he brought back for a total of 389 yards, including one that he returned 73 yards for a touchdown vs. Colorado State in 2008. Thompson recorded a career-high 78 tackles as a sophomore in 2007 and posted four of his seven career picks in 2008.

Quote of Note: "He's really determined to be better. He's a guy that you always expected to improve. He's a smart player. Anytime you're a smart player, it gives you the opportunity to anticipate what the offense is going to do."

-- Defensive Coordinator Bob Gregory on Syd’Quan Thompson

NEWS

03.02.10 - (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – Former Cal football player DB Syd’Quan Thompson posted the fifth-fastest 3 Cone Drill time (6.73) by a cornerback on Tuesday’s final day of the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine. Thompson’s mark came two days after teammate TB Jahvid Best recorded the fastest times among the event’s running backs in both the 40-yard dash (4.35) and 3 Cone Drill (6.75) on Sunday. Best and Thompson are two of six former Cal football players that participated at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. DL Tyson Alualu, WR Nyan Boateng, OL Mike Tepper and WR Verran Tucker were also among hundreds of invited prospective NFL players.
At the combine, the participants were put through a series of drills, tests and interviews with more than 600 NFL personnel from all 32 teams in attendance, including head coaches, general managers and scouts. Workouts consisted of position drills as well as measurable drills to include the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 3 Cone Drill and shuttle run. Visit nfl.com/combine for complete and live coverage of the event. The NFL Scouting Combine is one of the key tools used by NFL teams in preparation for the NFL Draft, which will take place over three days for the first time in the event’s history this year Apr. 22-24 from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. - Cal Media Relations

02.18.10 - (SACRAMENTO) – Defensive back Syd’Quan Thompson was presented with the 2009 Henry J. “Tiny” Bates Memorial Award by the Cal Grid Club of Sacramento at the organization’s end-of-season banquet at the Vizcaya Pavilion on Wednesday evening. The award is given annually to a senior on the Cal football team from the Sacramento Valley region. The accolade is named in honor of Bates, who was one of the co-founders of the club in 1947 and a right end for the Golden Bears in 1916 and 1917 under legendary head coach Andy Smith. The award was established in 1968 in Bates’ memory after his passing.  Thompson, who graduated from Grant High School in Sacramento in 2005, capped off his Cal career in 2009 by earning first-team All-Pac-10 honors for the second consecutive season and earning a roster spot for the 2010 Senior Bowl. He started all 13 games for the fourth straight campaign to establish a school record with 52 career starts. Thompson also finished his collegiate career as Cal’s all-time leader with 36 pass breakups, eclipsing the former record of 35 held by Chidi Iwuoma (1997-2000) when he broke up two passes in his final collegiate game at the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. He finished the 2009 season with 49 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, a team-high 10 pass breakups and one interception that he returned for 38 yards, along with eight punt returns for 45 yards.  Other notable final career totals for Thompson included 257 tackles, seven interceptions that he returned for 204 yards, 43 passes defended, 20.0 tackles for loss (65 yards) and 36 punt returns that he brought back for a total of 389 yards. Thompson recorded a career-high 78 tackles as a sophomore in 2007 and recorded four of his seven career picks in 2008 to lead the squad. - Cal Media Relations

06.15.09 - Bay Area News reports, Thompson is a 2009 preseason All-American by just about any publication that produces such recognition. This is the time of year preseason college football annuals are released, and Thompson is all over them. Thompson is a student of the game who is always focused on improving, so it's hard to imagine him taking a step back this season. With a year playing the new 3-4 alignment under their belt, the Bears plan on being even more diverse with their defense this season. That includes using Thompson in different ways, whether it is in man coverage, zone or the nickel.

04.07.09 - California senior cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson, who led the Golden Bears with four interceptions last season, has been named to the 2009 Lott Trophy Watch List. The Watch List is made up of 42 of the nation's top defensive players who have had the biggest IMPACT on their teams on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Thompson earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors last fall when he finished with 70 total tackles and tied the Cal record with 18 passes defended (4 interceptions and 14 passes broken up). He also averaged 12.3 yards on 28 punt returns, including a 73-yarder for a touchdown vs. Colorado State. Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its sixth year, The Lott Trophy is the only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.