Trip Thurman considers himself an unknown in the state of Delaware. But fortunately for him, outside state lines, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman has received plenty of attention.
The Dover (Dover, Del.) senior has received several Division I football scholarship offers and has narrowed his choices to three: University of Florida, University of South Carolina and Boston College.
"I’m still evaluating those three," said Thurman, who is being recruited to play offensive tackle in college. "But I’m definitely going to make my decision before the season starts so I can focus on winning a lot of games this year."
Thurman, who made first team all-conference last year, said his individual goal this season is to make first team All-State on both sides of the ball.
"Nobody knows me because I’m from Dover. I want to be the best lineman in the state this season," Thurman said.
He can bench press 295 pounds and squat 500. His size gives opposing coaches nightmares when game-planning against him.
"Playing against a human the size of Tripp requires getting into the heads of our players," says Dave Manwiller, defensive line coach at rival Caesar Rodney High School. "You can't downplay his size. You have to convince them that they can beat the big guy. So you have to try to get your kids to work different moves with more speed and try to get around him because you certainly won't go through him."
Dover is coming off a disappointing 4-6 season, and while Thurman hopes his team can put together a winning season this fall, he realizes it takes more than just talent for a team to win.
"The biggest challenge for this team is we need to come together as a team," he said. "We have a lot of great talent but we need to be playing as one unit. That will be the biggest challenge. We have the athletes; we just need to come together."
Dover coach Carlton Brown knows that this season the success or failure of his team starts up front with his highly-recruited lineman. But at the same time, admits that although Thurman is considered by many to be the top player at his position in the state, there is still room for improvement.
"I want to see him bring the same tenacity I saw when he went to Florida’s camp,” the sixth-year coach, who accompanied Thurman to Gainesville, said. "I saw something in him in Florida I haven’t seen here in Delaware, and that could be because of the high caliber of competition down there. But I want him to be that dominant player I saw in Florida on every single down on the field this season."
Off the field, Thurman says he’s looking for a solid academic program. And while he plans to major in Biology and possibly pursue a medical degree, he admits his dream is to play in the NFL and knows his playing career in college can make or break that opportunity.
"I want a good coaching staff so that they can help me develop and reach my full potential during my four years there," Thurman said. "My dream is to play in the NFL."
Thurman’s first step toward that dream occurred as a seventh grader at Central Middle School. It was there that Thurman caught the attention of his future coach.
"I told him from day one that if he bought into our program, I promised him good things would happen later in life," said Brown, a guidance counselor at Central Middle.
Thurman did buy into the Senators’ program and now is beginning to see the good things his coach promised. As a result big decisions, like choosing a college, are looming and Thurman is receiving a lot of advice from those closest to him. But Brown says there’s one person more than any other who will probably sway him when it comes time to make his final decision.
"His mom plays a major role," Brown said. "Dad is a big supporter getting him to the schools for visits, but his mom looks outside of football and what kind of education he’s going to get and how he will make out in society. He relies heavily on both his parents, but like with a lot of kids, mom plays a major role."
Neither player nor coach are hinting as to what that decision might be at this point, but Brown is confident no matter where his senior star ends up, he’ll be well received and make out just fine.
"He’s the kind of kid a lot of kids like to be around," Brown said. "He gets on the dance floor and everyone wants to be around him. He wants to have fun in life. He knows how to separate football and his personal life. It’s what makes him good at both."
The Buzz
Mark Reynolds has been named boys lacrosse head coach at St. Mark's (Wilmington), replacing Curt Sawyer, who left to pursue other coaching opportunities. Reynolds is a graduate of Caesar Rodney High School and served as an assistant under Sawyer.
Jon Buzby is the sports columnist for the Newark Post, a freelance writer, and occasional color commentator for the 1290am The Ticket High School Football Game of the Week. You can reach him at jonbuzby@hotmail.com.
