Leaving Las Vegas for chance with Force

Former UGA DE returns to familiar turf

By LARRY HARTSTEIN / lhartstein@ajc.com
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/12/08

The Las Vegas Strip or Flowery Branch?

For Will Thompson, who grew up in Warner Robins and won two SEC championships playing football at Georgia, it's not even close.

The 26-year-old defensive end reported to Flowery Branch on Sunday for Georgia Force training camp. He played his first Arena Football League season last year with the Las Vegas Gladiators. Two-a-days start today.

"Vegas is a nice place to visit, but as far as staying there, it kind of gets old," Thompson said. "The lights and everything you hear about, after a while you just stay at the house.

"And you miss your family and you want to get home."

Thompson is one of seven Force players with Georgia ties. There would have been eight, but Thompson's Bulldogs teammate, offensive lineman Nick Jones, was signed away from the Force by the NFL's Seattle Seahawks last month.

Jim Kubiak, the Force's director of football operations, said the homegrown approach is not about public relations.

"With the quality of players in this state, we're fortunate to be located where it's easy to work people out and there's always a large group of players interested in taking a look at arena football," Kubiak said. "I do think it resonates well with our fans, but it's not the first part. We're always looking for the most talented guys."

After making 10 tackles for loss in the 2005 SEC championship season, Thompson spent time in the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons training camps but didn't stick.

Since then he's sold cars, loaded FedEx shipments and installed appliances — and played five months of arena football in between.

When Las Vegas played at Philips Arena last year, Thompson's energy made Kubiak notice the 6-foot-2, 261-pounder.

"He's a guy with a great motor and we love his versatility, that he can stand up and play linebacker, too," Kubiak said. "That dual role is very important because we can only carry four defensive linemen. His value really is his ability to play different positions, his willingness to play those roles, and his character."

Thompson has family in Atlanta, Warner Robins and Savannah. He'll have plenty of support, and ticket requests to deal with, when the Force open March 1 against Dallas at the Gwinnett Arena.

Of the ticket pleas, "I'm still trying to figure that out," he said.

HOMETOWN APPROACH

Force players with Georgia ties:

• WR Troy Bergeron: Starred at Shaw HS in Columbus; scored 42 TDs last season.

• DB Willie Gary: Valdosta native played at Kentucky and for 2001 NFC champion St. Louis Rams.

• OL James Clark: Vidalia native enters second AFL season as QB Chris Greisen's protector.

• WR Chad Cone: Waycross native went to Savannah State to run track, took up football.

• DB Brandon Register: Donalsonville native, three-sport athlete at Seminole County HS, played at UAB.

• DL Jermaine Smith: Augustan played at UGA, spent four years with the Green Bay Packers; Force career sacks leader.

• DL Will Thompson: Warner Robins native was part of UGA class that earned most victories in school history (44) and won SEC in 2002, 2005.

COMING UP

• Tuesday: First practice

• Feb. 21: Fan Appreciation Day at Flowery Branch

• March 1: Opener vs. Dallas, 1 p.m., Gwinnett Arena

Info: www.

georgia

force.com