Thompson was a first-team 4A All-Idaho choice as a junior and as a senior. He was a key figure in Minico’s winning back-to-back Great Basin Conference championships and a 15-5 record. During his senior season, the Spartans averaged 405 yards and 33.9 points per game. He also was a Max Preps 2012 preseason all-state offensive lineman.

In signing with the Vandals, Thompson becomes the first player from Minico to sign with an FBS team in at least 20 years.

Petrino sees a diamond in the rough in Thompson.

“He has real good size and great strength,” Petrino said. “He might not have played at the level of some of these other players but he has the size and strength to play at this level. We just have to keep improving him.”