A new man: Trenton Thompson

Trenton Thompson faced the media for the first time since Georgia’s victory over TCU late last December in the Liberty Bowl.

Obviously, a lot's transpired since then.

But when asked to describe the journey, Georgia’s preseason All-SEC defensive line selection chalked it up to one of the biggest lessons he’s ever learned in his life.

“Ups and downs, adversity - you’ve got to overcome it,” Thompson said after practice on Thursday. “I’m still overcoming. I’m not there yet.”

Nevertheless, he’s in a much better place.

That wasn’t necessarily the case earlier this year when off-season shoulder surgery and his well-documented negative reaction to medication he was taking, resulted in him withdrawing from school and sitting out spring semester.

Coupled with off-season shoulder surgery, it was a truly a trying time for the former five-star performer.

But all that’s apparently in the past.

“I won’t term it as nothing,” Thompson said. “It’s just God putting you in places that you have to overcome. I’ve just got to look forward. I can’t look behind because it’s a new season. It’s a new Trent.”

Thompson sat out spring practice, although he did attend each workout while rehabbing with Director of Sports Medicine and head trainer Ron Courson following shoulder surgery earlier this year.

"Trenton has done a great job rehabbing his shoulder - he's better. He's able to move a lot better now than he was before," head coach Kirby Smart said. "Medically, he's done really well."

It was last February that Thompson was stopped by police off East Carlton Street in Athens, where the officer noticed him wandering in the roadway just off River Road.

The report said that Thompson's eyes appeared glassy and bloodshot. He told officers he had taken "two oxies." Thompson was asked if he had been hit on the head recently, but could not answer according to the report.

No charges were filed.

Thompson said he was never concerned about his future with the Bulldogs.

“I wasn’t worried because they kept me so motivated,” Thompson said. “My family kept me motivated. They kept telling me it’s not over, that it’s not over.”

He’s not looking back.

“You can’t look at the past, you’ve got to look at the future when you’re back out there with your teammates,” Thompson added. “Your brothers have your back and they kept pushing every day.”

Courson was with Thompson every step of the way.

“I was here (in Athens) with Mr. Ron. Mr. Ron was my full-time trainer,” Thompson said. “Wherever he would go, I would go.”

Currently at 300 pounds, Thompson played in all 13 games for Georgia last year, making 56 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, five sacks and seven quarterback pressures. He was named the MVP for the Bulldogs in their win over TCU in the Liberty Bowl.

“That performance right there really helped me motivate me and knowing what I did November and December, I could do every day of the week,” Thompson said. “It taught me to listen to coaches. Don’t take coaching as something bad, take coaching as something good."

Smart has had no complaints.

“Trenton has always been what we call a stack monster, meaning you are in the stack — the stack is where the 10 people are, the o-line and the d-line all bunched in a stack,” Smart said. “When the ball gets thrown on the perimeter, the best thing Trenton does is he turns and he runs to the ball fast, so his cover down on short passes and going to get the ball. He is a great energy guy, so I have been pleased with where Trenton is.”

Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said the energy Thompson is helping bring to the entire defense has been impressive.

“Trenton is a lead by example guy. He brings a tremendous amount of energy to the field. He is very, very destructive and runs to the ball,” Tucker said. “He is very consistent in that matter. When you have guys that lead by example, that really shows the way for the other guys.”

Thompson said he couldn’t be happier.

Bulldog fans no doubt feel the same.

“It’s good,” he said. “I’ve got my shoulders right, my back, my ankles … I feel much better than I did last year. I can’t wait to get started.”