RecruitNoVA.com Loudoun Player of the Year -- Daniel Thompson (Stone Bridge)

Photo by Rick Wasser - Loudoun Times-Mirror

At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Stone Bridge’s wide receiver Daniel Thompson stands out among his peers. With his 4.46 speed in the 40-yard dash, route running ability, and Velcro-like hands, seeing Thompson catch balls on the gridiron is like watching Larry Fitzgerald play against high schoolers.

And after a stellar senior campaign, with 57 catches for 1,454 yards and 21 touchdowns, the senior left little doubt that he stands out among the players of his region, which makes him the RecruitNoVA.com Loudoun County Player of the Year.

Thompson was better known as a tight end last year, and rated just behind Lake Braddock’s Andrew Park as the top among Northern Virginia position players. With the move to wide out, Bulldog coach Mickey Thompson was hoping to take advantage of his star’s enhanced speed, and the receiver was quick to come into his own, as the Dogs rattled off 12 straight wins, before falling to Tuscarora in a heartbreaking 28-27 region final.

In Week 2, he scored three touchdowns, catching four passes for 147 yards, while adding two more as a rusher, as Stone Bridge thumped Lake Braddock 46-13. He followed that performance with six catches for 237 yards and three scores in a surprisingly easy 35-10 win over a Madison team known for its defensive prowess.

But the coup de grace for the speedy ball catcher came with his playoff performance. In the Bulldogs three games, Thompson caught 22 passes for 498 yards and nine touchdowns, as Stone Bridge easily manhandled Lee (42-21) and John Champe (45-22) before the disappointing finale in Ashburn.

However, it was Thompson’s clutch catches and sturdy hands that kept Stone Bridge even with Tusky. Many of his nine catches for 162 yards came on balls that forced him to leap and dive, while maintaining possession of the football with his hands acting like a vice grip – holding on to passes from Mason Tatum that a lesser receiver would have dropped.

Thompson would normally have moved on to basketball season, but has decided to hone his football skills, which are drawing increased interest. To date, he has visited JMU and ODU, while Towson and Howard have extended scholarship offers.