Ronald Thompkins has met his academic requirements and is planning to arrive in Nebraska on Friday to begin his next chapter, according to Kenyatta Watson Sr., a mentor and one of his former coaches.
The Husker running back signee worked hard in recent months to nail down the needed standardized test score to fully qualify and come to Lincoln this June. A Nebraska spokesman later confirmed the news to Husker247.
"He was only one point way. He was close. Very close. We got him into an ACT prep class for the last four months. He took the class. He was diligent. He got it done," Watson said on Wednesday night. "I'm ecstatic, man, because the kid means so much to me outside of football. He's always had a really tough upbringing, man. And he's just such an unbelievable kid. He never complains. Everything is always, 'Yes, sir' or 'No, sir.' He never looked at what someone else's situation was like and said, 'I wish I had that.' He always grinned through whatever."
That included staying positive even after a torn ACL last fall for the second time in as many seasons for the prospect from Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. Already a Husker commit at the time, Thompkins asked one of his coaches after the injury, "Is Nebraska going to drop me?"
The Huskers assured Thompkins in quick order they were standing by him.
Now as the all-purpose running back comes to Lincoln, Watson said Thompkins does it without showing any clear sign of the injury, and carries 205 pounds on his 5-11 frame. "He looks friggin' great. It's just a testament to his work ethic and who he is."
