By Owen Gotimer
LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief
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Sterling (February 29, 2016) — Dominion High School senior Luke Thompson has made a commitment to continue his football career at McDaniel College starting in the 2016-2017 school year.

“After committing to college, I feel so relaxed being able to just focus on what happens today instead of tomorrow,” the 5-foot-8, 160-pound Thompson said.

Tomorrow is another day of high school for Thompson, but come this summer, Thompson will be in full college mode getting ready for football and academics at the next level.

“I chose McDaniel mainly because of the educational opportunities they offer,” Thompson said. “From a football perspective, I felt like I connected with the coaches as well as the atmosphere that came with the stadium.”

In 2016, the Division 3 Green Terror will be led by first-year head coach Mike Dailey who has been a McDaniel assistant for the past seven years, serving as the defensive coordinator for the past six.

“I am confident that I am going to bring something unexpected to the team,” said Thompson who will line up in the slot for the Green Terror. “People see me but don’t expect much and that’s a surprise factor in a lot of situations.”

As a freshman at Dominion – becoming a member of a football program which finished 0-10 in its previous season – Thompson had the pleasant surprise of starting for the Titans’ varsity squad towards the end of his first season. Three years later, Thompson helped Dominion turn its football program around finishing 6-4 in 2015 while sending eight different Titans to the collegiate ranks from the class of 2016: Thompson as well as James Madison-commit Adeeb Atariwa, UVA Wise-commit James Burless, Shenandoah-commit Chris Hanna, UVA Wise-commit Jordan Hinson, Gannon-commit Derrick Kouame, Fairmont State-commit Brandon Ruffin and Bryant-commit Taliek Washington.

Throughout his time at Dominion, and from the time he was young, Thompson had a deep athletic connection with his dad.

“My dad has always been the driving force behind my athletic career. I started playing when I was seven, and I just remember having that connection with him before and after games. He was always the guy who would keep me going straight.”