The word is out on Marky Thompkins - that's evident by the more than 2.5 million views of the "hurdling" video uploaded nearly a week ago on YouTube.
The 18-second clip of the play from Week 5's double-overtime win at Struthers has been featured on ESPN and FOX News and was a top highlight on the Yahoo! main page.
But it also appears as if the college football world appears to be paying attention to his overall play.
Article Photos
East Liverpool’s Marky Thompkins prepares to throw a pass during the Potters’ Week 3 game at Patterson Field against Youngstown East. (Photo by Wayne Maris)
According to Scout.com, the East Liverpool junior quarterback has received interest from some major programs, including the team sitting at No. 2 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.
"My coach just heard from Ohio State today (Wednesday) and they want me to visit for a home game," Thompkins told Scout.com. "Ohio State is my favorite team, and the team I've always rooted for. It's an honor to hear from them, and I will definitely be scheduling a visit some time."
The feature on Thompkins, posted Thursday and authored by Ohio recruting analyst Bill Greene, says Potters coach Mark Asher also received a telephone call from Tennessee this week as well.
"Stanford, Indiana, Illinois, UCLA, Cincinnati, Duke, Nebraska, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Colorado State and Toledo have all called recently, too, and most of them want me to come to games," Thompkins is quoted as saying. "I also have invitations from Pittsburgh and Penn State to go to their games. I'm hoping to start going in the next few weeks."
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Thompkins tells Greene he realizes his future won't be at quarterback, and that schools at the next level are telling him as much.
"They are talking about wide receiver or defensive back, to use my athletic ability," he says. "I like playing defense, but I'm willing to play anywhere to help my team."
The original video has spawned 14 other YouTube members to post the same clip or versions of it, those numbering an additional 6,000 views as of early Friday. There's even an 11-minute version of the East Liverpool win over Struthers, showing the entire fourth quarter and two overtimes.
Brian Allen, who uploaded the original version of the clip, also has added some additional Potters videos - two highlight Willie Leavell, each one showing the talented senior intercepting passes by the Struthers quarterback; another shows junior receiver Mow Mow Thompson's overtime touchdown catch; and Thompkins also is shown returning an fumble for a touchdown.
