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Portland State: Mitch Thompson, RB/ST
Mitch Thompson, a running back, gets most of his playing time with special teams. (Tray Wayrynen/Portland State Athletics)
Head coach Bruce Barnum describes Mitch Thompson as, "the tiniest, most 'why is he playing?', most special, special teams guy in the country. He's the shortest, smallest, guy on our football team and he's the guy on special teams now that everyone goes after because he's such a nuisance. He's on all the special teams. He's like a little energizer bunny, there's guys knocking him down he's like a ping pong ball – you knock him down and he gets up again and makes a tackle and never gets mad."
Thompson is currently listed as the fourth string running back, but got an opportunity last year when Portland State opened up a lead against North Texas.
"He went in and broke about five tackles and scored a 68-yard touchdown. I had to turn away. Number one everyone is cheering because Mitch is in the game and number two he scored against an FBS team, and this was the first time I almost cried since my wife turned me down for prom," Baldwin said.
At the beginning of the season, Baldwin surprised Thompson with a scholarship. The coach said he earned it.
