Northville senior Thomson’s trademarks: reliability, focus
Two-sport standout is kind of athlete coaches covet
No matter the playing surface – artificial turf or hardwood – Northville two-sport standout Nolan Thomson is a baller.
Average in size, the 5-foot-10, 160-pound athlete is anything but ordinary once he has a football or basketball in his possession.
He’s also one of those guys coaches can trust in the clutch thanks to his sure hands, disciplined approach and locked-in mindset.
Thomson earned All-KLAA first-team football honors as a junior, carving up defenses with masterful route-running and savvy elusiveness. A repeat performance in his final high school season wouldn’t be surprising, especially given long-time teammate and strong-armed quarterback Luka Prior is taking over the reins of the Mustangs’ offense.
Thomson took a few minutes during a break in a Mustangs recent practice session to talk about the 2022 season with SocialHouseNews.com Editor-In-Chief Ed Wright.
What was your first “I love football!” moment?
My earliest memory was playing football in the backyard with my uncle and cousin. That’s when I really started loving the sport. I joined organized football in eighth grade, a little later than most guys, but we won a championship that year and I was hooked.
Would you compare your receiving style to (Las Vegas Raiders) receiver Hunter Renfrow?
Yeah, you could say that. I take great pride in my route-running, which is very disciplined and focused. I like to think I have pretty good hands, too.
What was your favorite part of two-a-day practices?
I like the 7-on-7 part of practice. It gives the receivers a chance to go up against the defensive backs a little bit, gives us all some good, friendly competition that makes us better.
Does your number (21) have any personal significance?
I was No. 12 when I was younger, so my number has always had a 2 in it.
Would you play offensive line if asked by the coaching staff?
For sure, no matter what helps the team win. I’d probably get bullied a little bit by those bigger guys, but I’d give it a shot.
Do you have a favorite book you’ve read?
Catcher in the Rye
What’s your favorite class?
I’m big into math. I had a pre-calc class last year that I liked a lot. I’m big into U.S. history, too.
What do you like about Coach Ladach?
He’s always getting us fired up, but he’s a big family guy, too. He’s always telling us he loves us and we love him right back.
What’s it like the week leading up to the game against Novi?
There’s a lot of shenanigans that go on, all friendly of course. It’s not only the players but the student bodies. I think the energy goes up noticeably in both school in the days leading up to the game.
