Florida senior Thompson predicting breakout year, finally

Florida wide receiver Deonte Thompson talks with reporters during Southeastern Conference Football Media Days in Hoover, Ala., Wednesday, July 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Deonte Thompson entered the University of Florida fully expecting to be that next great Gators receiver.

He’s got one more shot.

Thompson signed as one of the nation’s top 50 prospects in 2007, two years after receivers Louis Murphy and David Nelson signed with Florida and a year after the trio of Percy Harvin, Riley Cooper and Brandon James. Now a redshirt senior, the 5-foot-11, 200-pounder from Belle Glade has been decent but nowhere close to dynamic.

“I think it’s going to happen this year,” Thompson said. “I think it’s a matter of getting the confidence going and just getting the quarterback’s confidence going and the whole offense, and everything should fall into place.”

A program synonymous with top-notch wideouts since the Fun ’N’ Gun days under Steve Spurrier was an aerial embarrassment last year, as Florida ranked 10th in the Southeastern Conference in passing with 184.3 yards per game. Thompson led Urban Meyer’s sixth and final team in Gainesville with 38 catches, fewer than three per game, for 570 yards and only one touchdown.

Not that Thompson should shoulder all the blame on a unit that sorely missed Tim Tebow when John Brantley struggled to run the spread. Brantley was the league’s 10th-rated passer a year ago, but he now operates out of a pro-style attack that was implemented this spring by new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

“His development of quarterbacks speaks for itself,” new head coach Will Muschamp said. “His development of offenses speaks for itself.”

The hiring of Weis, who may be the most recognized offensive coordinator in NFL history following his stint with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, is one of the most unique in SEC history. It certainly caught the Gators by surprise.

“We were at the Outback Bowl,” Thompson said, “and one of the receivers came in and said, ‘We’ve got Charlie!’ We were like, ‘We ain’t got no Charlie Weis.’ Then it came across the TV, and we were like, ‘Oh, man, Coach Champ is making moves already.’

“Everybody was on board, and it gave us a sense of energy.”

Yet like most transitions, the switch from the spread to pro style had its share of bumps.

“You look at it the first day, and you’re like, ‘I’m never going to learn this,’ but a couple of days into it you pick up on the new verbiage,” Brantley said. “You get the basics down, and everything goes on from there. It definitely gets a little easier.”

Said Thompson: “Coach Weis knows what we’re good at, and he wants to present it in different looks. He’s trying to keep it as simple as possible so we can play without thinking and play fast.”

Florida has the potential for a nice offensive year, but several things will have to fall into place.

Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey, who averaged 6.0 and 7.2 yards per carry last season, must get the ground game going. Touted tackle Matt Patchan needs to stay healthy after missing last season with a wrist injury, and another receiver, such as sophomore Quinton Dunbar, could help by providing more possibilities outside.

Of course, a lot comes down to whether Brantley and Thompson display a confidence that never existed last season.

“The offense last year was crazy,” Thompson said. “We’re used to scoring 30 or 40 points a game, and we were having trouble getting 21. We kept going to the drawing board and trying to find the solution. It was tough.

“Everybody believes in what we’re doing now, and everybody is confident in it. Coach Weis has had success wherever he goes, so he knows what he’s doing.”