Off the football field, Cam'Ron Thompson has a friendly disposition despite his intimidating 6-foot-3, 325-pound frame — and comes across as a gentle giant.
But once he settles in as the right guard on the offensive line, the Jenkins junior does whatever it takes to get the job done in the trenches.
He has football in his blood as the younger brother of Savannah native Nolan Smith, the star linebacker who became a household name during a stellar career at Georgia before joining the Philadelphia Eagles as a No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Thompson received his first college offer from Kentucky in June of 2022, before he ever played a high school game. He's now up to 13, according to 247Sports.com, with offers including Auburn, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, North Carolina State and Georgia Tech and he would love to follow in the footsteps of his brother.
"I'm a nice person off the field, but on the field I'm not very nice," said Thompson, a 4.0 student and key player in the Warriors' run to the Class 5A state quarterfinals as a No. 4 seed last season. "I play very physical and tough and will get on our guys if we're doing something wrong on the line. I'm smart and know what to do and what not to do."
Growing up in the same household as his brother gave Thompson a first-hand look at Smith's legendary work ethic. The pair are very close, and Thompson just got back from a two-week trip to Southern California, where he trained with his brother and soaked in everything he could.
"My brother has had a big impact on me," Thompson said. "He's a great football player, but the most important thing is that he has great character and he's always pushing me to be a better player and person. He always said he wanted to get our family out of the hood, and he's already done that for my mom, my brother and me.
"In California, we took a hike and talked about life. He told me that he wanted me to accomplish my goals for me, and that meant a lot to me."
On Saturday, Smith held his fourth annual "Pups Day Out" a free football camp for kids at Daffin Park. Thompson was there for an event focused on family, friends, faith and football.
"We just got back from training in Los Angeles," Smith said when asked about Cam'Ron after the event. "And I'm pushing him... His footwork is getting amazing, and I'm just trying to get his body in amazing shape so when he goes to college, he'll already be what they are looking for.
"I tell him, 'Your brother has been there before. I can mold you and sculpt you into exactly what you want to be. You want to be 305 (pounds) with a six-pack, I can get you there.' He has that Dog in him, but I'm trying to get him to turn it on like a light switch... He's a great kid. That's why I told him I want you to be the best, I want you to be better than I ever could be."
Jenkins is moving down from Class 5A to Class 3A this year, and the Warriors are back in a region with the Savannah teams. Calvary Day and Jenkins are region favorites as the season approaches in mid-August, and Jenkins coach Tony Welch said Thompson is at the foundation of the team's success.
"Cam has been a starter for us since he was a freshman, and I could see him being a 5-star recruit before he's done," Welch said. "He's a quiet, high-character kid who is pretty quiet until you get to know him. He's not a talker, but he's developing into a leader. He's definitely a weapon on the line with his run blocking and pass protection. He's got that bloodline as Nolan's little brother — he has the pedigree. He's always had the natural talent, now he's maturing and getting smarter on the field to match that physical ability."
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
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