Troy University Athletics
Emanuel Thompson - A Natural Leader
11/24/2017 8:25:00 AM | Football
This story appears in the Texas State edition of GAMEDAY Troy's official football gameday program
He has become the face of Troy football, plastered on signs and posters. He is a charming and charismatic leader of the team. In four years, we have seen a lot of highlights from Emanuel Thompson. But the senior wide receiver got much more than just an outstanding football career from Troy.Â
On Saturday, November 7, 2015 Troy defeated ULM 51-14 on Military Appreciation Day. In the stands that day was Kiara Miles, visiting Troy with her base from Fort Rucker. It didn't take long for Kiara Miles to become Kiara Thompson.Â
"She asked someone about me and ended up adding me on Snapchat," Thompson recalled. "We were friends on Snapchat for a few weeks, and then one day we were getting ready to go play Georgia State. She was dressed up for the first time that I saw because usually she was in her military uniform. She had on a black blazer with a cardinal shirt. I was pretty much wearing the same thing. So I broke the ice talking about how we were matching, and we just hit it off from there."Â
Emanuel and Kiara got married over the summer. And even though football season is winding down, the couple has an exciting future ahead- a baby. ET III will be here in April.Â
"It's an amazing feeling, Thompson said. "I have five brothers so I prayed for a son. She thought it was a girl and I said, 'no way, it's a boy.' When we did the gender reveal it was exciting to find out that it was a boy. It was a great moment and a complete blessing."
Anyone who knows Thompson, knows he is a natural leader. His energy on the sidelines and in the locker room is contagious. He is always ready to lift up his teammates in times of need.Â
Thompson knows the feeling of needing to be lifted up by his teammates. Last year, he suffered an off-season knee injury that held him back in fall camp. But he continued to work hard and push-forward. And when the time came, his patience and persistence paid off and he was explosive. Thompson led the Sun Belt with 80 receptions last season and was named All-Sun Belt First Team. He even played in the Dollar General Bowl with a broken arm. Nothing was going to stop him from being great.Â
"It was tough, I just wanted to be on the field with the rest of the guys, but the coaches and trainers did a great job getting me ready and limiting my reps. So when it came game time, I was fresh enough to play."
The Clayton, Ala., native enjoys being a part of such a successful program that is also so close to home. Seeing his family in the stands at all of his games and at the front of Trojan Walk every week pushes Thompson to play will everything he has.Â
"My parents are just 40 minutes away, so they always come see me play. We have a lot of guys that live far away, and for me, it's just nice to go home whenever I want because some guys don't get that opportunity. Playing for an elite program so close to home is super beneficial. The support of my family and friends back home means the world to me."Â
As a senior, Thompson will step out onto Larry Blakeney Field for the last time in a Trojan uniform today, but that's just the beginning. The relationships he has built on and off the field will last a lifetime.Â
"The thing I want to take way from all of this is the coach and player relationship. We are family. Same with all the guys on the team. I am close with all of those guys from one to 130."Â
 "My goal when I came here was to win a conference championship, and that is still the goal. But no matter what happens on the field, I have a lot of bright things to look forward to. Those things motivate me to go out every day and give it my all on the field. I approach every game as a championship game and give it my all."
He has become the face of Troy football, plastered on signs and posters. He is a charming and charismatic leader of the team. In four years, we have seen a lot of highlights from Emanuel Thompson. But the senior wide receiver got much more than just an outstanding football career from Troy.Â
On Saturday, November 7, 2015 Troy defeated ULM 51-14 on Military Appreciation Day. In the stands that day was Kiara Miles, visiting Troy with her base from Fort Rucker. It didn't take long for Kiara Miles to become Kiara Thompson.Â
"She asked someone about me and ended up adding me on Snapchat," Thompson recalled. "We were friends on Snapchat for a few weeks, and then one day we were getting ready to go play Georgia State. She was dressed up for the first time that I saw because usually she was in her military uniform. She had on a black blazer with a cardinal shirt. I was pretty much wearing the same thing. So I broke the ice talking about how we were matching, and we just hit it off from there."Â
Emanuel and Kiara got married over the summer. And even though football season is winding down, the couple has an exciting future ahead- a baby. ET III will be here in April.Â
"It's an amazing feeling, Thompson said. "I have five brothers so I prayed for a son. She thought it was a girl and I said, 'no way, it's a boy.' When we did the gender reveal it was exciting to find out that it was a boy. It was a great moment and a complete blessing."
Anyone who knows Thompson, knows he is a natural leader. His energy on the sidelines and in the locker room is contagious. He is always ready to lift up his teammates in times of need.Â
Thompson knows the feeling of needing to be lifted up by his teammates. Last year, he suffered an off-season knee injury that held him back in fall camp. But he continued to work hard and push-forward. And when the time came, his patience and persistence paid off and he was explosive. Thompson led the Sun Belt with 80 receptions last season and was named All-Sun Belt First Team. He even played in the Dollar General Bowl with a broken arm. Nothing was going to stop him from being great.Â
"It was tough, I just wanted to be on the field with the rest of the guys, but the coaches and trainers did a great job getting me ready and limiting my reps. So when it came game time, I was fresh enough to play."
The Clayton, Ala., native enjoys being a part of such a successful program that is also so close to home. Seeing his family in the stands at all of his games and at the front of Trojan Walk every week pushes Thompson to play will everything he has.Â
"My parents are just 40 minutes away, so they always come see me play. We have a lot of guys that live far away, and for me, it's just nice to go home whenever I want because some guys don't get that opportunity. Playing for an elite program so close to home is super beneficial. The support of my family and friends back home means the world to me."Â
As a senior, Thompson will step out onto Larry Blakeney Field for the last time in a Trojan uniform today, but that's just the beginning. The relationships he has built on and off the field will last a lifetime.Â
"The thing I want to take way from all of this is the coach and player relationship. We are family. Same with all the guys on the team. I am close with all of those guys from one to 130."Â
 "My goal when I came here was to win a conference championship, and that is still the goal. But no matter what happens on the field, I have a lot of bright things to look forward to. Those things motivate me to go out every day and give it my all on the field. I approach every game as a championship game and give it my all."
Players Mentioned
WR
/ FootballGoose Crowder - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Donnie Smith - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Gerad Parker - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Gerad Parker - April 16
Thursday, April 16