Former Tennessee defensive back Bryce Thompson will be showing up to an NFL training camp this summer after turning in an impressive season on the XFL field this year.
According to the XFL on Twitter, the former Tennessee Vol and current Seattle Sea Dragons defensive back has received an invitation to the Miami Dolphins camp this summer.
The Miami Dolphins do not currently have any former Tennessee players on their active roster.
🚨 Bryce Thompson from the @XFLSeaDragons invited to @MiamiDolphins camp!#XFL | #LeagueOfOpportunity pic.twitter.com/WcyBYUzjJw
— XFL (@XFL2023) May 9, 2023
Thompson played in all 10 regular-season games for Seattle in the first revitalized year of Dwayne Johnson’s league. The Irmo, South Carolina native finished the season with the third-most solo tackles (21) and the fifth-most total tackles (34) on the Seattle roster.
Thompson also snagged two interceptions on the season including a critical one in the fourth quarter of the season opener against quarterback Jordan Ta’amu and the D.C. Defenders.
The Seattle Sea Dragons ended with a final regular season record of 7-3 but lost to the D.C. Defenders in the semi-finals of the playoffs.
Sea Dragons get the INT then go over to taunt the DC fans who threw lemons at them pic.twitter.com/tZGGzvNbpH
— alex (@highIightheaven) February 20, 2023
More from RTI: A Trio of Former Tennessee Players Set for XFL Championship Game
Bryce Thompson was at Tennessee from 2018 to 2020 but decided to skip his senior season to declare early for the NFL Draft. During his time in Knoxville, Thompson was named a one-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week and a one-time SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Thomspon was also invited to the 2021 NFL Combine before being picked up as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints for one season, on and off.
At the time of this publication, only one other player with Tennessee ties has received an NFL camp invitation, quarterback Quinten Dormady.
Dormady was at Tennessee from 2015 to 2017 but transferred out for the final two seasons of his college career. As announced by the XFL, Dormady received an invitation to work out at the Buffalo Bills’ training camp this summer.
🚨 Quinten Dormady from the @XFLGuardians invited to @BuffaloBills camp!#XFL | #LeagueOfOpportunity pic.twitter.com/klDCrCFJbc
— XFL (@XFL2023) May 9, 2023
The XFL Championship Game is coming up this Saturday, May 13, with three former Tennessee players across the two teams.
On one side are the D.C. Defenders with a pair of Volunteer tight ends in Alex Ellis and Ethan Wolf. On the opposite side, though, are the Arlington Renegades with emerging wide receiver JaVonta Payton. No matter who wins this Saturday, a former Tennessee player is guaranteed to hoist the first trophy of Johnson’s revitalized XFL.
