"We evaluate our players on a case by case basis" said Patriots head Coach
Bill Belichick. Wideout
Kenbrell Thompkins must've had a very thorough look through especially with his past that started in his hometown of Liberty City, Florida. Thompkins
had spent more time on the street than he did at Northwestern High which is one of the elite Florida High School football programs. Kenbrell's hometown was home to the highest violent crime rate in the country's poorest metropolis (Miami). Northwestern High and its football program were duly noted in a 2004 documentary, Year of the Bull, which illustrates the unthinkable reality of high school football in the 'hood'. Kenbrell did nothing but but achieve trouble in Liberty City, FL where he was arrested not once, not twice but seven times from the ages of 15-18. He was charged with misdemeanors, loitering, cocaine possession and even armed robbery. In the case of cocaine possession he was given two years probation. For robbery he was lucky and was acquitted due to the victims being uncooperative in the case. Kenbrell was a stud athlete at Northwestern but never garnered any real attention.
Thompkins was finally noticed by a junior college coach and was shipped out to El Camino College in Los Angeles, California. At El Camino he worked the program up along with his Quarterback Matt Simms (son of NFL Quarterback and broadcaster Phil Simms) to two 10+ win seasons and was offered to play at Tennessee by current USC coach, Lane Kiffin. In fact both Simms and Thompkins were offered at Tennessee but when Kiffin left before the season started up Thompkins committed to Cincinatti where he was Mr. Reliable. Thompkins landed in Cincinnati and played for 2 seasons and during those two seasons he recorded 78 catches for 1,077 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Thompkins, a undrafted free agent is considered to get playing time this year especially when Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston saw Thompkins taking first team snaps with Michael Jenkins and Danny Amendola in mini camp.
Rookie free-agent WR Kenbrell Thompkins continues to get reps alongside Amendola and Jenkins in top group.
