Tyson Thompson

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Tyson Thompson
Date of birth	May 21, 1981
Place of birth	Irving, Texas
Position(s)	Running back
College	San Jose State
Statistics	NFL.com
Team(s)
2005-present	Dallas Cowboys

Tyson Thompson (born May 21, 1981) is a running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (American football).

Thompson played high school football at Irving HS in Irving, TX the future location of his professional football debut. Thompson closed his collegiate career playing one season at San Jose State University after playing two years at Garden City Community College. As a junior for the Spartans, he played in all 11 games and had eight starts at running back while also seeing action as a kick returner. His 811 rushing yards led the team and his five touchdowns were third best. At Garden City, he saw limited playing time but still rushed for 1,063 yards on 159 carries and 12 touchdowns. In his final game at the junior college level, he rushed 25 times for 323 yards and three touchdowns against nationally-ranked Glendale College. Tyson is the first player in Dallas Cowboy history to be from Irving, Texas (home of Texas Stadium.)

[edit] Career in professional American football

Thompson was fourth on the Dallas Cowboys running back depth chart at the onset of the 2005 NFL season, behind starter Julius Jones, fellow rookie Marion Barber III, and free agency pickup Anthony Thomas. Thomas was released by the Cowboys during the first week of November, pushing Thompson up to #3 on the depth chart. Head Coach Bill Parcells was committed to getting both Emmet and Tyson reps behind Jones in the first months of the season. Thompson saw the most carries of his young NFL career during the second half of a week 5 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he carried 20 times for 75 yards. Julius Jones was taken out before halftime, suffering a high ankle sprain. Thomspson was named NFL week 5 Rookie of the week.

Though Thompson wasn't given as many carries for the rest of the season, he was put in as the primary kick return specialist, eventually amassing 1,399 yards, averaging 24.5 yards per attempt. This set a Dallas Cowboys record.