YORK TWP. — Trevor Thome is a man of his word.
Trevor Thome
Shortly after completing his record-breaking football career at Buckeye, Thome declared publically he wasn’t seriously considering anyone but defending Division III national champion Mount Union.
The reigning Gazette MVP worked out the details with the small-school superpower in the meantime, and everything culminated with his commitment this week.
“It felt like home there,” the 5-foot-8, 180-pound future slot receiver said. “Every since my sophomore year, I really liked it there. When they started recruiting me a little bit, I had a feeling if things worked out on their part, that was where I was going to end up.”
The Purple Raiders need no introduction with 12 national titles, 24 consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference championships and an active 103-game regular-season winning streak.
Thome also visited Baldwin Wallace, Ashland, Otterbein and Alderson-Broaddus (W. Va.), but those schools couldn’t match Mount Union’s tradition or academic scholarship package that will cover $15,000 of the $28,000 annual tuition. Thome’s 4.1 grade-point average and 27 ACT score obviously helped.
Illustrating the Purple Raiders’ interest in Thome, wide receivers coach Daryl Ely attended multiple Buckeye games last fall.
“It’s pretty neat location, and I think Alliance is really nice,” said Thome, who will major in either mechanical engineering or mathematics.
Thome was the leader of a Bucks team that went 10-0 and qualified for the D-III, Region 7 playoffs last fall. The four-year starter was everywhere, compiling 978 yards rushing, 444 yards receiving and scoring a Medina County-leading 176 points. He also was a standout free safety and finished fourth in area history with 336 career points.
Thome is thrilled to know he’ll be playing for another winning program.
“It’s exciting, I think,” he said. “It represents a new challenge, and I’m ready for it. I’m ready to work hard and see what the next chapter of my life has in store for me.”