STATESBORO, GA -- Josh Thompson played on Statesboro's unbeaten state championship football team in 2001... and three years later played on Auburn's unbeaten (13-0) team.

Now he's taking his skills to the next level... going to the St. Louis Rams mini-camp as an undrafted player... just hoping to get a shot at the NFL. "It's something you dream about growing up through football," said Thompson. "I dreamed about it in high school and when I got to college that was one of my main goals was to further my success in football. It's a great opportunity and hopefully I can go up there and make the best of it."

At 6-feet and 305 pounds... Thompson is a little on the short side for most NFL teams. He hopes to get a shot to make an impression on the rams the way he did on opponents when the played at Statesboro high and Auburn. "I've got a really good spot up there, they have only 4 D-tackles up there right now on the roster. Hopefully they'll want to add a 5th or get rid of one, but we'll see. It's a good chance, a good opportunity. It could be make-or-break anytime, but right now I think I'm in a good spot."

The mini camp is mostly a learning process for the new players... but Thompson hopes to make the most of it. "I talked with my other D-tackle who played at Auburn with me, Pat Sims, and he just went through a mini-camp and he said it was 5 practices in 3 days. They just went at it and watched a lot of films, so I'm expecting to go out there and get after it and hopefully learn a little bit and show off a little bit."

Right now... he is just trying to stay in shape for the grind of the next few months that will determine the direction of the rest of his life. "Just running my tail off, really, I'm trying to stay in shape, keep my weight down to around 305, 310, and just trying to work on my skills so when I go up there I won't be behind the older guys that are up there."