By Matt Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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Trenton Thompson, the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2015, loves the Georgia Bulldogs.

Being considered the top overall prospect in the country is, in many respects, not nearly as glamorous as it may initially appear.

While the widespread recognition gained by becoming the best prep football player in the nation is certainly gratifying, the sudden hype created by an influx of media attention and the irrational behavior of college football fanatics hoping to somehow convince you to attend their favorite institution can understandably be overwhelming.

The player in the class of 2015 currently carrying the distinct honor and burden of being the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation is defensive tackle Trenton Thompson out of Westover High School in Albany, Georgia.

Possessing elite quickness and athleticism at six-foot-three, 290 pounds, Thompson has been offered by almost every major program across the country.

At the same time he has been staying in frequent contact with college coaches, he has also been simultaneously inundated with media requests and a swarm of social media messages from fans and detractors alike.

But even with all of the hoopla that comes with the territory, Thompson seems to be enjoying his time at the top of the rankings for his class.

“Yeah, it’s a lot,” Thompson commented on the Southern Pigskin Radio Network when asked about the pressure that comes along with being the nation’s top prospect. “No. 1 means you’re doing big things, and No. 1 also means you’ll have a real good start when you get into college. I like being No. 1. I mean, I’ve still got to push myself every day in the weight room and do my drills, though.”

As he continues to strive to improve his overall game, he is also spending a significant amount of time traveling around to the respective schools on his list in an attempt to make the best decision for his future.

Thompson visited a handful of schools – including Georgia, Tennessee, Florida State and Florida – during this past regular season, and recently made a trip to the Plains to visit the Auburn coaching staff at the school’s Junior Day.

“I went up there this weekend and had a good time with Coach Trey Adams,” remarked Thompson. “Coach Garner is a great coach. I like him a lot; he has a great personality and everything. I like going up there. I have a great time every time I go.”

His recent trip to the Tigers’ Junior Day makes it five unofficial visits to Auburn for Thompson in the past year, the most of any school.

Of course, the frequency of Thompson’s visits to Auburn is partly due to the fact that the campus is less than two-and-a-half hours away from his house, making it a very easy trip for his family.

In fact, although Auburn is still a legitimate contender to ultimately land his services, Thompson has officially gone on record stating that another school is his current favorite. 

Thompson lists the in-state Georgia Bulldogs as his top school as he prepares to enter his final season at the high school level, and it appears that his positive vibes about the program stem from the close proximity to his home, as well as the amount of love being shown to him by the coaching staff.

“I really like Coach Mark Richt, Coach Bobo and Coach Rocker,” Thompson said of what he likes about Georgia. “They were the first school that offered to me, the first school I visited and the first school to show me and my people a lot of love.”

For a program whose fan base has frequently complained about its ability to recruit in-state prospects, the possibility of landing a Georgia prospect who is considered to be the best player in the nation certainly is exciting.

Georgia has already landed a verbal commitment from five-star wide receiver Terry Godwin out of Hogansville, meaning that a commitment from Thompson would give the Bulldogs two in-state five-star prospects for the 2015 class.

Thompson does not appear to be in any real rush to make his college decision, but at this point, it appears that any school outside of Georgia will have to really make an extreme impression to keep him from ultimately donning the red and black.