Last August, junior college transfer Mark Thompson brazenly predicted he would already have 1,000 yards rushing by the time the Florida Gators reached their open date on the week of Oct. 22.

And how did that work out?

Well, let’s see, he fell only 738 yards short. Yes, short.

And things only went south from there. He lost playing time and carries due to ball security issues, was suspended from the Georgia game for a violation of team rules and basically disappeared over the final five games of the regular season, rushing for only 37 yards on nine carries.

All in all, it was a lousy fall for Thompson.

The good news is he ended his first season on a positive note — that breathtaking 85-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in the Outback Bowl where he broke half a dozen tackles and then outran the Iowa secondary.

The even better news is that last year’s overall experience seems to have humbled and matured Thompson.

“I would say last year did motivate me and humble me,” he said. “I made some predictions, I said some things. I was saying a lot before even stepping on the field. Yes, it humbled me a lot. And this year I’m just looking forward to my progress from year one to year two and I will have a lot of focus.”

UF coach Jim McElwain has noticed the change in Thompson. He said Monday that he’s happy with the spring Thompson is having, noting that “he’s taken some maturity steps.”

A good way to measure those steps is Thompson’s prediction for this season, which he made after Monday’s practice.

“Hey, just get on the field, make some film for the NFL guys to look at and get some stock to my name,” he said. “I’m headed in the right direction. I’m not heading backward, I’m not taking any steps back. I’m very, very ready to see what’s in store for me these next few months.”

Thompson came across as a “me” guy with his prediction last August. His tough season in 2016 seems to have knocked that out of him.

“I had some hiccups learning, not only football, but things off the field as well,” he said. “I could have had a way better first year in all aspects of being at the University of Florida. But, you make the biggest transition from year one to year two, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Thompson said the low point last season was being suspended from the Georgia game after being cited for possession of marijuana the Thursday before the game.

“Definitely, missing that Georgia game. It hurt,” he said. “Growing up, that was the main game. I was always like, ‘Florida-Georgia, I got to watch this’. So not being able to play in that game really hurt, and it really made me realize, ‘Hey, I’m not doing the right thing, let me step back and really re-evaluate everything I’m doing, and stay on the right track’.”

Thompson seems to be executing that game plan — on the field and off.

He’s in excellent shape -- bigger and stronger and even a little bit quicker carrying 245 pounds of power.

“Right now, I’m at 240, 245 and it feels good on me,” he said. “I’m moving fine. I’ve been getting acclimated with my new weight.”

On the field, Thompson is focusing on ball security, a problem that led to a lot of bench time in the second half of the season.

“Obviously, no one is going to stay on the field if they’re not holding onto the ball,” he said. “That’s the No. 1 cardinal rule of offense. I’m working on my pad level to stay low. Don’t even give defenders a chance to get the ball.”

Off the field, Thompson is following a simple mantra: do the right thing.

“Just positive vibes, positive things all around me and doing the right thing at all times,” he said. “Just a lot to work on. I can look back on my mistakes and don’t even put myself in the same situations anymore, just do the right thing at all times.”

Thompson still comes across as a confident player. But that arrogant edge he had last August seems to be gone, replaced by a much more humble persona.

A tough season like he went through can do that.

“Adversity is a part of life, no matter what you’re doing,” Thompson said. “And perseverance is, in my opinion, the key to life. You’re always going to come across speed bumps, struggles. Things that you have to get past on your journey, whatever you’re trying to do. So I look at it as a speed bump, a learning experience and mistakes that can’t be repeated.”

He said those speed bumps are behind him now and he’s ready for his Florida career to take off in season two.

The way he ended season one — with that electrifying 85-yard TD in the Outback Bowl — is a positive start.

“It not only shows my coaches and teammates that I’m really focused and really wanting to do my best, but it showed a lot of doubters and non-believers that I care what they think,” Thompson said. “Anyone who has a negative opinion about me, I hope that that kind of said ‘OK, this guy is the same guy we thought he was.’ ”

Contact Robbie Andreu at 352-374-5022 or robbie.andreu@gvillesun.com. Also check out Andreu's blog at Gatorsports.com.