FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.– After sitting for three years behind future NFL safeties like Eddie Jackson, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison, redshirt junior Deionte Thompson got his chance in 2018.

Undaunted by the prospect of waiting several years to see significant playing time, Thompson’s patience has paid off, as he has become one of the premier players for the top-ranked Crimson Tide.

“I come from a winning background all my life,” Thompson said at Orange Bowl Media Day on Thursday. “There was just something about Alabama that was the place I knew I could compete for championships.”

Thompson’s high school, West Orange-Stark High School in Orange, Texas, won at least three playoff games in each of his four years there. One of its few losses was to Foster High School, the alma mater of Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Lamb, who will lineup against Thompson in Saturday’s national semifinal game, grinned at the mention of his name, calling the First-Team All-SEC safety “a baller” and saying he was not surprised at Thompson’s range when watching film of Alabama’s defense.

Alabama defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi attributes some of Thompson’s skill in coverage to his years playing wide receiver at West-Orange Stark.

“He can see things from the receiver’s offensive perspective,” Lupoi said. “I think that’s allowed him to have some sharp, crisp, clear reads and be able to show up in places where you might not always expect him to be.”

That has been the case all year for opposing quarterbacks, as well as for Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who practices every day against the potential first-round draft pick.

“(Thompson’s) really good at disguising his coverages,” Tagovailoa said, adding that he threw an interception to Thompson in practice last week. “It’s hard to look this man off. He stays true to what he does and he just has an eye for the ball.

“I think it comes from both (film study and discipline), like understanding if this guy goes out, this guy must come in. It comes from a lot of film study.”

Lupoi and defensive backs coach Karl Scott both raved about Thompson’s maturity and coachability. Scott was particularly impressed by Thompson’s accountability during the defense’s early-season communication issues, when he took the blame for struggles that were primarily not his fault.

Thompson is a prime example of the merits of coach Nick Saban’s “Process,” the focus on the daily grind to improve rather than on short-term payoffs like playing time or individual statistics.

As the No. 2-ranked safety in the class of 2015 he could have earned early snaps at many other top-tier schools, but he says waiting his turn was the best choice for his career – and to continue his pursuit of championships.

“Once I got in with the process and started buying in, things started working out for me,” Thompson said. “I didn’t become a starter until my third year here, and I wouldn’t trade it because I was able to grow so much during the time from not being a starter to me being a full-time starter now. I look back on those days and I’m thankful for them.”