James Thompson Jr., IDL, Wisconsin
Size:
Height: 6’5” | Weight: 290 lbs
Accomplishments:
Three-star recruit
“James Thompson Jr. is an alignment-versatile defensive prospect who offers great strength, motor, and wingspan to push the pocket in the face of the quarterback and improve the team’s run defense.”
Strengths:
High-motor defender
Alignment-versatile
Brute strength
Plus-level run defender
Concerns:
Rotational hip flexibility
Lack of explosiveness
Late hands at point of attack
Film Analysis:
James Thompson Jr. played just one snap in 2020 after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury before bouncing back and playing 39 games over the next three seasons for the Badgers. Under former DC Jim Leonard and current DC Mike Tressel, Thompson aligns in multiple positions across the Badgers’ defensive front—1-tech, 2i, 3-tech, and 5-tech. He wins with great wingspan and power at the point of attack. He is a strong force against the run and will collapse the interior pocket of the opposing QB.
Thompson has the impressive upper-body strength to stack and separate himself from blockers in the run game. Combined with his great wingspan, he holds up well at the point of attack without giving up much ground. Thompson’s power drives blockers off the ball and resets the line of scrimmage. He deconstructs blocks well by reducing surface area and efficiently knocks down/away the blocker's hands to prevent them from latching. He plays with good physicality and lower body strength to anchor down versus the run, creating difficult lanes to run through. Thompson is a high-effort/motor defender who keeps his legs driving to stay engaged and within range of the football. He possesses the contact balance to ping pong off duo blocks without losing the contain of his gap.
Thompson is an above-average pass rusher. He has a strong understanding of leverage and how to use it against his opponents. An adequate first step allows him to operate quickly in tight quarters to generate a surge into the backfield. Thompson’s heavy-handed punches shock opponents and open a clearer path to the quarterback. His pass-rush maneuvers revolve around power—push/pull technique and bull rushes.
Concerns for Thompson’s profile begin with lacking explosive athleticism. He does have an adequate first step, but will not threaten or strike fear into IOL. Thompson’s hands are packed with good power and placed well, but timing must improve. His punches and strikes tend to be late, creating less effective and more difficult reps. Better-timed strikes will increase his ability to collapse the pocket in the face of the QB. Thompson lacks fluid hips and great lateral agility to bend around the OL and become a productive edge presence. Adding more hand counters to throw at blockers after his first move has been stalled is a must.
Thompson projects as a starting versatile defensive lineman in a 3-4/odd-front defense. He will help bring strength and physicality to a run defense with an adequate pass-rush package. Whether at 1, 2i, 3, or 5-technique, Thompson will make his presence felt.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: LSU (2023), Washington State (2023), Nebraska (2023), Minnesota (2023)