James Thompson Jr.

James Thompson Jr. grew up playing sports and working at his family’s restaurant in Cincinnati. He attended Roger Bacon High, a Catholic school, where he starred on both the offensive and defensive lines and earned all-state honors as a senior in 2019. A three-star recruit, Thompson started to receive then-Power 5 offers during his senior year, including from Wisconsin (recruited by Jim Leonhard). He signed with the Badgers and gradually became a starter, but his senior season was wiped out because of a torn left pec in 2024. He was granted an extra year of eligibility and jumped into the portal. He considered Oklahoma, Stanford, Texas A&M and others before signing with Illinois. Thompson has done a nice job of filling out his frame, although he doesn’t have the length one would expect for his height. He tends to pop upright at the snap and doesn’t have the sand in his lower half to compensate. His stiff core also inhibits him against double teams. However, he does have the lateral quickness and hand violence to work around roadblocks or push the pocket. The next step in his development will be to key blocks quicker and react accordingly. The character feedback, from both Wisconsin and Illinois, is positive — he’s received compliments for his “smiling, optimistic nature” and “dedication to the weight room.” Overall, Thompson is more of a splash player than a consistent presence, but he has the tools for disruptive flashes, which will help his pro chances.