Illinois Football 2025 Scouting Report: Defensive Lineman James Thompson Jr.

Illinois on SI is delivering scouting reports for each of the key players on the Illini football team's 2025 roster. Below, we present our breakdown of Illini sophomore defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. We will add more as other on-field contributors emerge during the season. Find our scouting reports of other Illinois players by searching in your favorite browser or clicking in our projected depth chart – coming soon.

James Thompson Jr. | Defensive lineman | Senior | No. 90

Hometown: Cincinnati, OhioHigh school: Roger BaconTransfer school: WisconsinHeight: 6-foot-6Weight: 310 pounds

Scouting report

The hulking Thompson is pure power – or, at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds (and possibly now 320), he certainly seems it. But he also plays with quality technique at the line. He has the size, base and leverage to tie up multiple blockers, drive linemen backwards and clog run lanes, but he also knows how to use his hands to turn his man, get an angle and create penetration. And he won't stay blocked. At Wisconsin, he made a number of tackles after containing, coming off and dropping a ball carrier from behind.

Thompson lacks the explosive burst and speed around the corner of a prototype 4-3 defensive end, but his bull rush is effective, and he can shed blocks and close on the quarterback over short distances. With his length, he's also a legitimate problem to see around and throw over if you're a passer. Aaron Henry will almost certainly move him around some and, just as the Badgers did, slide Thompson inside to rush up the middle on certain passing downs.

Experience

Thompson built himself up in Madison and had two strong years – his redshirt sophomore and redshirt junior seasons – blowing up Big Ten running games and occasionally pressing the pocket on Badgers opponents. His numbers, like those for many quality defensive linemen in three-man fronts, don't reflect his impact on games even in those peak years.

In 2024, Thompson suffered a torn pectoral muscle and missed all but one game of the season. (He required surgery but has reportedly made a full recovery and was a full participant in preseason practices.) Thompson was one of three defensive players to transfer from Wisconsin to Illinois in the offseason, and that shared experience could help the Illini defense – which is breaking in roughly half a dozen expected contributors who arrived from the portal in the offseason – begin to click that much sooner.

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