A run-stuffing defensive tackle who battled back from multiple injuries at Wisconsin before a productive final season at Illinois earned him a shot with San Francisco.
James Thompson Jr. spent five years in Madison working through a string of injuries before transferring to Illinois for a healthy, productive senior season. Built at 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds, he profiles as an interior run-stopper, and the 49ers signed him as an undrafted free agent to compete for a depth role on the defensive line.
Path to the league
Thompson was a three-star recruit out of Roger Bacon High School in St. Bernard, Ohio, rated among the top defensive ends in the class of 2020. He spent five seasons at Wisconsin, interrupted by an Achilles injury as a freshman and a pectoral injury in 2024, before transferring to Illinois for his final year of eligibility. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed with the San Francisco 49ers on April 26, 2026.
Career highlights
Across his college career, Thompson totaled 99 tackles and seven sacks, building steadily as he stayed healthy in 2022 and 2023 at Wisconsin with a combined 55 tackles and five sacks over those two seasons. His length and effort against the run made him a reliable rotational piece whenever he was on the field.
2025 season recap
In his only season at Illinois, Thompson started on the defensive line and recorded 41 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass defensed, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention. That performance was enough to land him a rookie free-agent deal with San Francisco after going unselected in the draft.
Sources
- Wikipedia: James Thompson Jr.
- ESPN: James Thompson Jr.
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- Illinois
- Hometown
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
