# James Thompson Jr. > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_Thompson_Jr. > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_Thompson_Jr..md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Thompson_Jr. > Source revision: 1356824212 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **James Thompson Jr.** (born August 29, 2002)[1] is an [American football](/source/American_football) [defensive tackle](/source/Defensive_tackle) for the [San Francisco 49ers](/source/San_Francisco_49ers) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). He played [college football](/source/College_football) for [Wisconsin Badgers](/source/Wisconsin_Badgers_football) and [Illinois Fighting Illini](/source/Illinois_Fighting_Illini_football). ## Early life Thompson Jr. attended [Roger Bacon High School](/source/Roger_Bacon_High_School) in [St. Bernard, Ohio](/source/St._Bernard,_Ohio). He was rated as a three-star recruit and the 64th overall defensive end in the class of 2020 and committed to play [college football](/source/College_football) for the [Wisconsin Badgers](/source/Wisconsin_Badgers_football).[2] ## College career ### Wisconsin As a [freshman](/source/Freshman) in 2020, Thompson Jr. played in just one game versus [Michigan](/source/2020_Michigan_Wolverines_football_team) before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury.[3] In 2021, he played in all 13 games, recording seven tackles.[4] During the 2022 season, Thompson Jr. recorded 26 tackles with six and a half going for a loss and two sacks.[5] In the 2023 season, Thompson Jr. totaled 29 tackles with five and a half being for a loss and three sacks.[6] During the 2024 season, he played in just one game due to a pectoral injury.[7] After the season, Thompson Jr. entered the NCAA transfer portal.[8] ### Illinois Thompson Jr. transferred to play for the [Illinois Fighting Illini](/source/Illinois_Fighting_Illini_football).[9] He entered the 2025 season as a starter on the Fighting Illini defensive line.[10] ## Professional career Thompson Jr. signed with the [San Francisco 49ers](/source/San_Francisco_49ers) as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2026.[11][12] ## References 1. ["James Thompson Jr."](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/55369/). *Ourlads*. Retrieved May 29, 2026. 1. Temple, Jesse (10 April 2020). ["Why Wisconsin thinks it has an underrated gem in incoming DE James Thompson Jr."](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1735726/2020/04/10/james-thompson-jr-wisconsin-defensive-end/). *The Athletic*. Retrieved 22 December 2025. 1. Potrykus, Jeff (13 August 2021). ["Wisconsin defensive end James Thompson had a long road back after a season-ending Achilles injury in 2020"](https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2021/08/13/wisconsin-defensive-end-james-thompson-jr-overcame-achilles-injury/8119217002/). *Milwaukee Journal Sentinel*. Retrieved 22 December 2025. 1. Potrykus, Jeff (27 December 2023). ["James Thompson Jr. is ready for Wisconsin's bowl game and eager to lead the defensive line in 2024"](https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2023/12/27/james-thompson-jr-will-be-wisconsin-badgers-most-veteran-defensive-lineman-2024-season/72020182007/). *Milwaukee Journal Sentinel*. Retrieved 22 December 2025. 1. Stewart, Mark (8 August 2023). ["'It’s a new era': End James Thompson hopes to lead way for new-look Wisconsin defense"](https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2023/08/08/wisconsin-end-james-thompson-hopes-to-lead-way-for-new-look-defense/70541784007/). *Milwaukee Journal Sentinel*. Retrieved 22 December 2025. 1. Stewart, Mark (26 August 2024). ["Wisconsin's Luke Fickell confirms injury to DL James Thompson, doubts return this season"](https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2024/08/26/wisconsin-coach-luke-fickell-confirms-injury-to-dl-james-thompson/74938612007/). *Milwaukee Journal Sentinel*. Retrieved 22 December 2025. 1. Stewart, Mark (29 November 2024). ["How the can-do mentality of Wisconsin's James Thompson helped him get back on the field ahead of schedule"](https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2024/11/29/the-return-of-wisconsin-footballs-james-thompson-could-provide-boost/76572753007/). *Milwaukee Journal Sentinel*. Retrieved 22 December 2025. 1. Traux, Barkley. ["Wisconsin DL James Thompson enters NCAA transfer portal"](https://www.on3.com/college/wisconsin-badgers/news/wisconsin-dl-james-thompson-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal/). *On3.com*. Retrieved 22 December 2025. 1. Lagendorf, Jason. ["Illinois Football Lands Highest-Rated Transfer Yet From Wisconsin Defense"](https://www.si.com/college/illinois/football/illinois-football-lands-highest-rated-transfer-wisconsin-defense). *Illinois Fighting Illini on SI*. SI.com. Retrieved 22 December 2025. 1. Richey, Scott. ["Thompson immersing himself in Illinois football, C-U community"](https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/thompson-immersing-himself-in-illinois-football-c-u-community/article_51b32f01-d6bd-4ed8-88bd-7daea55ee242.html). *The News-Gazette*. Retrieved 22 December 2025. 1. ["49ers Agree to Terms with Undrafted Rookie Free Agents"](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-agree-to-terms-with-undrafted-rookie-free-agents). *49ers.com*. April 26, 2026. Retrieved April 26, 2026. 1. ["49ers Sign Six Draft Picks, Seven Undrafted Rookie Free Agents"](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-six-draft-picks-seven-undrafted-rookie-free-agents). *49ers.com*. May 8, 2026. Retrieved May 8, 2026. ## External links - [Wisconsin Badgers bio](https://uwbadgers.com/sports/football/roster/james-thompson-jr-/13051) - [Illinois Fighting Illini bio](https://fightingillini.com/sports/football/roster/james-thompson-jr-/15193) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Thompson Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Thompson_Jr.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Thompson_Jr.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.