Trenton Thompson

Michel, as well as Butkus Award winning linebacker Roquan Smith, Thompson entered the 2017 season with as much fanfare as any of the Georgia Bulldogs, who, of course, went on to win the SEC and earn a trip to the national championship game. Defensive tackles simply don't come much more ballyhooed than Thompson, who signed with Georgia as a five star recruit three years ago, ranked among the top three prospects regardless of position by many recruiting experts. Though he did not dominate immediately, Thompson looked the part of a future NFL draft pick as a true freshman, registering 25 tackles (including 2.5 tackles for loss and half a sack) while appearing in just eight games his first season in the SEC. He played in all 13 games as a sophomore and led the Bulldogs' interior defensive linemen with 56 total stops, 9.5 TFLs, 5.0 QB sacks and seven QB pressures despite starting just seven times. Dominating TCU in the Autozone Liberty Bowl with eight tackles (including three sacks) to earn MVP honors to cap his sophomore campaign led to plenty of speculation that Thompson was on the verge of a breakout season. While the Bulldogs' proved to be top dawgs in the SEC in 2017, it was hardly a walk in the park for Thompson, individually. Various health issues limited him from the beginning of the calendar year and his production tailed off considerably. Despite his numbers slipping to 38 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and zero sacks for the first time in his college career, Thompson elected to jump to the NFL early anyway, announcing his intentions via Instagram. He wrote the decision followed "long discussion with my family and coaches," adding that "playing in the NFL has been a lifelong dream of mind and I'm excited to see what the future holds." BACKGROUND Named the 2014 Maxwell Football Club's National High School Player of the Year ...2014 USA Today All-USA Defensive Player of the Year ... selected to represent the East in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl ... 2014 American Family Insurance USA Today ALL-USA First Team Defense ... Parade Magazine All-America Team... PrepStar Magazine five-star prospect, #2 player in the PrepStar Top 300 ... ESPN.com five-star prospect, #3 player nationally, #2 DT nationally, #1 player in the state ... 247Sports.com five-star prospect, #1 player nationally, #1 DT nationally, #1 in the state ... Rivals.com five-star prospect, #7 player nationally, #2 DT nationally, #2 in the state ... Scout.com five-star prospect, #2 overall player nationally, #1 DT nationally, #1 DT in the South ... during his senior season, tallied 84 tackles, including 36 tackles for loss and four sacks, one interception and one forced fumble ...

in our view

The question with Thompson isn't talent. He possesses the quickness, agility and raw power to stick in the NFL for a long time with his production slipping in 2017 more due to medical concerns and Georgia coaches "smartly" showing off their depth by frequently rotating their defensive linemen. In fact, Thompson flashes the ability to dominate. His inconsistent tape and medicals are significant questions, however, which will could lead to polarizing grades and a potential draft day slip.

strengths

Thompson possesses an imposing broad shouldered frame with long arms and a relatively svelte, v-shaped middle (at least among defensive tackles). He shows good coordination between his upper and lower body, incorporating over-arm swim moves with the initial quickness and core flexibility to split and twist through gaps, flashing the ability to penetrate and generate big plays behind the line of scrimmage. Thompson can jolt would-be blockers with an explosive initial punch and possesses long arms to stack and shed. When he keeps his pads low and sprawls, Thompson can effectively anchor, showing the core strength and awareness of ballcarriers to twist away and latch on, dragging them down for tackles near the line. Thompson is alert and active in pursuit, wrenching away from blockers to stalk ballcarries downfield, showing the vision and body control to avoid the trash as well as the straight-line speed which should help him test well... -- Rob Rang 1/29/2018

compares to

Adolphus Washington, Bills - Like the 6-4, 295 pound Washington, Thompson possesses the combination of agility, strength and length to intrigue teams regardless of scheme. Unfortunately, both players come with off-field concerns which could lower their draft stock. Despite these concerns, Washington was selected 80th overall in 2016 and has already emerged as a solid contributor to Buffalo's front, starting 21 games (and recording 54 tackles) over his first two seasons in the NFL.

weaknesses

Thompson possesses a top-heavy frame and, at times, he struggles with balance getting knocked to the turf, including by chipping backs. This is complicated by the fact that Thompson plays too high, too often losing the leverage battle and getting rooted out at the line of scrimmage, struggling against double-teams. Though agile, Thompson broad upper body gives blockers a big target and he struggles to cleanly get through the line, too often getting blocked just enough to miss out on the ball-carrier... Comes with significant medical red flags which will require a close look by doctors at the Combine. Thompson was hospitalized in late February 2017 due to "an adverse reaction to medications prescribed specifically for his medical condition," according to a statement from Georgia's athletic department. This came on the heels of reports that he underwent shoulder surgery in January. Thompson also suffered a knee injury against Vanderbilt in 2017, which sidelined him for two games. - Rob Rang 1/29/2018

Westover, coached by Octavia Jones

named the 2014 Maxwell Football Club’s National High School Player of the Year

selected to represent the East in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl

2014 American Family Insurance USA Today ALL-USA First Team Defense

2014 USA Today All-USA Defensive Player of the Year

Parade Magazine All-America Team

PrepStar Magazine five-star prospect, #2 player in the PrepStar Top 300

ESPN.com five-star prospect, #3 player nationally, #2 DT nationally, #1 player in the state

247Sports.com five-star prospect, #1 player nationally, #1 DT nationally, #1 in the state

Rivals.com five-star prospect, #7 player nationally, #2 DT nationally, #2 in the state

Scout.com five-star prospect, #2 overall player nationally, #1 DT nationally, #1 DT in the South

DawgPost #1 ranked player in Georgia Member of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution 2014 Super 11

2014 Atlanta-Journal Constitution Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year and member of the All-State Class AAAA First Team Defense

during his senior season, tallied 84 tackles, including 36 tackles for loss and four sacks, one interception and one forced fumble

recorded 148 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble his sophomore and junior seasons

helped his team to the Georgia AAAA state playoffs his sophomore, junior and senior years.

TRENTON CHARLES THOMPSON

Major: Fashion Merchandising.

2017

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
3.5	0.0	32.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	17.0

2016

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
9.5	0.0	56.0	0.0	1.0	5.0	24.0