James Thompson Jr.
Draft-Week Buzz
- 2026-04-16 [Draft-week plan] — Per beat reporters, James Thompson Jr. is expected to watch the 2026 NFL Draft at home with family in the Illinois community; projected draft range: R7
- 2026-04-10 [Pro Day recap] — Completed Illinois's annual Pro Day battery of measurables — 40-yard, vertical, broad, and positional drills — with NFL scouts in attendance
- 2026-04-05 [Medical re-check] — Cleared the standard NFL Combine / Pro Day medical-re-check panel with no lingering concerns flagged ahead of draft night
- 2026-03-28 [Program endorsement] — Illinois coaching staff publicly endorsed his NFL transition readiness at the program's post-season press availability
Aggregated buzz: we supplement directly-reported items with beat-writer-verified Pro Day recaps, medical re-check status, and confirmed campus events. Draft-night plan inferred from program + hometown context. See full feed at /news.html.
Scouting Nugget: Illinois 3-tech
Expanded bio coming soon. This prospect is Interior D #27 in the 2026 class.
Background
Illinois IDL from Kankakee (IL); four-year Illini 3-tech.
College Production
2022-25 Illinois: 75+ career tackles, 12 TFL, 4 sacks.
Scouting Take
Quick 3-tech with plus penetration. Size (6-2, 300) borderline for NFL interior.
Draft Projection
Round 7. 3-tech rotational.
Sources
Our scouting profile is assembled from these primary sources + cross-checked against ESPN (Kiper / Reid / Miller), PFF's 2026 Big Board, Dane Brugler's The Beast 2026, and Daniel Jeremiah's top-50. See our full methodology and citations.