PFF's enterprise business has joined Teamworks.Learn More The consumer business remains independent, continuing to power your winning decisions through PFF.com and PFF+.

James 
Thompson Jr.

DI
#90
|
ILL Fighting Illini
6'6"
310lbs
Sr.
Draft Eligibility:
2026
Overall Grade '25
74.7
131st/887 - DIs
Snap Count '25
376
421st/2280 - DIs
Pressures '25
13
258th/887 - DIs
CC WK MATCHUP
-
James
Thompson Jr.
DI
#90
|
ILL Fighting Illini
BIO
GRADES
SEASON STATS
Mock Draft Simulator

Summary Bio

Last updated: 4/3/2026
James Thompson Jr. is an interior defensive lineman for the Illinois Fighting Illini who earned a 74.7 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 131st among 887 qualified interior defensive linemans. His PFF pass-rush grade of 63.1 ranked 331st among 887 qualified interior defensive linemans. His run-defense grade of 79.4 ranked 96th at the position.
He generated 13 total pressures as a pass rusher. That total included 1 sacks, 10 hurries, 2 hits. Against the run, he recorded 28 solo tackles.

Career

Teams
Year
Illinois Fighting Illini
2025 - Present
Wisconsin Badgers
2020 - 2024

PFF Grades

2025
Regular
Players receive a ranking if they qualify 25% of the maximum targets, run attempts or dropbacks at the position (depending on the metric).
OVERALL GRADE
74.7
AVG
131st/887 DIs
PASS RUSH GRADE
63.1
AVG
331st/887 DIs
RUN DEFENSE GRADE
79.4
AVG
96th/887 DIs

Highest Graded Games

@WAST
80.3
Week 2, 2023
vsGASO
78.8
Week 3, 2023
@NCDU
78.1
Week 2, 2025

Lowest Graded Games

@ILUN
46.3
Week 8, 2023
@INUN
46.9
Week 10, 2023
vsILNW
49.8
Week 11, 2023

Grades by Game

View in Premium Stats
Premium Stats

Season Stats

2025
Regular
Players receive a ranking if they qualify 25% of the maximum targets, run attempts or dropbacks at the position (depending on the metric).
SOLO TACKLES
28
46th/887 DIs
SACKS
1
370th/887 DIs
ASSISTS
7
344th/887 DIs
FORCED FUMBLES
0
141st/887 DIs

Defense

View in Premium Stats
Rank
46
th
Solo Tackles
28
344
th
Assists
7
141
st
Forced Fumbles
0
109
th
Stops
19
370
th
Sacks
1
218
th
Hurries
10
192
nd
Hits
2
258
th
Total Pressures
13
108
th
Batted Passes
1

Snaps

View in Premium Stats
Rank
421
st
Total Snaps
376
544
th
Run Defense Snaps
159
323
rd
Pass Rush Snaps
215