2018 Prospect Preview: Trenton Thompson is arguably the best interior defender in the SEC

ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 19: Anthony Jennings #11 of the Lousiana-Lafayette Rajin' Cajuns is pursued by Trenton Thompson #78 of the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

  • Georgia DT Trenton Thompson enters the 2017 college season as possibly the best interior defender from the SEC that could enter the 2018 NFL draft. A strong sophomore campaign last year has earned Thompson a Day 2 PFF draft projection, but another strong year could see him selected in the first round.
  • Thompson was one of the best at stopping the run last season among interior defenders; with a run stop percentage 12.3 he ranks fifth in the draft class and No. 1 in the SEC (a stop is a tackle which constituted a “win” for the defense).
  • Thompson had the second-lowest percentage of negatively-graded plays against the run and the fourth-highest percentage of positively-graded plays against the run in the draft class in 2016.
  • He needs to improve his ability to disrupt the passer, as his pass rush productivity (PRP) of just 6.7 ranks 36th in the class (PRP measures pressure created on a per snap basis with weighting towards sacks). In Thompson’s career he has only tallied get five sacks, two hits and 19 hurries on 364 rushes.

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