Jay Thompson
Position: Defensive Lineman
School: Merrimack
Year: Senior
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 240 lbs
2024 Season Stats: 48 total tackles,11.5 TFL, 9.0 sacks
Pro Day: Holy Cross, March 27th, 2025
Jay Thompson is an underrated Edge Rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft. His combination of speed and his ability to drop back in coverage sticks out. I was able to sit down with Jay as he prepares for the draft. Having played high school ball at Franklin High School, the Baltimore, Maryland native is ready to take his talents to the NFL.
When associated with a player looking to go to the NFL, Versatility is a word that General Managers love to hear. When you look into Merrimack EDGE Jay Thompson's film, it'll show you just how versatile he can be at 6'2", 240 lbs. Not only is Thompson durable, having three straight seasons with 11 games played, but he was also effective for the Merrimack Warriors. He would record 48 total tackles in his Senior year this past season and 11.5 tackles for loss. In addition to those totals, Thompson would add an impressive nine sacks and force two fumbles to recover one himself.
When I asked Thompson about what Merrimack has taught him and how it has shaped his football journey, he told me: "Being at Merrimack has shown me when you love the process of becoming a better football player, the sport itself will love you back. And that just means putting in work when nobody is looking & understanding that you can't cheat the process because you will be exposed if you do. It has also shown me to never do "football math." That means preparing for every opponent the same way and not judging them based on their previous performances." Thompson understands what it will take to get him to be a professional athlete, and he has already started to install those tendencies into his daily routine to set himself apart as much as possible ahead of the NFL Draft.
The hard work, both on and off the field, is something that Thompson takes pride in, just like the community he was raised in. When Thompson asked about who had had the biggest impact on his career, his answer was simple. "The community I was raised in. I think it's unfair to say one person specifically impacted my career the most when all the roles played thus far all have the same positive and monumental impact."
When asked what his game is like in terms of one NFL player, Thompson gave me an interesting answer: "Haason Reddick." He described their game as similar due to the versatility of being able to play linebacker, edge, drop into coverage, and blitz all in one player. This proved true when I looked back through Thompson's film, as he really does everything. As to why NFL General Managers should take a shot on Thompson, he would respond, "I'm a student of the game. Everyday I'm working towards becoming a better man first then immediately after a even better football player. Coming from a small school I know what it means to work in the dark to display it in the light."
Thompson will be training up until his Pro Day at Holy Cross College on March 27th, 2025.
Main Image via Merrimack Athletics
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