Michigan State signs 2024 three-star DB Jaylen Thompson
2024 three-star Murfessboro (Tenn.) Riverdale High School cornerback Jaylen Thompson signed with Michigan State on Wednesday.
The 6-foot, 175-pound Thompson originally committed to the Spartans at the Sound Mind Sound Body Supermax Invitational at Ford Field on December 27, 2022. He committed to Michigan State over offers from Auburn, Georgia, Louisville, Michigan, Ole Miss and Tennessee, among others.
Thompson is the No. 832 player in the 2024 class, the No. 82 cornerback and the No. 25 player from Tennessee, according the On3 Industry Rankings.
Thompson committed to Michigan State’s previous coaching staff and remained solid throughout the Spartans’ coaching search. He doubled-down on his commitment by encouraging high school teammate Keshawn Williams to pledge to the Spartans.
Thompson has a close relationship with Harlon Barnett, Michigan State’s secondary coach and interim head coach last season. Thompson remained high on Michigan State when it hired Jonathan Smith shortly after the 2023 season. Newly-hired secondary coach Blue Adams, who followed Smith to East Lansing, sealed the deal with Thompson during an in-home visit shortly after Adams arrived at Michigan State.
Scouting summary
Thompson has excelled at a few different positions in the secondary, including corner, nickel and safety. He projects as a cornerback for Michigan State but is versatile enough to play multiple secondary positions, similar to current Spartan defensive back Dillon Tatum. Thompson plays particularly well in man-to-man coverage.
Reminds us of
Thompson has a knack for physicality when targeted in passing situations. He’s good with his hands and is fluid in his movement. He has plus speed as well. Class of 2023 prospect Carl Williams IV was a similar type of prospect coming out of high school in Baton Rouge, La. He committed to Baylor out of high school.
Williams was the No. 580 prospect, No. 58 cornerback and No. 23 player from Louisiana, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. Williams is listed at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds. He was productive in pass coverage during his true freshman season at Baylor this fall.
Personal life
Thompson burst onto the scene early in his high school career. He had a big summer on the camp circuit following his freshman season. Thompson received offers from the like of Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee that summer, which solidified him as one of the top players in the state. He visited Michigan State multiple times throughout his high school career. His mom, dad and younger sister were all on his official visit to Michigan State the weekend of Dec. 15.
