It’s been a busy time for Dylan Thompson.
The 2014 Illinois defensive end picked up his first offer a couple of weeks ago and has added two more BCS offers since. On Tuesday night, the 6-foot-5, 270-pounder from Montini Catholic High School (Lombard, Ill.) spoke with Notre Dame assistant Chuck Martin.
“They’re very interested,” Thompson said of the Irish. “I’m going down for a visit the weekend of April 6th. They want me as a defensive end. They like how I play, very explosive. They want me to talk to the defensive line coach, the defensive coordinator and Coach Kelly. I’m very excited.”
Martin told Thompson that Notre Dame is interested in him at strong side defensive end or Cat linebacker. And Thompson is certainly interested in Notre Dame.
“It’s a great academic school and I know if I went there, I’d walk out with one of the best educations I could possibly get,” Thompson said.
Martin has known Montini Catholic head coach Chris Andriano for two decades and asked Adriano to have Thompson give him a call Tuesday.
“He didn’t say anything about an offer,” Thompson said of Martin. “I don’t know, maybe they’re going to surprise or something, but I’m not sure.”
Thompson already has three offers, from Illinois, Indiana and most recently, Ohio State.
“Walking into Illinois, I didn’t think I was going to get an offer,” said Thompson. “Coming out of it, I was so shocked. The first thing I said was, ‘I’m going to college.’ I thought nothing of football, all I thought about was education. The next day Indiana offered, again it was awesome.
“But then having Ohio State offer a week later and picking up three offers in a month, it was awesome.”
In addition to his upcoming visit to South Bend, Thompson has a pair of other trips scheduled.
“Right now, we’re planning on visiting Ohio State the weekend of March 22nd and we’re talking about Michigan State on March 2nd,”said Thompson.
In addition to Notre Dame and Michigan State, Thompson is also receiving interest from schools like Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Arkansas and Alabama among others.
Thompson said his frame is the first thing that stands out to college scouts.
“I’m one of the biggest kids on my team,” he said. “They all say I have a good motor. They like how I play, they like my intensity and they like how my pass rush is relentless.”
Thompson said he’s been clocked at 4.8 in the 40-yard dash.
He’s looking for a program that will develop him on and off the field.
“Obviously I want a school that is going to be good for me,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to go to the pros, but if that’s not happening, it’s going to be a school that can help me for the rest of my life.”
He doesn’t have a timeline for an ultimate decision.
“Right now, I don’t even have a top five. Maybe before the season, if not, I’m not really sure. I’m going to have to evaluate everything and see what I like.”
