Ohio State Graduate Transfer DL Dylan Thompson Visiting Virginia

Virginia football is hosting 6’5”, 280-pound Ohio State graduate transfer defensive lineman Dylan Thompson on an official visit this weekend.

On February 5, Thompson announced via Twitter his decision to leave Ohio State.

Thompson starred on the high school level at Montini Catholic (Lombard, IL), where he racked up 17 sacks his senior year. He earned 4-star accolades by ESPN as a defensive tackle prospect. Rivals, 247Sports, and Scout ranked him as a 3-star defensive end in the class of 2014.

A knee injury during fall camp forced a redshirt in Thompson’s first year at Ohio State. His recovery from this injury continued into his redshirt freshman campaign. Thompson did not play in any games in 2015. ElevenWarriors.com reports that the Illinois native was ruled academically ineligible in 2016 but returned to play two games for the Buckeyes in 2017, although he was not on scholarship during last season. Thompson is credited with three tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, in those two games.

Wherever Thompson ends up, he’ll have one more season of eligibility remaining. As a graduate, he’ll be able to play in 2018.

Virginia is in need of help along the defensive line, which has been hurt badly by attrition. Juwan Moye and Steven Wright, players who would likely have been key contributors at defensive end this coming season, were suspended and ultimately decided to transfer. Once promising defensive end prospect Christian Brooks never saw his Cavalier career get off the ground because of injuries. Concussions have sidelined the former Centreville (Clifton, VA) star permanently. Seldom used end Christian Baumgardner is also off the team after a violation of team rules. Additionally, promising freshman defensive end John Kirven still hadn’t cleared concussion protocol as of February 7, easily over a month after a concussion kept him out of the 2017 Military Bowl.

Starting nose tackle Eli Hanback and defensive end Mandy Alonso, who started games as a true freshman last season, are Virginia’s only D-line returnees with significant playing experience.

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