Bryan

Thompson

Thompson (6'2/207) was used as the vertical threat opposite Britain Covey in Utah, catching nine of his 22 targets for 187 yards, 20.8 YPC and a touchdown while earning a 65.1 PFF receiving grade in five games last year. He transferred to ASU earlier this year and has found his playing time rather sparse so far, logging a total of 57 offensive reps in three games while catching two-of-four targets for 12 yards on the year. With ASU set to take on Stanford this Friday, it’s going to be tough for Thompson to play if he still isn’t practicing.

Thompson (6'2/207) was used as the vertical threat opposite Britain Covey in Utah, catching nine of his 22 targets for 187 yards, 20.8 YPC and a touchdown while earning a 65.1 PFF receiving grade in five games last year. His average target depth over the past two seasons was 16.4 yards downfield, with Thompson running 81 percent of his routes out wide as the low-volume field stretcher who received 4.5 targets per game. OC Zak Hill made a comment about Thompson needing to adjust mentally, which is not the kind of coach-speak you want to hear about a player trying to penetrate a talent-laden depth chart. OC Hill also pointed out the offense in general was making mental errors with wide receivers dropping passes and quarterbacks missing on open throws. The Sun Devils welcome Southern Utah to Tempe on Thursday, September 2 for their season opener.

The Sun Devils just got themselves a burner. At 6-foot-2, 207-pounds, Thompson’s best use at Utah was always as a vertical threat. Granted, he did not play too much -- only catching 27 passes over the past two years -- but he dazzled when given chances down the field. Thompson averaged 23 yards per reception at Utah and brought in four touchdowns, three of which were in 2019. Thompson has two years of eligibility to work with.

Thompson, a former four-star recruit, seemed to be coming along nicely in 2019. During that season, Thompson (6'2/200) hauled in 18 passes for a whopping 461 yards and three touchdowns, establishing himself as a monster threat down the field. Alas, he did not really add to that in 2020, catching just nine passes in the shortened season. Thompson is a clearly talented player who will add some big play threat to any team he joins. It’s unclear if Thompson will be eligible to play right away due to transfer rules, but he’s got two seasons of playing time left.

Thompson (6'2/200) has a pair of 100-yard games across his past three outings, giving QB Tyler Huntley a great downfield target. He has just 11 grabs through four games, but he has racked up 28.2 yards per reception. He’ll look to keep up his big-play ability when the Utes travel to Corvallis to take on Oregon State on Oct. 12 after the team’s bye.

Thompson (6'2/200) wasn’t a volume performer in this one, but boy howdy, he made his two catches count. His first scoring grab came from 82 yards out near the end of the first quarter. Nothing special on that one. He simply broke free from his defender sprinting down the middle of the field, with QB Tyler Huntley hitting him with a perfect deep ball for the runaway score. The redshirt sophomore’s second catch (and second touchdown) came on a 23-yard pass in the third quarter. Entering action on Saturday, Thompson had caught two passes for 66 yards. He will look to keep up his yards-per-catch average against USC next weekend.

Thompson (6'2/200) was sidelined by an undisclosed injury for much of the 2018 campaign, ultimately logging just a solitary catch in three games played. He took a redshirt for the season. This spring, Thompson by all accounts balled out, with both Aschoff and 247Sports’ Dan Sorenson tagging him as a standout performer during practices. He is tracking toward starting work as the team’s X receiver this fall.

“Thompson was consistently one of the more impressive receivers during spring camp,” Sorensen writes of the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder, later adding that he “has a chance to emerge as Utah’s top outside receiving threat.” The analyst’s biggest concern, here, comes in Thompson’s health -- an undisclosed injury concern limited him to four games played this past season (he was able to take a redshirt for the campaign). For his Utes career, Thompson has caught a modest six passes for 108 yards.

Thompson (6'2/205) hasn’t played this season due to an undisclosed injury, so this is a sharp move for the Utes. He could still return this season and play in four games while maintaining redshirt eligibility, if he’s healthy enough to do so. Coach Kyle Whittingham said Thompson will return “soon” so that appears to be the plan. The soon to be redshirt sophomore only has five receptions for 77 scoreless yards since joining Utah in 2017, but he was a four-star recruit coming out of high school so it’s not time to give up on him. Hopefully he can get some quality playing time in the four games Utah plans on using him in.

Thompson soaked in the scene via an official visit when the Broncos hosted Utah State over the weekend. Said the 6-foot-3, 185-pounder, “The visit went really well, exceeded my expectations and I had a lot of fun.” In addition to Boise State, Thompson is seriously considering Oregon, among others. He ranks as Rivals’ No. 142 overall prospect for 2017. Scout.com’s Greg Biggins notes that the California native “has the speed to get behind a defense and shows a nice burst out of his breaks” and writes that he is “among the top receivers out west.” Biggins’ outlet ranks him No. 90 overall. Regardless of differences in ranking, Thompson ultimately siding with the blue would be a major get for Boise State.