Notre Dame Making Early Push On 2023 DE Jalen Thompson

2023 Cass Tech (Mich.) defensive end Jalen Thompson‍ made the trip from Detroit to Columbus over the weekend to compete at Sunday’s Under Armour regional. 

The 6-foot-2, 244-pounder was impressive and had a solid day in one-on-one action, which is what Thompson wanted to do.

“It was a good day,” said Thompson. “It was fun and exciting. You have all the top players are out here. It was fun. It was really competitive. You have to do your best and have fun.” 

On the recruiting front, Thompson’s process is just getting started, but the good news is he holds offers from Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Georgia, Kentucky, Liberty, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pitt and Toledo. 

Mike Elston has made early progress for Notre Dame as Thompson feels the Irish are on him hard heading into the summer.
 
“I’d have to say right now, Notre Dame,” Thompson said of the school recruiting him the hardest. “They are talking to me every other week at least.”

Elston’s message is a simple one. He wants Thompson to break the chain of Cass Tech players choosing Michigan or Michigan State. 

“He’s just telling me that he wants me to break the record of being from Cass Tech and coming to play for Notre Dame,” laughed Thompson. “He’s a good coach and an exciting coach. He loves when you yell and stuff.” 

Thompson also has a relationship with a name Irish fans will be familiar with as he decided to leave Detroit for South Bend just a few years ago. 

“I know one player who went there,” explained Thompson. “His name is Khalid Kareem. We talk at least once a month. I just ask questions and he tells me about the school.”

Michigan is a school that most feel Thompson will end up at, but the Wolverines haven’t made a big push just yet.

“They are probably second or third,” Thompson said of where Michigan stands in terms of recruiting him hard. “I give them a call maybe every other week.” 

Now, Michigan’s defensive line coach Shaun Nua is known as an effective recruiter and Thompson has a good rapport with him already. 
 
“He’s a good coach,” said Thompson. “He’s cool. I think because of his age, it’s good with him. He knows me better and can give me more experience.”