Biography
Jaguar Highlights: Selected preseason third-team all-Sun Belt Conference by Phil Steele Publications ... Will likely start at left cornerback in the fall ... Posted five stops in the first scrimmage of the spring ... Followed up with three solo tackles the next weekend in another scrimmage, ending the spring with a pair of passes broken up in the annual Red-Blue Game.
As A Redshirt Junior (2018): Started all but one game, recording a career-best 34 stops and team-leading three interceptions ... Broke up eight other passes, ending the year ranked fifth in the Sun Belt Conference in passes defensed per contest and among the top 10 in interceptions per game ... Was also among the top 70 nationally in the latter category ... Picked off two passes, including one he returned 55 yards for a score with just over six minutes left in the third quarter to spark a second-half rally from 15-point deficit in defeat of Texas State ... Also broke up three additional passes and had three stops against the Bobcats ... Posted a season-best six tackles on three occasions — at Oklahoma State and Memphis, and in a win over Coastal Carolina in the finale ... Credited with five stops, all unassisted, against ULM in the Jaguars’ annual Homecoming game ... Recorded three tackles and broke up a pass at eventual Sun Belt champion Appalachian State.
As A Junior (2017): Sat out the season as an academic redshirt.
As A Sophomore (2016): Participated in 12 contests with five starts, including each of South’s last four outings ... Had 31 tackles including 22 unassisted stops, led the team with four interceptions and was second on the squad with six additional passes broken up ... Ranked sixth in the Sun Belt Conference in interceptions and was tied for sixth in passes defended per contest ... Posted a career- and team-high 10 tackles, intercepted two passes and broke up another at Idaho to be named the SBC Defensive Player of the Week ... Credited with six stops, with an assist behind the line, and a pair of passes defensed in win over 19th-ranked San Diego State ... Finished with three unassisted tackles and returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown for the final points in a defeat of Presbyterian, earning the coaching staff’s defensive back award for the performance ... Had three stops against rival Troy and Air Force at the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl as well ... Became the first individual in program history with an interception in three straight games after picking off a pass in win over New Mexico State in the regular-season finale that helped South become bowl eligible.
As A Freshman (2015): Appeared in all 12 games his first year at the collegiate level with starts at Nebraska and at home against Louisiana-Lafayette ... Twenty-two of his 25 stops were unassisted, with the total including two for loss including a sack ... Tied for second on the team after breaking up five passes ... Also had one interception, forced a fumble and blocked a kick ... Recorded a season-high five tackles, with one behind the line of scrimmage, and broke up a pass at Nebraska ... Equalled that total with five solo stops at Texas State, intercepting his first career pass and breaking up another as well ... In addition to posting four tackles in Homecoming victory over Idaho, blocked a punt late in the third quarter leading to a touchdown on the next play and the Jaguars’ first lead in the contest while also breaking up a pass ... Against eventual Sun Belt Conference champion Arkansas State, forced a fumble on a sack with the recovery leading to a field goal giving USA a 24-17 advantage midway through the third quarter ... Posted two unassisted tackles and a pass defensed in wins at Mountain West Conference champion San Diego State and rival Troy ... Also credited with a pair of stops at Georgia State.
High School Highlights: A three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, Scout.com, ESPN.com and 247Sports.com ... The second-ranked cornerback in Alabama in the Scout.com ratings, with the organization also considering him among the top 35 prospects in the region and top 100 in the country ... ESPN.com considered him the second-rated cornerback in the state and among the top 55 nationally at the position, as well as among the top 30 overall recruits in Alabama ... Ranked among the top 25 prospects in the state by 247Sports.com ... Played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game after his senior season ... A four-year letterwinner at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, starting the final three ... Ended his Saint career with a school-record 22 interceptions ... As a senior was selected to the AL.com Super All-State Team and was named first-team all-state ... Credited with 40 tackles, five interceptions, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one sack and a blocked kick his final year as St. Paul’s went 15-0 on the way to winning the state 5A title ... On offense, finished with 35 receptions for 470 yards and nine touchdowns, also carrying 17 times for 159 yards, and returned six kicks for touchdowns as part of the Saints’ special teams units ... In the championship game finished with four tackles on defense, and supplied four catches for 45 yards and two touchdowns offensively ... Also was a first-team all-state selection in baseball his final year, earning first-team all-region honors at shortstop as well ... Posted a .492 batting average with seven home runs and 36 RBI, adding 37 stolen bases, while helping the team reach the semifinals of the state playoffs en route to a 39-4 finish ... As a junior, recorded 39 tackles and seven interceptions — returning two for touchdowns — while forcing one fumble and recovering another ... Efforts helped the Saints finish 10-3 after advancing to the quarterfinals of the state 5A playoffs ... Hit .320 with 35 stolen bases to be named first-team all-region shortstop by the Mobile Press-Register, leading the Saints to a 29-4 record and a berth in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs ... Helped SPES go 11-3 after reaching the semifinals of the state playoffs as a sophomore.
Personal: Full name is Jalen Alexander Thompson ... Born June 27, 1997, in Mobile, Ala. ... Son of Henry and Monica Bettis ... Father, Ronnie Thompson, played both football and baseball at Nicholls State ... Is the oldest of four children ... Favorite movie is “Remember The Titans” ... Favorite book is “High Heat” ... Favorite teams are the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals ... Favorite athlete is Tyrann Mathieu ... Favorite musical artist is Rich Homie Quan ... Favorite foods are pizza and chicken tenders ... Favorite subject is math ... Likes to watch television and play video games in his free time ... Also had offers from Mississippi State, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Nebraska, Miami (Fla.), Georgia Tech and Louisville among others ... Majoring in interdisciplinary studies.
