Devan Thompkins has wasted no time making his mark at Alabama, and the buzz around him is starting to sound bigger than a breakout season. After the Crimson Tide’s 31-13 win over LSU, the former USC lineman picked up SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors, and the performance only added fuel to the growing comparisons.
Against LSU, Thompkins finished with two tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks against Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt. Those numbers helped Alabama keep rolling, but the bigger story is the kind of disruption he’s bringing to the Tide front. He’s already up to 6.5 tackles for loss this season, matching his total from all of last year, and he has five sacks as well.
The production matters, but the way he’s doing it is what has people talking. Thompkins has given Alabama a jolt up front with a mix of power, quickness and finishing ability that makes him a problem on every snap. For a defense that needed help after losing several pieces to the NFL and the transfer portal, he’s been a major answer.
Former Division I coach Geoff Collins, who has also worked as defensive coordinator at Mississippi State, Florida and North Carolina, broke down Thompkins’ film on his YouTube channel and came away with a striking comparison. Collins likened him to a player he coached, saying:
“Devan Thompkins, I didn’t know this, he’s an athletic dude. This dude is 6’5” 300 pounds.
Look at that big man coming off the ball. He looks like a Chris Jones … 6’5” 300 pounds on the edge, and he just collapses the pocket and nowhere for Sam Leavitt to go.”
That kind of disruption has become one of Alabama’s biggest defensive upgrades this season. The Crimson Tide’s 17.9% Havoc Rate ranks 31st nationally, and Thompkins has played a central role in that surge.
He wasn’t a name most people were circling before he arrived in Tuscaloosa, but Alabama’s staff noticed him quickly once fall camp opened. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack pointed to the traits that stood out right away:
“Devan has a special skill set just to be that big and athletic, and he can move and do some things, both from the Bandit position and the three-technique position," said defensive coordinator Kane Wommack during fall camp.
It’s still early in his Alabama run, but the early returns are hard to ignore. Thompkins brings size, athleticism and versatility, and that combination has already made him a tough assignment for opposing offensive lines.
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