Madison native who took winding path making pre-draft visit with Packers

Per NFL rules, the  Green Bay Packers  are allowed to host up to 30 draft-eligible players (excluding “local” prospects, such as those in the UW system or nearby regional schools such as Northern Illinois) for in-person visits. The Journal Sentinel is tracking the visits and supplying profiles based on information from sources and published reports.

GREEN BAY – Anterio Thompson didn’t produce big defensive numbers in his four college seasons, but his special-teams play and overall athleticism for a big man are interesting NFL teams.

The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Thompson, who grew up in Madison before moving to Davenport, Iowa, his senior year in high school, is making a pre-draft visit with the Green Bay Packers , a source confirmed. Packer Report was first to report the news.

Thompson played one season at Iowa Community College, where he was named all-conference and all-region during the team’s national junior college championship season.

He transferred to Iowa in 2023 and played in seven games, playing mostly special teams and blocking two punts. After not seeing much action on defense, he transferred to Western Michigan, where he started 12 games at defensive tackle and had 34 tackles and a sack. He also blocked another kick.

Thompson transferred to Washington and had a solid season with 30 tackles, 1½ sacks and two pass breakups.

He did not get an invitation to the NFL scouting combine and didn’t look like a draft pick until he ran a blazing 4.73 seconds in the 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 30 times.

Thompson could have applied to the NCAA for another year at Washington, but he thought it was time to move on. He said he learned a lot on his college journey.

“I learned to trust the process,” Thompson told Huskies Wire. “Me being a guy that typically didn't trust the process and wanted to rush through things, I kind of got frustrated. I'd say that's big; it's just me taking coaching and being coachable.”

In the NFL, he projects to an inside pass-rushing position, but with his length and massive strength, he could be an end in a 3-4 defense. Given his NFL-ready body, he should be a late third-day pick.

Anterio Thompson’s pro day results

• 40-yard dash: 4.73 seconds

• Vertical jump: 29½ inches

• Broad jump: 9-foot-6

• Shuttle time: 4.38 seconds

• Three-cone time: 7.8 seconds

• Bench press: 30 reps

• Arms are 33½ inches

• Hands are 10 inches

This article originally appeared on Packers News: Anterio Thompson took winding path making pre-draft visit with Packers