Linebacker Stefon Thompson joined the Nebraska program in January after spending four seasons at Syracuse. Thompson played in 36 games for the Orange and accumulated 169 total tackles, including 20 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Thompson played his first three years at Syracuse under then-Orange defensive coordinator Tony White. Thompson has two seasons of eligibility at Nebraska.
Before Nebraska (Zebulon B. Vance HS/Syracuse)
Thompson played in all 13 games for the Orange in 2023 and made one start. He had 52 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks on the season. Thompson had five games with at least five tackles, highlighted by a season-high eight tackles at North Carolina. Thompson had six tackles and a season-high two tackles for loss against Boston College. He had a 13-yard sack against Western Michigan.
Thompson suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the 2022 season and redshirted. He made three tackles against Louisville before the injury.
Thompson started all 12 games at linebacker in 2021 and finished second on the team with 79 tackles. He added six sacks, eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Thompson’s six sacks tied for the sixth-most in Syracuse history by a sophomore. Thompson made at least five tackles in 10 of 12 games, including a career-high 10 tackles against Pittsburgh and nine tackles each against Florida State, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech. Thompson had 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and seven tackles against Boston College and recorded a career-high two sacks against Albany.
Thompson played in 10 games with seven starts as a true freshman in 2020. He was the first Orange true freshman linebacker to start the season opener in a decade. Thompson finished with 35 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble. He had a season-high seven tackles in his debut at North Carolina. Thompson also made seven stops at Louisville, when he set a Syracuse freshman record with four tackles for loss.
Thompson played linebacker, running back and tight end for Coach Glenwood Ferebee at Zebulon B. Vance High in Charlotte. A team captain, Thompson led the Cougars to a 13-2 record and the NCHSAA Class 4AA State Championship as a senior. He highlighted a Vance defense that held opponents to 9.1 points per game en route to capturing the school’s first state title. Thompson made 162 tackles, 13 sacks, 26 tackles for loss and three interceptions. On offense, he rushed 53 times for 540 yards (10.2 avg.) and 10 touchdowns, while catching nine passes for 136 yards (15.1 avg.) and two scores. Thompson was a two-time I-MECK 4A All-Conference pick, was named to the 2019 All-Charlotte Observer First Team and was selected to represent North Carolina in the 2019 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
Personal
Thompson is the son of Yolanda Patrick, and he was born on Oct. 29, 2002.