Brandon Thompson Class: Senior Hometown: Thomasville, GA High School: Thomasville Height / Weight: 6-2 / 310 Position: DT Experience: 3VL Major: Management

Has 131 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, 29 quarterback pressures, nine pass breakups, and three recovered fumbles in 1,347 snaps over 39 games (25 starts) in his career...nicknamed "Yams" because of his big thighs that help him plug the middle of the Tiger defense...does a great job as a run stopper in the middle of the line...preseason second-team All-ACC by Athlon...#1 senior defensive tackle prospect for the 2012 NFL draft by CBSSports.com...#17 draft-eligible defensive tackle in the nation by Phil Steele...tied for first on the team in bench press (450)...tied for second on the team in 225-pound bench press reps (36), squat lift (615), and power clean (370)...third on the team in total weight lifted (1,690).

2010: Had 56 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, a sack, 15 quarterback pressures, and three pass breakups in 532 snaps over 13 games (11 starts)...combined with Jarvis Jenkins to give the Tigers one of the best defensive tackle tandems in the nation...had a strong second half of the season; he had 43 of his 56 tackles in the last seven games...had nine quarterback pressures in the last five games...had six tackles against Georgia Tech...had 11 tackles at Boston College...had six tackles against #23 N.C. State...had five tackles and a sack at Florida State...had eight tackles, including seven first hits, and 2.5 tackles for loss in 42 snaps against #17 South Carolina to earn team defensive player-of-the-game honors by the coaches and the IFC Defensive Player-of-the-Game Award...won the Strength Training Award for defensive tackles for spring practice.

2009: Starter on the defensive line in 13 games...a big reason the Tigers finished in the top 25 nationally in total defense and scoring defense...had 50 tackles, up from 25 his freshman year...had at least two tackles in 13 of the 14 games...had season-high six tackles against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and at Maryland...finished the season strong with five stops in the win over Kentucky, a big reason the Wildcats scored just 13 points...that was only game he did not start, but he played 43 snaps...played at least 19 snaps in every game and at least 34 snaps in 11 of the 14 contests...had three tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery in the win over Boston College.

2008: First-year freshman defensive tackle who was slated to be red-shirted...spent the Alabama game on the sideline, then had the red-shirt taken off after Jamie Cumbie was injured and lost for the season against Alabama...played each of the last 12 games...had 25 tackles, fourth-most on the team among freshmen...third on the team in tackles among interior defensive linemen...had five tackles for loss...had two tackles for loss, his first career sack, and his first career takeaway (recovered fumble) against S.C. State...had four tackles in 28 snaps against N.C. State...made his first career start against Duke when Dorell Scott was injured; he had two tackles in 23 snaps...had six tackles at Virginia...had at least one tackle in 10 games...had two tackles and a caused fumble against Georgia Tech.

Before Clemson: Rated as the #39 player in the nation by ESPN.com...#3 defensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com...#114 player in the nation by Rivals.com...#10 player in Georgia and #9 defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com...#71 player and #6 defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com...#5 player in Georgia and #8 defensive lineman in the nation by SuperPrep...four-year starter...played in the ESPN/Under Armour All-American game...led the team in sacks (19) and had 61 tackles as a senior...defensive player-of-the-year by Atlanta Journal-Constitution...region defensive player-of-the-year as a senior...two-time all-state pick...bench pressed 385 pounds, squatted 600 pounds, and cleaned 315 pounds...coached by Richard Marsh...recruited by Billy Napier...chose Clemson over Florida State, Georgia, Louisiana State, Miami (FL), Ohio State, and Tennessee.

Personal: Majoring in management...born Oct. 19, 1989