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Academics important for Thompson

Academics factor into each recruit's decision to different degrees, but for Cincinnati (Ohio) La Salle three-star defensive end Jordan Thompson it is among the most important factors.
"I have a 3.7, so academics is a big part of my life," Thompson said. "My family and myself take pride in academics and I want to go to a school that has a really good education process so even if I don't go onto the NFL I can get a really good job."
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The 6-foot-3, 247-pound Thompson has recently seen his list of scholarship offers swell to 10 schools, many of which are also well-known as top academic institutions. Duke is one of those programs that has offered and has piqued Thompson's interest early in the process.
"Duke, I feel like they have a really great thing going down there," Thompson said. "They are really pushing their players in the right direction and I think it would be a special thing to check out. Coach [David] Cutcliffe, I have heard he coached-up Peyton Manning and I thought that was a fun fact. He has a lot of experience under his belt."
Besides Duke, Thompson holds offers from Boston College, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Northwestern and Toledo.
Being early in his recruitment Thompson is still learning about many of those schools, but he does have connections with a couple programs.
"There's a guy from my grade school, Donavon Clark, who is playing up at Michigan State right now," Thompson said. "The [running back] from Moeller is going to Northwestern now and we've talked before, are friends of friends."
Visits are the important next step in Thompson's recruitment, and he is starting to think about which schools he wants to see first.
"When basketball season ends I plan on visiting Duke, Northwestern and a couple of other schools," Thompson said. "I am just going to take my time and really build relationships with the coaches that want me to be a part of their school."
Thompson is rated three stars and was ranked as the No. 31 strongside defensive end in the 2015 class earlier this week.
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