MOBILE, AL (WNSP) — Jalen Thompson came back to put on a show.
The South Alabama defensive back won Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors with his performance in the Jags’ 38-31 loss to Idaho. He grabbed two interceptions and recorded a career-high ten tackles in the game Saturday.
Thompson suffered a concussion in a 13-10 win against Georgia State, but sat out the following game—an overtime loss at ULM. In the Jags’ makeup game against Presbyterian, he returned.
As in, he ran an interception back for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, sealing a 31-7 victory.
Thompson, a St. Paul’s alum, is the first Jag since the 2011 season opener to grab an interception in back-to-back games. The sophomore is also the first South cornerback in three years to tackle in the double digits, and the first player in more than a year to snag more than one pick in a game.
This Saturday, South Alabama will host New Mexico State with bowl eligibility, and Thompson’s interception streak, on the line.
Thanks to a provisional waiver from the NCAA, South will be first in line to receive an at-large bid. A win would guarantee the Jaguars a spot in a bowl, but if Louisiana-Lafayette wins, the Cajuns will take the last Sun Belt berth.
The game will begin at noon on ESPN3.