Kanye Thompson’s journey from the turf of Mihalik-Thompson Stadium to the bright lights of Acrisure Stadium began years earlier in McKeesport, Pa., where he first established himself as a standout multisport athlete.
Thompson was a four-year letterman in football, track and basketball at McKeesport High School. There, he earned first-team all-conference honors at running back and defensive back, competed in the East-West All-Star Game, earned all-state recognition in track and received first-team all-conference honors in basketball.
His high school success attracted offers from numerous programs, including Slippery Rock University. Thompson received an offer from head coach Shawn Lutz in June of 2021, before officially committing to The Rock on in February.
Although Thompson’s impact on the football field would take time to develop, he quickly made his mark on the track. While he redshirted during the 2022 football season and did not appear in a game in 2023, Thompson earned All-PSAC honors as a freshman in track and helped SRU’s 4×100-meter relay team capture a conference championship.
His football opportunities soon followed. In 2024, Thompson appeared in all 14 games, recording 25 tackles, three pass breakups and a blocked kick. He also returned 12 punts for 145 yards, helping The Rock reach the NCAA Division II national semifinals before falling to eventual National Champion, Ferris State.
He continued that success on the track, earning second-team All-America honors after placing 10th at the NCAA Division II Championships. At the PSAC Championships, he won another 100-meter title in a school-record 10.13 seconds and helped the 4×100-meter relay team set a program record of 40.46 seconds.
Thompson took another step forward on the gridiron in 2025, starting all 10 games at cornerback and recording 60 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. His four forced fumbles ranked fourth nationally, earning him All-PSAC West, D2CCA All-Region and Don Hansen Football All-America honors.
Two days after Slippery Rock’s 2025 football season concluded with an overtime loss to Bloomsburg, college football reporter Pete Nakos reported that Thompson planned to enter the transfer portal.
“Leaving Slippery Rock was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life,” Thompson said. “But being that I built so many close relationships, I knew everyone that I shared my journey with understood why I made the decision I made.”
By the end of his Slippery Rock career, Thompson had become a two-time national qualifier, one-time All-American, seven-time USTFCCCA All-Region selection and six-time PSAC champion. On the football field, he had also established himself as one of Division II’s premier defensive playmakers.
Beyond the accolades, Thompson said his time at Slippery Rock taught him the importance of consistency and the impact a person can have on others.
“At Slippery Rock, I learned that you should always keep your blinds closed. Whether you are going through a tough situation or not, you should always show up the same person every single day because everyone has their own issues and you never know if someone is depending on your smile to make their day better,” Thompson said.
Ranked No. 20 nationally among transfer prospects and No. 2 at his position, Thompson attracted interest from prominent programs across the country. Bowling Green extended his first offer on Nov. 18, followed by Syracuse, Kansas, Boise State, Boston College, Texas Tech, Nebraska, TCU and Kansas State.
Thompson eventually narrowed his choices to Pitt, Ohio State and Tennessee. After visiting Pitt, he committed to the Panthers just two days later, bringing his football career back home to Pittsburgh, roughly 10 miles from his hometown of McKeesport.
“I didn’t think I would end up at Pitt,” Thompson said. “I almost went to Arkansas towards the end, but my dad said he felt it in his heart that Pitt was the right choice, so I stuck with my gut.”
At Pitt, Thompson has shown that the playmaking ability he displayed at Slippery Rock could translate to the Division I level.
On Oct. 17, against Boston College, he delivered a familiar sight to those who had watched him in green and white. Less than two minutes into the contest, with Boston College facing fourth-and-15 from its own 20-yard line, Thompson burst off the right side of the line, fought through a block and reached the punter. His blocked punt sent the ball into the end zone, where it was knocked out of bounds for a safety.
“I worked so hard to get to that point to have that opportunity and to be able to do it on national television to where my family and friends was watching was no other,” Thompson said.
Thompson carried that momentum into the following week, when Pitt traveled to Miami Gardens, Florida, to face the No. 1-ranked Miami Hurricanes. He recorded two solo tackles on special teams, including one on Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney, one of the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy.
While Thompson’s career has taken him from Slippery Rock to Pitt, he hopes fans remember his accomplishments both in and out of the cleats.
“I hope that fans remember how down-to-earth I was,” Thompson said. “Every time I stepped on the field or on the track, I hope they had to get their popcorn with extra butter because of the show that was about to be put on.”
Thompson also expressed gratitude to the Slippery Rock community, particularly the teammates who supported him throughout his career.
“I wish my words can express it more as thank you. I’d never imagine going only an hour up the road how much traction and how much impact it can have,” Thompson said. “To all of my guys who are still currently on the team, I love y’all to death, and I’m proud of y’all. I keep up every single week just to make sure you guys are still getting the job done.”
He also recognized the coaches and staff who helped shape his career and supported his development as both an athlete and a person.
“To my track and football coaches, I love you guys so much. Thank you for always believing in me and knowing what God gifted me with. Dr. [Roberta] Page, I appreciate her as well forever. Mr. [Rob] Coffaro even came to see me play. I can only appreciate him so much.”
For fellow Division II athletes hoping to make the most of their own opportunities, Thompson offered a final piece of advice:
“Take advantage of every opportunity presented and, most importantly, keep God first, never stop praying.”
