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In addition to Montre Hartage and Nate Hall, Northwestern saw members of both their offensive and defensive lines sign as undrafted free agents Saturday night.
Jordan Thompson will be joining fellow Wildcat Anthony Walker Jr. in Indianapolis. Thompson racked up 89 tackles and 13 tackles for loss across his impressive Northwestern career in addition to three forced fumbles.
@JThom_52 has signed as a free agent with the @Colts. #B1GCats | #GoCats pic.twitter.com/g2kg7X8Uaa
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) April 27, 2019
Thompson, a Cincinnati native, joined Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern in 2015, and quickly became one of the most well-liked players on the team. The lineman was always in a jocular mood around campus and with the media, and quickly carved out a role as a leader on the line.
Three defensive tackles and two nose tackles currently reside in Indy, so Thompson faces an uphill battle to follow in the footsteps like Tyler Lancaster and make the roster as an active contributor. But if the improvement over the course of his Northwestern career continues, he’ll be on the right track.
You can find our full scouting report on Thompson here.
Blake Hance, meanwhile, will be joining Sean McDermott in Buffalo. The left tackle heads north after an up-and-down Northwestern career. Though he frustrated fans at times with his inconsistency, Hance also flashed potential and came into his own during his final two seasons.
A four-year starter, @blake_hance has signed as a free agent with the @buffalobills. #B1GCats | #GoCats | #GoBills pic.twitter.com/apO4Bl93Ab
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) April 27, 2019
In his time at Northwestern, after redshirting his freshman season, Hance played in all but one contest. He emerged as one of the stalwarts of the offensive line quickly, helping to anchor the protection of fifth-round draft pick Clayton Thorson. Hance is one of three Wildcats on the offensive line that graduated this year, the other two being Tommy Doles and J.B. Butler.
Originally, Hance was a tight end in high school. He garnered 72 catches for 1,025 yards during his sophomore and junior seasons in Jacksonville, but made a seamless transition to Adam Cushing’s offensive line.
Hance is entering a Bills team that currently has six tackles and seven guards on the roster, but it’s a position that requires plenty of depth, helping his chances of finding a spot on the roster or practice squad. That being said, it’ll be an uphill battle for Hance to earn a spot in either of those roles. But, like Thompson, if he displays the tenacity and durability that he showed in his time in Evanston, you can’t count him out.