Kanye Thompson immediately became an incoming player to watch as the Panthers continue tweaking their roster for 2026.

Thompson, a McKeesport native, shined brightly as a star in football and track at Slippery Rock over the past few years, earning All-American honors in both sports. He committed to the Panthers on Thursday.

Upon entering the transfer portal in mid-November (Division II doesn’t utilize the Jan. 2-16 window for entry adhered to by Division I), big-time offers started pouring in for Thompson.

A speedster defensive back who set a Slippery Rock record with a 10.13-second 100-meter dash in track, Thompson eventually whittled down his list of suitors to three: Ohio State, Tennessee and Pitt.

In the end, he chose the Panthers, giving coach Pat Narduzzi arguably his most exciting pickup thus far into portal season.

On the gridiron, Thompson racked up 60 tackles, four interceptions and 10 pass breakups last season, earning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) first-team All-Region and All-PSAC West honors.

In 2024, he made seven starts with 25 tackles while also returning punts. Thompson redshirted a season upon arriving at Slippery Rock in 2022.

He also competed in both indoor and outdoor track and was a six-time PSAC champion and eight-time All-PSAC selection.

At the Division II National Championships in May, he placed 10th in the 100-meter dash in 10.14 seconds. A year prior, he placed 16th in the event with a time of 10.34 seconds.

Thompson was also a part of Slippery Rock’s 400-meter relay squad that captured first place at the PSAC championships behind a school record time of 40.46 seconds.

In the indoor 60-meter dash, Thompson has clocked as fast as 6.7 seconds. He won the event at the 2024 PSAC championships while finishing as runner-up in 2025.

Thompson was a WPIAL standout at McKeesport, lettering for four years in football, basketball and track.

His addition marks the second straight year the Panthers have added a player from the PSAC. Last January, fellow defensive back Rashan Murray out of Cal (Pa.) joined the program.

Murray appeared in three games for Pitt last fall.