Washington Huskies DT Anterio Thompson taken in sixth round of NFL draft

Anterio Thompson spent most of his collegiate football career on the move.

Originally from Madison, Wis., Thompson started at the junior-college level, playing one season for Iowa Western Community College. He made the jump to the FBS in 2023, spending one season at Iowa before transferring to Western Michigan in 2024.

He was looking for something. The right opportunity to catch NFL eyes and give him a pathway to the professional level. Thompson found what he was searching for at Washington.

Thompson, a 6-foot-1, 306-pound defensive tackle, became the sixth Husky selected in the 2026 NFL draft on Saturday, when he was picked by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round with pick No. 208. He's the 13th Husky picked by Atlanta since 1966, and the first since the Falcons took quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and edge rusher Bralen Trice in the 2024 draft.

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His selection is particularly notable because Thompson was not one of the 319 football prospects invited to the NFL combine. He's the first UW player drafted without attending the combine since running back Dwayne Washington was picked by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft.

"Let's just congratulate the six Huskies so far that have been drafted," UW coach Jedd Fisch said to open his news conference after Saturday's spring practice. "I'm really excited. I just heard Anterio got drafted."

It took Thompson a few years to reach Seattle. After playing at Hempstead High in Dubuque, Iowa, the defensive lineman started his college journey at junior-college powerhouse Iowa Western, located in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Thompson played in 12 games as a freshman in 2022, making 32 tackles and six sacks. It was enough to capture the attention of Iowa, and Thompson transferred to join the Hawkeyes for 2023.

His first season in the Big Ten didn't offer much playing time. Thompson played in seven games, making one tackle, but saw action on just two defensive snaps according to Pro Football Focus. Instead, he made his impact on special teams. Thompson blocked two punts - one that went for a safety, while he returned the other 15 yards - and finished the year ranked third in the nation.

Seeking opportunity, Thompson transferred again in 2024. He ended up at Western Michigan, where he made 32 tackles in 12 games including 1.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. He also batted down two passes and blocked a kick, helping the Broncos win six games, finish fifth in the MAC and reach the Veterans Bowl.

Thompson departed for his final college destination, UW, after the season. He was one of several defensive tackles brought to Washington by defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi and new defensive coordinator Ryan Walters as they tried to patch the poor run defense that haunted the Huskies in 2024.

During his lone season with the Huskies, Thompson made 30 tackles in 12 games, including three starts. He also registered 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and batted two passes. Along with defensive tackles Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei, Bryce Butler and Elinneus Davis, Thompson helped UW's run defense improve from 161.8 yards rushing allowed per game to 100.2.

"Coming to Seattle, the greatest setting in college football, it was just amazing," Thompson said during UW's Pro Day in March.

Thompson said he considered trying to seek an exemption to stay at UW in 2026 after the NCAA granted a blanket waiver for an extra year of eligibility to players with junior college experience in 2025, but eventually decided to pursue the NFL. Not receiving an invite to the combine, he said, just offered him a little extra motivation in his draft preparation.

In Atlanta, Thompson will join a Falcon defense coming off a solid 2025 campaign under new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Atlanta allowed just 23.1 points per game, led by its young secondary including A.J. Terrell Jr., Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts. It added defensive linemen Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam and Da'Shawn Hand in free agency, and spent most of its draft capital on defensive players, too.

Along with Thompson, the Falcons drafted Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, Oklahoma linebacker Kendal Daniels and LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr., meaning four of their six selections were defensive players.

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 5:01 PM.