It is no secret that the coaching staff at Middle Tennessee is challenged by the task of building a nearly entirely new defensive unit this offseason. However, this allows the staff to build the unit in their image, which is one of big, athletic, and versatile players.

That description perfectly describes junior college linebacker Jaiyden Thompson. Now, the Itawamba C.C. (MS) star is the latest to announce his commitment to the Blue Raiders.

His commitment comes after an official visit to Murfreesboro on Saturday to get a better look inside the Middle Tennessee football program.

"My visit went good. I really loved the coaching staff and the environment up there. What stood out the most to me is how the coaching staff are so invested in the players and the program to try to make them better and the program better every day."

During the visit, he was able to connect with some important members of the coaching staff, including future position coach A.J. Reisig.

"The conversation with Coach Reisig was good, just talking about his vision of how the team could use me in different ways and how he could make me a better player but also a better man outside of football," the new commit told GoMIddle.

In his two seasons at Itawamba C.C., Thompson has had a productive two-year career facing the top Mississippi junior college talent.

As a true freshman, he was used all over with more of an emphasis on playing primarily on the inside of the linebacker corps. As a result, he racked up a ton of tackles, finishing the season with 84 takedowns, including five for loss.

The new commit possesses a massive frame, which allows him to do many different things, such as chase down ball carriers or rush off the edge. This season, as a sophomore, he tapped into that versatility as an outside linebacker, recording 54 tackles while causing constant havoc in the backfield with six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

His versatility at that size makes him a welcomed addition to the defense as the coaching staff keeps looking for big, athletic linebackers both inside and outside. This is a significant reason why he believes he could maximize his potential at MTSU.

"I see myself as a mike linebacker there that can also rush the passer if needed," he said to GoMiddle. "I like how they move their linebacker around on the field and have them doing different things. This shows how versatile you are."

With him playing right away, he still has a redshirt available in addition to two seasons of eligibility he can use at Middle Tennessee.