Saints:
4. MICHAEL THOMAS | Ohio State 6026|217 lbs|4JR Los Angeles, Calif. (Woodland Hills Taft) 8/16/1994 (age 21) #3
YEAR (GP/GS) REC YDS AVG TD GRADE 1st-2nd Round 2011: Fork Union Military Academy MEASUREABLES Arm: 32 1/8 | Hand: 10 1/2 | Wingspan: 78 1/4 2012: (11/0) 3 22 7.3 0 COMBINE 40-YD: 4.57 | 10-YD: 1.55 | 20-YD: 2.63 | BP: 18 | VJ: 35 | BJ: 10’06” | SS: 4.13 | 3C: 6.80 2013: Redshirted PRO DAY 40-YD: 4.57 | 10-YD: 1.63 | 20-YD: 2.63 | VJ: 33 2014: (15/14) 54 799 14.8 9 2015: (13/13) 56 781 13.9 9 Total: (39/27) 113 1,602 14.2 18
BACKGROUND: A three-star wide receiver recruit out of high school, Thomas wasn’t highly recruited and passed on offers from Oregon State, Syracuse and Oklahoma State to attend Fork Union Military Academy in 2011 (roommate of Cardale Jones there). After a season at the prep ranks, he was considered a four-star recruit and narrowed his college choice to Ohio State, Notre Dame and Oklahoma State, choosing the Buckeyes. Thomas saw limited action as a true freshman in 2012, recording three catches for 22 yards. Struggling with consistency and academics, the coaches decided to redshirt him in 2013. Thomas returned in 2014 as a sophomore (14 starts) and led the National Champs with 54 receptions for 799 yards and nine touchdowns. He produced similar numbers in 2015 as a redshirt junior with a teambest 56 catches for 781 yards and nine scores, earning Third Team All-Big Ten honors. Thomas decided to skip his senior season and enter the 2016 NFL Draft.
STRENGTHS: Well-built frame with ideal height and muscle definition for the position – has worked hard to develop his strength…natural hands to attack the ball away from his body, showing usually terrific hand-eye coordination…reliable in 50-50 situations, using his body strength and powerful hands to establish body position and out-physical defensive backs…strategic route-runner and very deliberate in his patterns, using his footwork to get defenders leaning and commit their hips…athletic toe-tapper along the sidelines…strong strides to accelerate and pick up speed as he goes…determined leaper to highpoint…NFL bloodlines – uncle (Keyshawn Johnson) is a former No. 1 overall pick and 11-year NFL veteran…reliable production the past two seasons despite limited opportunities.
WEAKNESSES: Lacks above average start/stop athleticism to easily create outside of the route…cornerbacks can match his burst and vertical speed, limiting his ability to consistently separate…mechanical at times in his movements, lacking ideal lower body fluidity…strong hands, but will have some focus drops, thinking too much about his surroundings…good pop as a blocker, but doesn’t consistently sustain…wasn’t asked to run a diverse route tree in Ohio State’s offense…had trouble picking up the offense early in his career…not a proven deep threat…consistent production, but wasn’t asked to be a workhorse receiver (only two career 100-yard receiving games).
SUMMARY: A two-year starter in Ohio State’s spread attack, Thomas is a late bloomer, not starting full-time in high school until his senior season (caught 21 touchdowns from former Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici at Woodland Hills Taft). He spent a year at prep school after high school and two more seasons learning the Buckeyes’ offense before emerging as the best Ohio State wide receiver in 2014, leading the team in catches the last two seasons. Thomas isn’t the fastest or most explosive, but he is a good-sized athlete and detailed route runner with little wasted movements to create spacing at the stem. Although he will need time to adapt to a NFL playbook, he projects as a No. 2 wide receiver at the next level due to his savvy footwork, body control and ballskills to be a reliable possession target – top-50 prospect and NFL starter by year two.
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Originally Posted by wist43
