In the world of NFL draft prospects, the Green Bay Packers are making strategic moves by hosting up to 30 draft-eligible players for in-person visits. Among those catching the Packers' eye is Jacob Thomas, a versatile player with an intriguing journey.
Thomas' story begins in high school, where he led his Virginia team to consecutive state championships as a quarterback. Opting for a different path, he turned down a quarterback scholarship at Richmond to walk on at James Madison, where he transitioned to defensive back.
His early college years saw limited action, but by his sophomore year, Thomas was starting 13 games at safety. He showcased his adaptability by playing both strong and free safety. As a junior and senior, he solidified his role as a starter, eventually becoming a team captain.
During his senior year, Thomas racked up impressive stats: 71 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups. His performance earned him second-team all-Sun Belt honors, and he played a pivotal role in James Madison's historic 12-1 season, which culminated in a College Football Playoff appearance.
Over his four-year college career, Thomas amassed five interceptions, 21 pass breakups, 13 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. These numbers highlight his knack for making impactful plays.
Standing at 6 feet and 215 pounds, Thomas turned heads at his pro day with a 40-yard dash time of 4.45 seconds and an impressive 6.8 seconds in the three-cone drill. The Packers might see him as a robust version of Evan Williams, a player with similar stats who was drafted in the fourth round by Oregon.
Thomas himself acknowledges the challenges faced by players from smaller schools, saying, “A lot of people from JMU get overlooked. For us to have a strong outing like this, hopefully it gets the eyes of a lot of teams in the NFL.”
As the Packers prepare to host Thomas, they’ll be evaluating not just his physical metrics but his potential to bring that same leadership and versatility to the NFL stage.