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Jeff Thomas is one more dynamic athlete the Patriots added as an undrafted free agent
The New England Patriots elected to offer the troubled, however proficient Jeff Thomas an NFL alternative by signing him as an undrafted free agent following a tumultuous stick with the Miami Hurricanes.
There has by no means been a query about Thomas’ bodily presents. Everybody is aware of he has nice velocity and the power to alter a sport in a second.
The large concern with Thomas facilities round character issues that nearly actually led to him falling out of the draft utterly. Thomas was suspended from the workforce a number of occasions throughout his keep at Miami and was going to switch to Illinois earlier than a brand new Hurricanes coach, Manny Diaz provided him a second likelihood.
Thomas gave the impression to be a bit higher off the sphere in his junior season however was nonetheless suspended for 2 video games earlier than in the end electing to take a seat out the workforce’s bowl sport to arrange for the NFL Draft. There was numerous baggage accrued in a brief time frame, but in addition some wonderful performs on the sphere.
Here’s a have a look at Thomas’ highlights from Miami:
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Jeff Thomas’ School Stats
| Receiving | Speeding | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
| 12 months | Faculty | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Performs | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *2017 | Miami (FL) | ACC | FR | WR | 13 | 17 | 374 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 378 | 21 | 2 |
| *2018 | Miami (FL) | ACC | SO | WR | 11 | 35 | 563 | 16.1 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 36 | 582 | 16.2 | 3 |
| *2019 | Miami (FL) | ACC | JR | WR | 10 | 31 | 379 | 12.2 | 3 | 7 | 41 | 5.9 | 0 | 38 | 420 | 11.1 | 3 |
The stats don’t soar out at you, which is why you want to have the footage to see the whole image. Even the video above doesn’t inform all the story. Clearly, we aren’t going to see Thomas’ still-developing route-running abilities, however we additionally don’t see a number of the intermediate receptions that show he’s able to transferring the chains from the slot.
Past what he’s able to including as a slot receiver, maybe within the mildew of former St. Louis Rams risk Az-Zahir Hakim, Thomas additionally has the power to do injury as a return man. He’s fearless in these conditions and might simply increase defensive stops with glorious area place or perhaps a particular groups rating.
What Draft Specialists Say About Thomas?
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had this to say about Thomas forward of the draft.
Extremely explosive playmaker with field-stretching velocity and short-area quickness to tempt groups searching for viable three-level options from the slot. Thomas’ spectacular athleticism and expertise had been wasted by sub-par quarterbacking and self-sabotage. On tape, he creates chunk performs as a vertical risk, on crossing routes and with broad receiver screens and jet sweeps. He depends on athletic presents over route acumen, however that may be corrected. His draft profile is bolstered by his potential as a return man, however he’s more likely to have his title scratched from some draft boards because of character issues, regardless of the expertise.
The Patriots have tried their hand at giving gamers with supposed character points a shot previously. Generally, they get Randy Moss, different occasions they get Chad Ocho Cinco, Antonio Brown, and Albert Haynesworth. This time, the workforce is hoping for extra of the previous.