Brian Thomas Jr. was the No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and it hasn’t taken him long to make an impact during his rookie season. Here’s everything you need to know about the LSU product and his journey to the NFL.
How Tall Is Brian Thomas Jr.?
Thomas has great height for the wide receiver spot, as he stands at 6’3”. Some of the other top receiver prospects such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze are nearly identical in height.
Last year, there were only two wide receivers in the NFL in the top 10 in catches taller than Thomas: Mike Evans and Nico Collins.
How Much Does Thomas Weigh?
Not only is he tall, but he is built well as he weighs 209 pounds. That combination of height and weight will help him be a complete receiver. He is big and strong enough to not only win matchups against cornerbacks but his physicality could help him be a very good blocker in the run game as well.
How Old Is Thomas?
Born on Oct. 8, 2002, in Walker, La., Thomas is one of the younger receiver prospects in the class. He won’t turn 22 until around Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season, showing that he is nowhere near his prime.
The wide receiver class as a whole is very young, as Harrison, Odunze, and Nabers are all either 21 or younger. That is one thing that has people so enamored with this receiver class: these guys are still so young with so much potential.
What School Did Thomas Go To?
Thomas was a consensus four-star recruit out of Walker High School in Walker, La.
Thomas played basketball before he played football and was a 1,000-point player for three consecutive seasons at Walker. He didn’t start playing football until his sophomore year, but by his junior season, he was racking up over 1,250 yards and 17 touchdowns.
At his highest, he was viewed as a top-75 national talent, and he had offers from a host of schools, including top programs like Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, and Tennessee.
However, he opted to stay in his home state, playing his collegiate football at LSU, where he stayed for the entirety of his collegiate career.
Revisiting Thomas’ College Career
Thomas made an immediate impact as a freshman at LSU, hauling in 28 passes for 359 yards. In 2022, he stagnated as a sophomore. Through his first two collegiate seasons, he had only 59 catches for 720 yards and seven touchdowns.
Then, he erupted in a phenomenal junior campaign.
Brian Thomas Jr junior season highlight tape 🐯 pic.twitter.com/zJpFCcKbzt
— Boppa 🧟♂️ (@ihatebbls) January 8, 2024
Lining up across from Malik Nabers and catching passes from Jayden Daniels, Thomas led all FBS receivers with 17 receiving touchdowns. He finished his junior season with 68 receptions for 1,177 yards, averaging over 17 yards per catch.
After the 2023 season, Thomas could call himself an All-American, an All-SEC player, and a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist.
Thomas’ 40-Yard Dash Time
Thomas ran a blistering 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. That time puts him in the 94th percentile of all wide receivers.
Usually, that type of speed comes from smaller wide receivers. However, Thomas is also a physically imposing receiver as he stands at 6’3” and weighs 209 pounds.
.@LSUfootball WR Brian Thomas Jr. was rolling with a 4.34u
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Af0zYsjvzz— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
He also recorded a 38.5″ vertical and a 10’6″ broad jump, which turned heads.
This combination of size, speed, and athleticism (coupled with his ridiculous college production) made him a very intriguing wide-receiver prospect, so it was no surprise when the Jaguars drafted him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.