Thayer Thomas
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Thayer Thomas
| image =
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| current_team = Minnesota Vikings
| number = 89
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|5|20|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Wake Forest, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 195
| high_school = Heritage {{avoid wrap|(Wake Forest)}}
| college = NC State (2017–2022)
| undraftedyear = 2023
| pastteams =
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)*
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2023
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
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| pfr = ThomTh01
}}
Thayer Rockne Thomas (born May 20, 1998) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the NC State Wolfpack.
Early life
Thomas grew up in Wake Forest, North Carolina and attended Heritage High School. In his high school career, he racked in 74 receptions for 965 yards and 7 touchdowns.{{cite web |title=Thayer Thomas |url=https://gopack.com/sports/football/roster/thayer-thomas/11403 |website=NC State Athletics |access-date=May 3, 2023}} Thomas decided to walk on to North Carolina State.{{cite web |title=Thayer Thomas, NC State, Wide Receiver |url=https://247sports.com/player/thayer-thomas-46037482/ |website=247Sports |access-date=May 3, 2023}}
College career
Thomas started as a walk-on for the Wolfpack redshirting the 2017 season. He earned a scholarship in 2018.{{Cite web |last=Zembal |first=Jacey |date=May 12, 2018 |title=Walk-on Thayer Thomas earns scholarship |url=https://ncstate.rivals.com/news/walk-on-thayer-thomas-earns-scholarship |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=Rivals.com}}{{Cite web |last=Lacy |first=Daniel |date=May 12, 2018 |title=Thayer Thomas awarded NC State football scholarship |url=https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina-state/Article/Thayer-Thomas-awarded-NC-State-football-scholarship-118180048/ |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=247Sports}} Thomas would go on to play five years for the Wolfpack, recording 215 receptions for 2,484 yards, and 24 touchdowns. He also added 681 return yards and a return touchdown. He would also have a slight impact as a passer going 7 for 14 for 194 yards and four touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Thayer Thomas College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/thayer-thomas-1.html |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} In 2020 he was named Third team All-Atlantic Coast Conference as a returner after returning 10 punts for 100 yards.{{cite web |title=Tigers, Irish Lead All-ACC Football Team |url=https://theacc.com/news/2020/12/21/athlete-awards-tigers-irish-lead-all-acc-football-team.aspx |website=Atlantic Coast Conference |access-date=May 3, 2023}}{{cite web |title=2020 North Carolina State Wolfpack Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-carolina-state/2020.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=May 3, 2023}} His best season occurred during the 2021 season where he brought in 51 passes for 596 yards and 8 touchdowns.{{cite web |title=2021 North Carolina State Wolfpack Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-carolina-state/2021.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=May 2, 2023}} He also had a good season in 2022 in which he hauled in 57 receptions for 642 yards and 4 touchdowns.{{cite web |title=2022 North Carolina State Wolfpack Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-carolina-state/2022.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=May 2, 2023}}
During his time at NC State he set multiple records for the Wolfpack finishing 2nd all time in receptions, 2nd all time in receiving touchdowns, and 5th all time in receiving yards.{{cite web |title=North Carolina State Wolfpack Receiving |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-carolina-state/receiving.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=May 3, 2023}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 1/4
| weight = 198
| dash = 4.57
| ten split = 1.63
| twenty split = 2.56
| shuttle = 4.03
| cone drill = 6.93
| vertical = 37.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 0
| bench = 15
| arm span = 30 1/8
| hand span = 9
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Thayer Thomas College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1027558&DraftYear=2023 |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
After not being selected in the 2023 NFL draft, Thomas signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-30 |title=Vikings' Thayer Thomas: Headed to Minnesota |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/vikings-thayer-thomas-headed-to-minnesota/#:~:text=Minnesota%20signed%20Thomas%20as%20an,the%20Vikings'%20current%20wideout%20depth. |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=CBSSports.com}}{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2023 |title=Vikings Agree to Terms with 15 Undrafted Free Agents |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/undrafted-free-agents-2023-nfl-draft |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=Minnesota Vikings}} He was waived on August 29, 2023, and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Vikings Set Initial 53-Man Roster for 2023 |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/roster-moves-initial-53-man-waived-injured-2023 |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=Vikings.com}}{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Vikings Sign 12 Players to 2023 Practice Squad |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/2023-sign-12-players-practice-squad |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=Vikings.com}} Following the end of the 2023 regular season, the Vikings signed him to a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/10-players-reserve-future-free-agent-signings-2024|title=Vikings Sign 10 Players to Future Contracts|date=January 8, 2024|accessdate=January 9, 2024|work=Vikings.com|first=Craig|last=Peters}}
Thomas was waived by the Vikings on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Vikings Utilize Reserve Lists During Roster Cuts: T.J. Hockenson on Reserve/PUP |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-utilize-reserve-lists-during-roster-cuts-t-j-hockenson-on-reserve-pup |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Vikings.com}}{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Vikings Sign 17 Players to 2024 Practice Squad |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/2024-practice-squad-sign-17-players |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Vikings.com}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 16, 2025.{{cite web|title=Vikings Sign Dozen-Plus Players to Futures Contracts for 2025|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/2025-future-free-agent-signings|author=Peters, Craig|website=Vikings.com|date=January 16, 2025}}
Personal life
Thomas is the older brother of current NFL linebacker Drake Thomas.{{cite web|url=https://www.wralsportsfan.com/thomas-brothers-journey-a-walk-to-remember-at-nc-state/20543808/|title=Thomas brothers journey a walk to remember at NC State|website=WRAL-TV|first=Pat|last=Welter|date=October 30, 2022|access-date=August 30, 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|thayerthomas1}}
- [https://www.vikings.com/team/players-roster/thayer-thomas/ Minnesota Vikings bio]
- [https://gopack.com/sports/football/roster/thayer-thomas/11403 North Carolina State Wolfpack football bio]
- [https://gopack.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/thayer-thomas/8704 North Carolina State Wolfpack baseball bio]
{{Minnesota Vikings roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Thayer}}
Category:Players of American football from North Carolina
Category:People from Wake Forest, North Carolina
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:NC State Wolfpack football players