Eric Thomas (wide receiver)

Last updated
Eric Thomas
Troy wide receiver Eric Thomas grabs a pass in the fourth quarter during a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 3, 2012 121103-A-EO110-043.jpg
Thomas catching a pass against Tennessee in 2012
Personal information
Born: (1991-11-11) November 11, 1991 (age 32)
Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school: Evangel Christian Academy
(Shreveport, Louisiana)
College: Troy
Position: Wide receiver, return specialist
Undrafted: 2014
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • 2010 New Orleans Bowl champion
  • 2011 Second Team All-Sun Belt
  • 2012 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention
  • 2013 First Team All-Sun Belt
  • Second Team All-IFL, Offense (2018)
  • 2 x IFL player of the Week

Eric L. Thomas Jr. (born November 11, 1991) is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent, having previously spent 4 seasons with the Nebraska Danger. Prior to his arena football career, Thomas played in both the National Football League and the Canadian Football League.

Contents

College career

Thomas played for the Troy Trojans football team from 2010 to 2013. During those years, the Trojans won the 2010 New Orleans Bowl, and Thomas amassed 2,655 yards on 197 catches; he was only 7 yards shy of a 1,000 yard season in 2013. Furthermore, Thomas became the Sun Belt Conference leader in receiving touchdowns, with 29 during his career. [1] While playing at Troy, Thomas majored in criminal justice. [2]

College statistics

Receiving
YearTeamGPRecYdsAvgTD
2010 Troy 10912013.31
2011 Troy 126787513.19
2012 Troy 125566712.17
2013 Troy 126699315.012
461972,65513.529

Professional career

As the all time Sun Belt Conference leader in receiving touchdowns, Thomas received interest by NFL teams, and was even brought in for a pre-draft visit by the Indianapolis Colts. [3] However, Thomas was not selected in the 2014 NFL Draft.

NFL

Despite going undrafted, the Colts signed Thomas as a priority free agent, including a signing bonus of $6,000. [4] Thomas played in 3 preseason games, catching 2 passes for 18 yards before his release. [5] Thomas was signed to the Colts practice roster later in the year, where he spent two weeks. [6] Thomas was also signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad in 2014, [7] but was cut after a week in favor of Tobais Palmer. [8]

CFL

Thomas next played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, signing on for the 2015 season. [9] However, after catching only one pass for 7 yards in the two preseason games, [10] Thomas was released. [11]

IFL

Thomas joined the Cedar Rapids Titans of the Indoor Football League. He spent the first part of 2016 playing with Cedar Rapids and adapting to the rules of arena football, but was released during the season. After his release, Thomas was picked up by the Titans rival, the Nebraska Danger partway through the 2016 season. Thomas's first season in Nebraska saw him play in only 5 regular season games, but was effective in two postseason games, catching 4 touchdowns. The following year, Thomas had increased usage, surpassing 400 yards on the year. Thomas had a breakout year in 2018; he recorded his first 100-yard game in week 3, and was named one of the players of the week after catching 3 touchdowns to help defeat the eventual champion Iowa Barnstormers in week 6. [12] On special teams, Thomas was named player of the week following a week 4 victory after contributing a recovered onside kick into a touchdown return. [13] By the end of the 2018 season, Thomas was named to the 2nd team All IFL Offense. [14] Thomas recorded his second 100-yard receiving game in 2019, and saw an increased usage on special teams; Thomas took over long snapping duties, and a returner he was named special teams player of the week of week 10 in 2019, for two return touchdowns. [15] Thomas led the league in combined return touchdowns for 2019 with 3, and scored his 50th career touchdown on a rush in the regular season finale against the Barnstormers, a victory which sent Thomas and the Danger to the playoffs for the 4th consecutive year. [16] In the playoffs, Thomas caught the lone touchdown pass from quarterback Tommy Armstrong in the first game, an upset of the higher seeded Green Bay Blizzard, but was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct late in the second game, a loss to the Arizona Rattlers in which Thomas recorded 5 catches, four of which were touchdowns as well as a two-point conversion catch.

Green Bay Blizzard

Following the 2019 season, the Nebraska Danger were put up for sale by their owners, Bosselman Enterprises. [17] Unable to find a buyer in time to qualify for the 2020 IFL season, players became free agents and needed to find new teams. In November 2019, Thomas signed with the Green Bay Blizzard. [18] Hoping to build on a winning 2019 season and their first playoff berth since 2012, Thomas and the Blizzard were denied a chance to play due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing the 2020 IFL season being cancelled. [19] Thomas did play for the team in 2021, scoring a combined 11 touchdowns through 6 games. However, following a cancelled game with the Louisville Xtreme, who were subsequently voted out of the league for failing to pay players, [20] Thomas was not brought back to the 4-4 team following the impromptu bye week, during which additional players from Louisville were added to the roster. While Thomas remained a free agent for the rest of the season, the Blizzard finished the year by winning only one game out of six, with an overall record of 5-9. It was the first year where a team Thomas played for missed the IFL playoffs.

Iowa Barnstormers

During IFL free agency, Thomas signed with the Iowa Barnstormers for the 2022 season. [21] Ironically, Iowa was the last team Thomas played against as a member of the Blizzard.

Professional statistics

IFL regular season

ReceivingRushingKick returnMissed FG return
YearTeamGRecYdsAvgTDAttYdsTDRetYdsTDRetYdsTD
2016 CRT 79788.72381000000
2016 NEB 51212410.31120000000
2017 NEB163741911.3881063243291000
2018 NEB125665811.8163211111381000
2019 NEB144044911.211107722452621581
2020 GB Season cancelled
2021 GB71620112.693213801000
Totals:611721,92911.247282168621,07351581

[22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]

IFL playoffs

ReceivingRushingKick returnMissed FG return
YearTeamGRecYdsAvgTDAttYdsTDRetYdsTDRetYdsTD
2016NEB277110.14000000000
2017NEB133311.000002541000
2018NEB111212.00000000000
2019NEB28587.352803990000
Totals:6191749.2928051531000

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sioux Falls Storm</span> Indoor American football team

The Sioux Falls Storm are a professional indoor football team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Storm joined the original Indoor Football League as an expansion team in 1999 as the Sioux Falls Cobras, and first took the field for the 2000 season. They currently participate in another iteration of the Indoor Football League; prior to that, the Storm were in United Indoor Football (UIF), where they won all four of the league's championship games. In the newer IFL, the Storm have won seven of the eleven championships in the league as of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa Barnstormers</span> Arena football team

The Iowa Barnstormers are a professional indoor football team based in Des Moines, Iowa. They are currently members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). They play their home games at Wells Fargo Arena, known in indoor football circles as "The Well".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spokane Shock</span> Arena football team

The Spokane Shock were a professional indoor American football team based in Spokane, Washington, that played their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The team was initially a member of arenafootball2 (af2), the Shock won division titles in all four seasons and ArenaCups in 2006 and 2009 before they joined the Arena Football League (AFL) in its 2010 relaunch. The team advanced to the playoffs three times after joining the AFL, winning ArenaBowl XXIII in their first season, making them the only arena football franchise to win both the ArenaCup and the ArenaBowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jameel Sewell</span> American football player and coach (born 1987)

Jameel Sewell is a former American football quarterback who currently serves as the quarterbacks coach for the Nebraska Danger of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers.

Xzavie Lee HeBron Jackson [ex-ZAY-vee] is a professional gridiron football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Cedar Rapids Titans of the Indoor Football League (IFL).He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Missouri. He also played in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indoor Football League</span> Indoor American football league founded in 2008

The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. It has one of the largest number of currently active teams among indoor football leagues. As of the 2023 season, the league consists of 14 teams in two conferences with each team playing 16 games over 19 weeks.

Thomas Jones is a professional gridiron football quarterback who is currently a free agent.

Mike Anthony Tatum is an American football coach who is the head coach and offensive coordinator for the Omaha Beef of the National Arena League (NAL). He is former indoor American football wide receiver for the Nebraska Danger, Bismarck Bucks and the Sioux Falls Storm of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football at Oxnard College. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Marion Mayhem in 2009. He played with the Mayhem until their disbanding during the 2010 season. Tatum then finished the 2010 season with the Fort Wayne FireHawks. Tatum then returned to Marion in 2011, when a new franchise called the Marion Blue Racers expanded into the CIFL. Tatum has also played for the Everett Raptors of the IFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duron Carter</span> American gridiron football player (born 1991)

Duron Christopher Carter is an American professional Canadian football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He was initially a member of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a wide receiver and has also played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions, Edmonton Elks.

The 2014 Texas Revolution season was the team's fifteenth season as a professional indoor football franchise, fifth in the Indoor Football League (IFL), and second as the "Texas Revolution". One of nine teams in the IFL for the 2014 season, the Texas Revolution competed in the United Conference for the second consecutive year. The team played their home games at the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas. Chris Williams returned to the IFL as the Texas Revolution's director of football operations and head coach for 2014. The team started strong but faltered, compiling a 3–11 record and missing the playoffs. In the post-season, Williams resigned and the team announced their departure from the IFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billings Wolves</span>

The Billings Wolves were a professional indoor football team based in Billings, Montana and members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Wolves began play in 2015 as an expansion team of the IFL. The Wolves were owned by Ron Benzel and coached by Chris Dixon. The Wolves played their home games at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.

Caleb Holley is a Canadian football wide receiver for the Vegas Knight Hawks of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He has also been a member of the Buffalo Bills (NFL), Los Angeles Kiss (AFL), Sioux Falls Storm (IFL), Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL), Ottawa Redblacks (CFL), and Edmonton Elks (CFL). A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Holley played college football for the East Central Tigers in the Great American Conference (GAC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Armstrong Jr.</span> American football player (born 1993)

Tommy Armstrong Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Omaha Beef of the National Arena League (NAL). He played college football as a quarterback for Nebraska.

The 2016 Nebraska Danger season was the sixth season for the Nebraska Danger as a professional indoor football franchise and their sixth in the Indoor Football League (IFL). One of ten teams competing in the IFL for the 2016 season, the Nebraska Danger were members of the Intense Conference. For the fifth consecutive year, the team played their home games under head coach Mike Davis in the Eihusen Arena at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Jamie Bender is a former American football defensive back. He played college football at University of Alabama at Birmingham and attended Raleigh High School in Raleigh, Mississippi. He was a member of the Green Bay Blizzard, Nebraska Danger, Cleveland Gladiators, Iowa Barnstormers and Richmond Roughriders.

Kenzel Doe is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist, most recently for the Nebraska Danger of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football for Wisconsin and has played in both the National Football League, and the Canadian Football League, as well as playing for two other minor league football teams.

The 2018 Indoor Football League season was the tenth season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The league played with six teams, after the suspension of operations of three teams, the departure of another two teams, and the addition and subsequent suspension of two teams.

The 2021 Indoor Football League season was the thirteenth season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The league played the season with twelve teams, down from thirteen the previous season, by adding one expansion team, one team from the National Arena League, one team from the American Arena League, and four teams going on hiatus. In addition, three existing teams made their IFL on-field debut after the 2020 season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matt Behrendt is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Blizzard of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football at University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Behrendt was a member of three NCAA Division III Football Championship-winning teams with the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks football program, one as a backup in 2011 and two as the team's starting quarterback, in 2013 and 2014.

Drew Powell is an indoor American football quarterback for the Tucson Sugar Skulls of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football for Livingstone College.

References

  1. ↑ "Sun Belt Conference Career Leaders and Records for Receiving Touchdowns". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  2. ↑ "Eric Thomas - Football". Troy University Athletics.
  3. ↑ Wells, Brad (April 4, 2014). "Troy WR Eric Thomas to visit Colts". Stampede Blue.
  4. ↑ "Eric Thomas". Spotrac.com.
  5. ↑ "Eric Thomas Game Stats | NFL.com". nfl.com.
  6. ↑ "Eric Thomas signs with Colts". shreveporttimes.com.
  7. ↑ "Bills sign WR Eric Thomas to Practice Squad". buffalobills.com.
  8. ↑ "WR Tobais Palmer added to Practice Squad". buffalobills.com.
  9. ↑ Bale, Kelly (May 16, 2015). "Roughriders Sign Receivers Devin Wilson and Eric Thomas".
  10. ↑ "2015-06-13 Game Tracker - Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Edmonton Eskimos (2176)".
  11. ↑ McCormick, Murray (15 June 2015). "Roughriders release Sunseri". Regina Leader-Post.
  12. ↑ Relations, Danger Media. "Thomas earns Danger Player of the Week honors". ksnblocal4.com.
  13. ↑ "Eric Thomas, Nebraska Danger, Special Teams Player of the Week". Indoor Football League. March 21, 2018.
  14. ↑ "IFL Annnounces [sic] 2018 All-IFL Teams". Indoor Football League. June 29, 2018. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Eric Thomas, Nebraska Danger, Special Teams Player of the Week". Indoor Football League. May 3, 2019.
  16. ↑ sports.desk@theindependent.com, The Independent Sports Staff. "Danger rally to defeat Barnstormers, secure playoff bid". The Grand Island Independent.
  17. ↑ dale.miller@theindependent.com, Dale Miller. "Bosselman puts the Nebraska Danger up for sale". The Grand Island Independent.
  18. ↑ "Tweet". twitter.com. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  19. ↑ "IFL Cancels Remaining 2020 Games". Indoor Football League. April 13, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Indoor Football League terminates Louisville Xtreme's membership". 15 June 2021.
  21. ↑ "Barnstormers Sign Veteran Wide Receiver - OurSports Central". 3 December 2021.
  22. ↑ "Indoor Football League". Indoor Football League.
  23. ↑ "Indoor Football League". Indoor Football League.
  24. ↑ "Indoor Football League". Indoor Football League.
  25. ↑ "Indoor Football League". Indoor Football League.
  26. ↑ "Indoor Football League". Indoor Football League.
  27. ↑ "2021 Football - Overall Statistics - Indoor Football League".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.