Ian Thomas (American football)

Last updated

Ian Thomas
Ian Thomas (51738323396) (cropped).jpg
Thomas with the Panthers in 2021
No. 80 – Carolina Panthers
Position: Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1996-06-06) June 6, 1996 (age 28)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school: Digital Harbor
(Baltimore, Maryland)
College: Nassau CC (2014–2015)
Indiana (2016–2017)
NFL draft: 2018  / round: 4 / pick: 101
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2024
Receptions:118
Receiving yards:1,059
Receiving touchdowns:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ian Thomas (born June 6, 1996) is an American professional football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Indiana, and was selected by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Thomas's mother Martha died due to liver and kidney failure before Thomas was nine. His father died a year later due to a heart attack. [1]

College career

Thomas graduated from Nassau Community College in 2016, and joined Indiana for his junior year. Thomas played all 13 games during his first year at Indiana, acting as a blocking tight end and recording only three catches. [2] During his senior year, after a game against Georgia Southern, in which he had a 71-yard touchdown, Thomas was named the Mackey Award Tight End of the Week. [3] As a senior, Thomas had 25 receptions for 376 yards and five touchdowns. [4]

Following his senior season at Indiana, Thomas was invited to the 2018 Senior Bowl. [5]

Professional career

On November 21, 2017, it was reported that Thomas has accepted his invitation to play in the 2018 Senior Bowl. [6] Thomas helped his draft stock by impressing scouts during Senior Bowl practices. On January 27, 2018, Thomas played in the Reese's Senior Bowl and was part of Houston Texans' head coach Bill O'Brien's South team that defeated the North 45–16. He participated at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and performed the majority of combine drills, but opted to skip the bench press due to a pre-existing shoulder injury.

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Ian Thomas' NFL Combine Workout
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg ESPN Prospect Profile: Ian Thomas

On April 3, 2018, Thomas attended Indiana's pro day, but chose to stand on his combine numbers and only ran positional drills. He also attended private meetings and workouts with the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. [7] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, his draft projections by NFL draft experts and scouts varied from as early as the second round to as late as the seventh round. The majority of experts projected him to be drafted in the second or third round. Thomas was also ranked as the fifth best tight end prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com and CBS Sports and was ranked the sixth best tight end by Scouts Inc. [8] [9]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 3+5⁄8 in
(1.92 m)		259 lb
(117 kg)		32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		10 in
(0.25 m)		4.74 s1.69 s2.70 s4.20 s7.15 s36 in
(0.91 m)		10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)
All values from NFL Combine [10] [11]

The Carolina Panthers selected Thomas in the fourth round with the 101st overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. [12] He was the sixth tight end drafted in 2018. [13]

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Panthers draft Ian Thomas 101st overall

On May 10, 2018, the Panthers signed Thomas to a four-year, $3.20 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $747,994. [14] He made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. In the 16–8 victory, he had four receiving yards on his first two career receptions. [15] In Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons, he scored his first professional touchdown on a one-yard reception from quarterback Taylor Heinicke. [16] In his rookie season, he appeared in all 16 games and started six of them. He totaled 36 receptions for 333 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. [17]

In the 2019 season, Thomas appeared in all 16 games, of which he started three. He totaled 16 receptions for 136 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. [18]

On February 25, 2022, Thomas signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract extension with the Panthers. [19]

On October 14, 2023, Thomas was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury. [20] He was activated on November 18.

On September 7, 2024, Thomas was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury. [21] He was activated on October 12, but placed back on injured reserve on November 18. [22]

Personal life

On February 28, 2022, it was announced that Thomas would be facing five misdemeanor charges: reckless driving, operation of a vehicle that is not insured, attempt to flee/elude arrest, failure to heed light or siren, and driving with a revoked license. The charges stemmed from an incident in which Thomas and an unidentified driver of a red ATV were pulled over for not having license plates after which Thomas left the scene before being stopped and arrested. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Smith (tight end)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Edwin Alexander Smith, is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft. Smith was also a member of the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Hoomanawanui</span> American football player (born 1988)

Michael Patrick Hoomanawanui is a former American football tight end of Hawaiian and Italian-Irish descent. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football at University of Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgil Green</span> American football player (born 1988)

Virgil Leo Green is an American college football coach and former professional tight end. He is the tight ends coach for the University of Nevada, Reno, a position he has held since 2023. He played college football at Nevada and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Matthews</span> American football player (born 1992)

Jordan Armand Matthews is an American professional football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Vanderbilt and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. Matthews started his NFL career as a wide receiver before switching positions after the 2020 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blake Bell</span> American football player (born 1991)

Blake Bell is an American professional football tight end. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he received the nickname "Belldozer", a play on words due to his large frame and running style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O. J. Howard</span> American football player (born 1994)

Oterrius Jabari "O. J." Howard is an American professional football tight end. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Higbee</span> American football player (born 1993)

Tyler Higbee is an American professional football tight end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Western Kentucky and was drafted by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feleipe Franks</span> American football player (born 1997)

Feleipe Franks is an American professional football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played his first three years of college football at Florida and transferred to Arkansas for his final season. Franks joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayden Hurst</span> American football player (born 1993)

Hayden Randle Hurst is an American professional football tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Izzo</span> American football player (born 1995)

Ryan Anthony Izzo is American professional football tight end for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Florida State, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2018 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Chark</span> American football player (born 1996)

Darrell Demont "D. J." Chark Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Thomas (American football)</span> American football player (born 1996)

Jordan Malik Thomas is an American professional football tight end for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Mississippi State as a tight end and was selected by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrace Marshall Jr.</span> American football player (born 2000)

Terrace Marshall Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Sullivan (American football)</span> American football player (born 1996)

Stephen Sullivan is an American professional football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was a part of their national championship win in 2020. In college he played wide receiver. He was selected by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stantley Thomas-Oliver</span> American football player (born 1998)

Stantley Thomas-Oliver III is an American professional football cornerback for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Florida International. He has also played for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL).

Ihmir Smith-Marsette is an American professional football wide receiver and punt returner for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft. He has also played for the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquez Stevenson</span> American football player (born 1998)

Marquez Stevenson is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shi Smith</span> American football player (born 1998)

Shiyun M. Smith is an American professional football wide receiver and punt returner. He played college football at South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Tremble</span> American football player (born 2000)

Tommy Tremble is an American professional football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame and was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peyton Hendershot</span> American football player (born 1999)

Peyton Hendershot is an American professional football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Indiana.

References

  1. ↑ Shankle, Kris (March 21, 2018). "Ian Thomas' Search For Greatness Has Been a Long and Winding Road". The Hoosier Huddle. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  2. ↑ Miller, Mike (August 28, 2017). "Thomas hungry to make a difference at tight end this fall". Hoosier Sports Report. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Indiana's Ian Thomas Named Mackey Award Tight End of the Week". September 27, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Ian Thomas 2017 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  5. ↑ Miller, Mike (November 20, 2017). "Thomas accepts invite to Senior Bowl". Hoosier Sports Report. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Thomas accepts Senior Bowl invite". iuhoosiers.com. November 21, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  7. ↑ "IU football's Ian Thomas turning NFL heads at tight end". indystar.com. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ "NFL Ian Thomas -ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 18, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ "Ian Thomas, DS #5 TE, Indiana". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Ian Thomas Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". National Football League . Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  11. ↑ "2018 NFL Draft Scout Ian Thomas College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  12. ↑ "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  13. ↑ Strickland, Bryan (April 28, 2018). "Panthers draft Ian Thomas in fourth round". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Spotrac.com: Ian Thomas contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers – September 9th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – December 23rd, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Ian Thomas 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Ian Thomas 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  19. ↑ Gantt, Darin (February 25, 2022). "Panthers bring back tight end Ian Thomas". Panthers.com.
  20. ↑ Gantt, Darin (October 14, 2023). "Tight end Ian Thomas placed on injured reserve". Panthers.com.
  21. ↑ Gantt, Darin (September 7, 2024). "Ian Thomas placed on injured reserve, among other moves". Panthers.com.
  22. ↑ Gantt, Darin (November 18, 2024). "Caleb Farley added to roster, among other moves". Panthers.com.
  23. ↑ Callihan, Schuyler (March 1, 2022). "Panthers TE Ian Thomas Facing Five Misdemeanor Charges". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
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.