Former Viking football and basketball star
Julius Thomas participated in the NFL Combine Friday and Saturday. He is one of 17 players at the tight end position taking part.
Thomas is currently projected as a seventh-round draft pick who could possibly go as high as the fifth round.
The Combine runs through Mar. 1. To get information and TV times for the Combine go to www.nfl.com/combine.
Thomas, who caught the immediate interest of NFL scouts during the 2010 season, has been preparing for the NFL Draft, Apr. 28-30. He was a first team All-Big Sky Conference selection in his only season of collegiate football.
Earlier this winter, the 6-5, 246-pound Thomas played in the East-West Shrine Game, catching a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion.
Thomas is one of three players from the Big Sky Conference at the NFL Combine. The other two are running back Taiwan Jones of Eastern Washington and offensive lineman Michael Person of Montana State.
Here are some updated stories on Julius Thomas, as of Saturday, Feb. 26
Seattle Times
New York Times
The Oregonian
ESPN.com
Lodi News
The Sports Network
Here are JT's marks among tight ends at the Combine as of 3 p.m. PT on Saturday
40-yard dash: 4.68 seconds, 6th
broad jump: 9'3", 11th
vertical jump: 35'5", 5th
3-cone drill: 6.96 seconds, 7th
20-yard shuttle: 4.31 seconds, 8th
60-yard shuttle: 11.95 seconds, 8th
bench press: 16 reps at 225 pounds, 15th
JT's NFL Combine Page
JULIUS THOMAS, Tight End, 6-5, 240
Stockton, CA (Tokay HS)
A four-year letterwinner in basketball, he walked on with the football team in spring 2010… so impressed the coaching staff that he became a primary offensive weapon in 2010... excellent size and athleticism… outstanding speed as a tight end, he spent a lot of time split wide in the formation… as he develops more size and strength will be even more effective… played one season of football in high school before focusing on his basketball career… that resulted in a full basketball scholarship at Portland State.
SENIOR SEASON • 2010
Played in all 11 games for the Vikings in his first football action since his freshman year in high school… caught 29 passes for 453 yards and two touchdowns in a run-heavy offense… named first team All-Big Sky Conference at the end of the season… also proved to be an excellent blocker despite his relative inexperience and lack of bulk… became an avid film watcher in the coaches offices to improve his game… opened his career with two catches for 20 yards at Arizona State (9/4)… had four receptions for 48 yards against Oregon (9/18)… caught two passes for 56 yards in the win over Idaho State (10/2)… had seven receptions for 143 yards and a 55-yard touchdown against Big Sky Champion Montana State (10/9)… made four receptions for 102 yards and a 39-yard touchdown at Weber State (10/23)… three catches for 38 yards against Northern Colorado.
PORTLAND STATE BASKETBALL CAREER
Familiar to Viking fans for a different reason - he starred on the Viking basketball team for four seasons... set school records for career games played (121), career wins (78), career field goals percentage (.663)... also participated on two Big Sky Champion teams and two NCAA Tournaments (2008 and 2009)... twice named to the Big Sky All-Tournament team... made game-winning dunk with 3.5 seconds left to play in beating Montana State for the 2009 Big Sky Tournament Championship... averaged 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and and shot a school-record .671 from the field as a senior.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Son of Greg and Toria Thomas... born June 27, 1988... brothers are Trenton and Marcus... earned his degree in Business Administration... hobbies are hanging out with friends, reading and basketball.
