One of the biggest standouts at the NFLPA Bowl practices for the American team has been Noel Thomas. At 6’1 202 pounds, he played for the Connecticut Huskies and was featured as the number one wide receiver for the team. It was a tough season for the Huskies as they only won three games, but Thomas produced. He garnered 100 catches, 1,179 yards, and three touchdowns. In addition, Thomas had an eight game stretch in which he accumulated 90 receiving yards or more.
There are a few traits in Thomas’s game that I admire the most. First, he catches anything in his vicinity like a Venus flytrap. I bet his quarterback called him “Mr. Reliable” or “7/11″ because he was open all day. Second, Thomas is extremely aggressive when going up for the catch. He could go right over a defender’s back and pluck it away from them like it is child’s play. His best play was when he caught a pass even though he knew he was about to be sandwiched in between two defenders. That is tough. Finally, he knew what to do with the ball in his hands. When the UCONN receiver caught the ball, he was looking to score every time. All of these skills have been on display this week at practice. He told me he modeled his game after and studied Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. as some of their features permeate in his game.
Thomas is getting a great opportunity to learn from former NFL receivers TJ Houshmanzadeh, Matthew Hatchette, and Mike Wilson as they have coached him this week. He said enthusiastically, “I am just trying to be a sponge. They have emphasized the smaller things such as switching my feet on routes, stemming as I go up the field, and getting in-and-out of routes.” Being coachable is the key to making it at the next level or any level for that matter.
What impressed me the most about Thomas was his humility and bond he has with the state of Connecticut. He is from Norwalk, CT and he tied his love for his state into what it meant to be drafted. Thomas stated, “It would mean the world to me, my family, and the state of Connecticut, which is overlooked, if I get drafted.” He certainly takes pride and holds the torch for his home state. In fact, he recently received the Connecticut Player of the Year awarded that is usually given to the top athlete that played high school in the state.
Thomas has certainly stood out this week at practice and is well on his way to possibly having a big game Saturday in the NFLPA Bowl. He has a chance to catch a few scouts’ eyes with a good showing in the contest. Thomas was invited to the NFL Combine recently as well. Good luck to Thomas in Saturday’s game as well as throughout this perilous journey to what would be a dream come true.
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Photos taken by Kevin A. Koski/ NFLPA
