Devin Thomas saw action as a reserve wide receiver in 2008, playing in 16 regular season games and compiling 15 receptions for 120 yards. He was regarded by many as one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2008 NFL Draft. In 2007, he set a school record at Michigan State with 79 receptions and established a Big Ten record with 1,135 kickoff return yards. Thomas’s 2,590 all-purpose yards were second only to current Kansas City Chief and former Penn State Nittany Lions Larry Johnson’s 2,655 yards in Big Ten history.
How Acquired: Selected by the Washington Redskins in the second-round (34th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. He was the first overall pick by the Redskins in the draft.
PRO:
Has played in 16 regular season games with one start
Compiled 15 receptions for 120 yards and three rushes for 53 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown run
Totaled nine special teams tackles and one forced fumble
2008 (WAS)
Played in all 16 regular season games with one start (at Dallas, 9/28)
Had 15 receptions for 120 yards and three rushing attempts for 53 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown run on a reverse vs. New York Giants (11/30)
Finished the season with nine special teams tackles and one forced fumble
Made NFL debut at New York Giants (9/4) and posted first career reception for five yards
Caught one pass for seven yards and rushed 11 yards on an end-around that set up TE Todd Yoder’s two-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against Arizona (9/21)
Made his first career start at Dallas (9/28)
Had one reception for nine yards and one special teams stop and a forced fumble at Detroit (10/26)
Tied his career-high with three receptions for 26 yards at Baltimore (12/7)
Set school record with 79 receptions and led the Big Ten with 1,260 receiving yards in 2007, his junior year
Led the Spartans with eight touchdowns in 2007
Established a Michigan State record with 2,590 all-purpose yards while playing wide receiver, running back and returning kicks
Finished sixth in the nation and second in Big Ten history with 199.2 all-purpose yards per game
Totaled 85 receptions for 1,350 yards and nine touchdowns in 23 games with 13 starts
Finished second in Big Ten history with 39 kick returns (43, Earl Douthitt of Iowa)
Ranked 11th in the nations with a 29.1 yard kickoff return average
In 2006, played in 10 games with one start and recorded six receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown
Attended Coffeyville Community College in 2004 and 2005
In 2005, earned second-team All-Jayhaw Conference honors while starting in all 11 games at Coffeyville Community College
Led the school with 33 receptions for 674 yards and five touchdowns
Added five rushes for 56 yards, 15 kickoff returns for 339 yards and three punt returns for 92 yards
Averaged 105.5 all-purpose yards per game and 1,161 on the season
Redshirted in 2004
Was a Detroit Free Press All-State honoree at Canton High School in Canton, Mich. during his senior season
Recorded more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns during his senior season
Finished with 17 receptions for 440 yards, nearly 600 yards rushing and six interceptions at cornerback, returning one for a score
Set Canton High School records in the 100 and 200-meter as a member of the track team
Attended Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan as a freshman and sophomore before enrolling at Canton High School
Majored in sociology at Michigan State
Showcased his video game skills, winning the Rookie Madden Bowl during the NFL Rookie Premiere in the 2008 offseason
During the 2008 season, visited Bailey’s Elementary School to congratulate students on winning the 2008 Redskins Reading Challenge contest and read to over 500 kindergarten through third grade students
In a random act of kindness, made a surprise visit to meet Redskins fan Dave King at his place of work (Regal Cinemas) in Sterling, VA and provided King with Redskins gear and autographs
After being drafted by the Redskins, his father (Dwight) retired after 15 years as a machinist at a Ford plant in Michigan
