Devin Thomas was regarded by many as the top wide receiver prospects of the 2008 NFL Draft. His quickness and strength will help him contribute to the Redskins offensive attack. Thomas (second round 34th overall) became the first wide receiver since (Taylor Jacobs in 2003) to be selected with the Redskins first overall pick.). 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. ThomasÕs 2,590 all-purpose yards were second only to current Kansas City Chief and former Penn State Nittany Lions Larry JohnsonÕs 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 on April 26, 2008. He was the first overall pick by the Redskins in the 2008 NFL Draft. Washington traded its first-round selection (21st overall), third-round selection (84th overall) and fifth-round selection (154th overall) to the Atlanta Falcons for a pair of second-round selections (34th overall, 48th overall) and a fourth-round selection (103rd overall)
Set school record with 79 receptions and led the Big Ten with 1,260 receiving yards in 2007
Led the Spartans with eight touchdowns in 2007
Established Michigan State records with 2,590 all-purpose yards in 2007
Totaled 85 receptions for 1,350 yards and nine touchdowns in 23 games with 13 starts
Attended Coffeyville Community College in 2004 and 2005
2007:
Declared for the 2008 NFL Draft after his junior campaign
Named third-team All-American selection by The NFL Draft Report, as well as All-Big Ten Conference second-team
Set a school record at Michigan State with 79 receptions and led the Big Ten with 1,260 yards receiving
Completed the season as the Big Ten’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards in a season with 1,135
In addition, finished second in Big Ten history with 39 total kickoff returns (43, Earl Douthitt of Iowa)
Started in 12 of 13 games at wide receiver
Tallied a team-high eight touchdown receptions
Also saw action at tailback and was the team’s primary kickoff returner
Ranked 11th in the nation with a 29.1 yard kickoff return average
Finished sixth in the NCAA with an average of 199.2 all-purpose yards per game, which marked the second-best total in Big Ten history
Established a Michigan State record with 2,590 all-purpose yards, besting Lorenzo White’s 2,094 yards in 1985 trailed only Larry Johnson of Penn State, who tallied a Big Ten conference all-time best 2,655 yards in 2002
Recorded a season-high 13 receptions vs. Indiana on October 13, tying Plaxico Burress for second most in a single game in school history (Matt Trannon, 14)
Tallied three touchdowns grabs against Penn State (11/17), which tied the school’s single-game record
2006:
Enrolled at Michigan State from Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College
Played in 10 games with one start recording six receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown
Blocked a punt that was returned 17 yards
Blocked a punt in the fourth quarter that was returned 33 yards for a touchdown against Northwestern (10/21), which helped the Spartans to the biggest comeback in NCAA I-BCS history
Overcame a 38-3 deficit to win 41-38
Recorded a season-high four receptions for 82 yards against Indiana (10/28)
2005:
Earned second-team All-Jayhawk Conference honors
Started 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 with a long of 21
Tallied 15 kickoff returns for 339 yards and three punt returns for 92 yards with a long of 50
Ranked second on the team with 1,161 all-purpose yards, averaging 105.5 per game
Helped the Red Ravens to a 9-3 record
2004:
Redshirted at Coffeyville Community College High School
Was a Detroit Free Press All-State honoree at Canton High School in Canton, Michigan 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 on defense
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 this past offseason
After being drafted by the Redskins, his father (Dwight) retired after 15 years as a machinist at a Ford plant in Michigan
Born on November 15, 1986 and is a native of Ann Arbor, MI
