Julius Dewayne Thomas (born June 27, 1988) is an American football tight end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Broncos in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football and basketball at Portland State.
Early Life and Education
Thomas is the son of Greg and Toria Thomas. He has two brothers, Trenton and Marcus. Thomas graduated from Tokay High School in Lodi, California. Thomas graduated from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
College career
Football
Thomas was a First-team All-Big Sky Conference selection in 2010. He ended the season with 29 receptions for 453 yards and two touchdowns for Portland State's football team. Thomas had not played collegiate football prior to 2010.
Basketball
Thomas played four seasons for the Portland State basketball team. During his collegiate basketball career, Thomas set school records for career games played (121), career wins (78), and career field goals percentage (.663), and also participated on one Big Sky regular season championship team and two Big Sky tournament championship teams as well two NCAA Tournaments (2008 and 2009). He was twice named to the Big Sky All-Tournament team. As a senior, he averaged 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and shot a school-record .671 from the field.
Professional career
Denver Broncos
Thomas was taken in the 4th round, 129th overall, by the Denver Broncos in the 2011 NFL Draft. His rookie contract was four years and $2,420,000 through the 2014 season . It included a $384,000 signing bonus. Thomas had only one catch through his first two years in the league as he battled various injuries before erupting onto the scene in 2013. He scored his first and second career touchdowns in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5, 2013. He followed up this performance in week two with a 6 catch, 47 yard performance that ended with a game-sealing touchdown. In week three he continued his scoring streak against the Oakland Raiders (3 catches for 37 Yards and a TD). He ended the season with 12 touchdown receptions, the most by any Denver Broncos tight end. Thomas and the Broncos reached Super Bowl XLVIII, Where he had 4 receptions for 27 yards but lost 43-8 to the Seattle Seahawks.
2011: Selected by Denver in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft, Thomas played five regular-season games (1 start) and posted one reception for five yards as a rookie... Joined three other teammates who became the first quartet of rookies to start a season opener for the Broncos since at least 1968... Inactive for 11 regular-season games and two playoff contests due to an ankle injury sustained in Denver’s Week 2 win vs. Cin. (9/18).
2012:Thomas saw action in Denver’s first four regular-season games before being declared a gameday inactive for the remainder of the season.
2013: Thomas started 14 games and earned his first career Pro Bowl selection after finishing with 12 touchdown catches, which tied for fifth in the NFL (3rd among TEs) and established a franchise record for a tight end... Totaled 788 receiving yards on 65 catches... Caught five passes for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns to mark the most yards by a Broncos tight end since Shannon Sharpe posted a team-record 214 yards in 2002... Caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from QB Peyton Manning in the fourth quarter of Denver’s Week 2 win at NYG (9/15)... Joined WR Wes Welker and Saints TE Jimmy Graham as the only players to catch touchdown passes in the first three games of the season with his 13-yard score from Manning in the second quarter vs. Oak. (9/23)... Led the team with nine catches for 122 yards, setting career highs in both categories and adding a pair of scores at Dal. (10/6)... Caught his seventh touchdown pass of the season vs. Jac. (10/13)... Caught his eighth touchdown of the season at Ind. (10/20)... Recorded the second-longest scoring catch by a tight end in team history with his 74-yard touchdown at S.D. (11/10)... Tied for the most touchdowns in a single season in team history with his 10th touchdown reception of the season in Denver’s 27-17 win vs. K.C. (11/17)... Set a franchise tight end record with his 11th touchdown catch of the season vs. Ten. (12/8)... Caught six passes for 78 yards and one touchdown, which was Manning’s NFL-record 51st of the season at Hou. (12/22)... Led the team with 76 receiving yards on six catches in his postseason debut vs. S.D. (1/12)...Led the team with eight catches, finishing with 85 yards in the AFC Championship Game vs. N.E. (1/19).
Personal life
Thomas is a Christian. Thomas has spoken about his faith saying, "When you're going through tribulations and it's one thing after another, it's easier to doubt your faith. It's easier to doubt the Lord. I never allowed that to creep into my mind. I thought, 'God brought me here for a reason.'...What I've learned is that no matter what you're going through, God has a plan".
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