After he grabbed four catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns in the
first half of Thursday’s season opening game versus Baltimore, fantasy
fans across the country rushed to their laptops and smartphones to claim
Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas. While his performance is
certainly an early sample size, just what’s backstory on the 6-foot-5,
255-pound third year player? 1) He played in two NCAA tournament games in four years on the basketball team at Portland State University.
Thomas guards Xavier’s C.J. Anderson in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. (Photo: The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger) Thomas scored four points in two first-round exits against Kansas and Xavier. 2) If you had him on your fantasy team before tonight, you probably should be a pro scout.
3) Thomas didn’t play football between his freshman year of high school and final year of college. USA TODAY Sports’ Lindsay Jones wrote about Thomas’ path for the Denver Post in 2011 after the Broncos traded up to draft him in the fourth round.
Nigel Burton was just a month into his new job as head
coach of the Portland State football team when the basketball star
strolled into his office.
Julius Thomas was 6-foot-5, 240 pounds and head-to-toe swagger, and
he told Burton that he wanted to play football that fall. It was an
intriguing possibility, sure, but then, in January 2010, it was hard for
Burton to imagine this basketball player actually suited up in pads and
a helmet.
4) He had only one career reception prior to Thursday’s breakout game.
5) The Broncos will likely make sure he shows up again next Thursday. The team doesn’t have a game, but Thomas is scheduled to appear
in Arapahoe County court on September 12th after his arrest last week
for failing to appear in court in March to face a misdemeanor traffic
charge.
“We were notified of the issue involving Julius Thomas when it
occurred on Aug. 28. It was addressed internally and is being resolved,”
the Broncos told the Denver Post in a statement.
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