Juanyeh Thomas
No. 30 – Dallas Cowboys
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (2000-06-24) June 24, 2000
Niceville, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:217 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Walton (FL)
Niceville (FL)
College:Georgia Tech (2018–2021)
Undrafted:2022
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 12, 2023
Tackles:13
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Juanyeh Thomas (born June 24, 2000) is an American football safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

Early life

Thomas was born on June 24, 2000.[1] His home in Crestview, Florida, was burned down when he was four years old and his father was charged with having intentionally done it.[2] He thus had to be raised with his four siblings by his single mother, living in various places over the coming years, including in a sedan by a rest stop.[2] Despite his family's circumstances, Thomas was still able to play sports, taking up football at age five.[3]

Thomas attended Walton High School for two years before transferring to Niceville.[4] At Walton in 2015, he was named all-state after having interceptions returned for touchdowns in five consecutive games, a national record.[3] He was also named all-state in both years at Niceville, where he was a team captain.[3] He was ranked a three-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.[5]

College career

As a true freshman at Georgia Tech in 2018, Thomas served as the team's kick returner and set five school records in the position en route to being named a freshman All-American.[6] The following season, he became a starter at safety and was named second-team all-conference by Pro Football Focus (PFF) after compiling 60 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception.[7] In the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, he started all 10 games and had 59 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception.[8] Thomas had a career-high 81 tackles in his final season, 2021, being named honorable mention all-conference.[8][9] He was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine after the conclusion of his collegiate career.[10]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0+3⁄4 in
(1.85 m)		 212 lb
(96 kg)		 32+3⁄8 in
(0.82 m)		 9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		4.55 s1.54 s2.62 s4.18 s7.33 s34.0 in
(0.86 m)		10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)		17 reps
Sources:[11][12]

After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Thomas signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.[13] He did not make the final roster but afterwards joined the practice squad.[14] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 23, 2023.[15] After impressing in the 2023 preseason, he made the Cowboys' final roster.[9] In his NFL debut against the New York Giants in week one, Thomas blocked a field goal that resulted in the Cowboys' first touchdown in their 40–0 win.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Juanyeh Thomas". ESPN.
  2. 1 2 Gehlken, Michael (August 29, 2023). "After escaping house fire, sleeping in rest stops, Cowboys DB on verge of NFL stability". The Dallas News.
  3. 1 2 3 "Juanyeh Thomas". Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
  4. ↑ Stringer, Seth (June 1, 2016). "Walton's Juanyeh Thomas transfers to Niceville". The Northwest Florida Daily News.
  5. ↑ "NFL Draft Profile: Juanyeh Thomas, Safety, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets". Sports Illustrated. April 2, 2022.
  6. ↑ Barnett, Ashley (July 24, 2020). "Juanyeh Thomas Named to Paul Hornung Award Watch List". Sports Illustrated.
  7. ↑ "Niceville's Thomas named to PFF's All ACC team". The Northwest Florida Daily News. December 6, 2019.
  8. 1 2 Stringer, Seth (May 1, 2022). "Niceville High, Georgia Tech alumnus Juanyeh Thomas signs with Dallas Cowboys". The Northwest Florida Daily News.
  9. 1 2 Caudell, Jackson (August 29, 2023). "Juanyeh Thomas makes Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster". Sports Illustrated.
  10. ↑ Suglura, Ken (January 13, 2022). "Juanyeh Thomas upbeat about future". The Atlanta Constitution. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ↑ "Juanyeh Thomas Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ "2022 NFL Draft Scout Juanyeh Thomas College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ Caudell, Jackson (May 1, 2022). "Where did Former Georgia Tech Players Sign As Undrafted Free Agents?". Sports Illustrated.
  14. ↑ "NFL practice squad tracker: Team-by-team roster signings ahead of the 2022 season". National Football League. August 31, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Cowboys' Juanyeh Thomas: Inks reserve/future contract". CBS Sports. RotoWire. January 23, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Niceville HS grad Juanyeh Thomas blocks field goal in NFL debut with Cowboys". WEAR-TV. September 11, 2023.
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