East St. Louis graduate signs with 6-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots
Legendary quarterback Tom Brady and future hall-of-fame tight end Rob Gronkowski won’t be there later this summer when the New England Patriots open training camp.
But there is a chance former East St. Louis Flyer wide receiver Jeff Thomas will be in the Pats’ camp.
A 2017 East St. Louis High School graduate who attended the University of Miami, Florida, the past three years, Thomas signed a free agent contract with the six-time Super Bowl champions on Sunday.
Thought by many NFL analysts, including Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN, as a possible fifth round pick, the 5-10 170-pound Thomas was not chosen during the NFL Draft, which wrapped up Saturday.
Thomas joins a Patriots squad which begins a new era under head coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots, who won their last Super Bowl in 2019, watched Brady sign with Tampa Bay earlier this spring and traded Gronkowski to the Buccaneers prior to the draft earlier this month.
Despite disciplinary issues which resulted in a few suspensions at Miami, Thomas has the ability to be an impact player in the NFL.
Thomas caught 83 passes for 1,316 yards and eight touchdowns in his college career after finishing his high school career with 191 receptions for 3,578 yards and 59 touchdowns.
This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 8:29 AM.
