Even when Nathan Thomas has successfully executed a block, he doesn’t stop there. The Louisiana offensive tackle is only done when the whistle has blown and the play is over.
Against Georgia Southern in 2022, Louisiana had the ball on first-and-10 on Georgia Southern’s 42-yard line early in the fourth quarter. The Ragin’ Cajuns owned a 33-17 lead and sought to drain the clock, so they turned to the run game.
Thomas had chipped a defensive tackle and moved on by the time the ball was handed off. He climbed up to the second level, found a linebacker, and locked in.
He had just the right leverage to clear a lane for his running back to gain a first down. But Thomas kept pushing and shoving until his opponent was more than 10 yards away from the original line of scrimmage.
Thomas has a rare tenacity and is motivated to keep his football career going as a professional.
“It’s been a grind honestly,” Thomas said at the NFL Combine. “I don’t think a lot of people understand how much work it is. It’s a lot that you go through, being an athlete.”
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
Where Did Nathan Thomas Get Drafted?
Thomas was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was selected with the 233rd overall pick.
“I’m a huge technician,” Thomas said when asked what separates him from other offensive linemen in this class. “I work hard, but it’s tough. A lot of other players in this combine, we’re all great. We’re all here for a reason. But at the end of the day, it’s going to come between who can put their hand in the dirt and keep going and dominate. I think that’s what I bring to the table and do better.”
What Was Nathan Thomas’ 40 Time?
Thomas ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in 5.19 seconds, which was 27th among offensive linemen.
At 6-foot-5, 332 pounds, his three-cone drill time of 8.01 seconds was 25th at his position group, while his broad jump of 8 feet, 11 inches tied for 32nd and his vertical jump of 25 inches was 50th.
“The workouts have been fun,” Thomas said. “The grind has been fun. It’s been a great process.”
Nathan Thomas’ Stats And Highlights
Thomas, who made the All-Sun Belt honorable mention list, was incredibly dependable last season.
He gave up just 12 pressures in 2023. Among offensive tackles in this draft class who played at least 509 snaps in 2023, Thomas tied for the 15th-fewest pressures allowed in the country. He gave up five quarterback hurries, two QB hits, and five sacks in 2023 while playing primarily left tackle.
He was also 11th in Pro Football Focus’ grades for run blocking.
That was an improvement after he gave up 25 pressures, though just one sack, in 2022. In 2021, he gave up six pressures and one sack after playing 212 snaps.
“The way we did our programs, conditioning, and all the offseason stuff, I feel like it did a very good job of preparing me for this point,” Thomas said when asked how the Ragin’ Cajuns readied him for the NFL. “I don’t think a lot of people really understand the hard work we really go through. So in the offseason, when you’re grinding and you have conditioning sessions where it’s two months of straight running, straight lifting, then you go into spring ball, a lot of people don’t understand that will carry over going into this process and getting ready for the league.
“These past couple months have been nothing but running, lifting, doing these agility drills, getting ready for the combine and ultimately getting better as a football player. I would definitely say college has played a great role in me getting prepared for this next level.”
Nathan Thomas’ NFL Comparison And Draft Profile
I project Thomas’ playing style in the NFL will be similar to Christian Darrisaw of the Minnesota Vikings. Both are well-rounded players and are around the same size.
Thomas noted at the NFL Combine he’s been trying to emphasize his skills in pass protection recently. He’s focused on staying balanced while not lunging or being too aggressive.
Thomas was solid on passing plays already though, as proven by the limited number of pressures he allowed in 2023. He’s punchy with his hands, and he’s also smart. He can recognize blitzes and stunts and adjust quickly.
Thomas relished run blocking at Louisiana, which leaned on its zone rushing scheme during his career. He maintained good pad level and rarely lost ground at the point of attack.
Thomas isn’t the most athletic linemen, as illustrated by his NFL Combine testing numbers. But he’s technically sound with his hands and feet, which should help him at the next level.
By the way he moved opponents off the line of scrimmage, Thomas has toughness and a clear desire to dominate. And he should have a chance to do so in the NFL.
“It’s a business at the end of the day,” Thomas said, “but I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
