Prospect Profile: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Context

Played mostly as the X in a talented LSU offense.

Before the Catch

He has a varied release package if executing a space or secondary release. When he’s facing soft press or catch man, he is able to utilize a variety of techniques to close the space to the defender, his most effective being a short stride move into a single move or speed release that can allow him to beat most Defensive Backs in this early portion of the route. He can also use his footwork and foot speed to execute an effective single move or speed release against press coverage without a jam. As soon as the defender gets more physical or brings more play strength and engages him with a jam, the defender starts to get more sticky through the early portion of the route. He does not have a varied release package with his hands and struggles to gain an advantage against press with a jam. Against bail or off coverage he uses his long strides to quickly eat up cushion and he’s excellent at using pacing to blow past defenders with his speed. He does also show the ability to stem into the defender’s blind spot, and to get DBs flat-footed before a break that involves a bam step, like a corner or a post route, but doesn’t do either of these consistently against those DBs with better processing themselves.

At the break point, he can separate consistently with his athleticism and technique. He has outstanding technique for his routes that call for a two-step break, mainly because he threatens vertically with speed in his route stem and because of his ability to sink his hips, shifting all of his weight onto his brake foot. He also has excellent acceleration out of his break and is a tough cover for all CBs, even those most athletic CBs. His lack of aggression and play strength also rears its head at the break-point too though, as DBs who are physical through the stem of his route and at the break, can stay in phase both into the break and out of it. He can struggle to find soft spots in intermediate zones to help his QB but underneath and on the sideline, he has excellent awareness to find the open spot. On vertical routes like go, corner, post, he gains separation with speed, acceleration, technique.

The Catch and after the Catch

He has good body position to prepare to make the catch and can work into a position to shield the ball from hits from defenders who are just slightly out of phase in their coverage of him. He has outstanding adjust to the ball in the air. He could however do a better job of using his body and significant size to box out defenders who are in closer position to him in coverage. He has good ball tracking on all types of routes and shows late hands, especially on downfield, over-the-shoulder throws. He has very good hands in general. He can win with YAC; with speed and some change of direction, as well as a stiff arm, but does not run through contact.

SUMMARY
Outstanding athleticism and great technique when playing in space and gain good separation. Lack of play strength and physicality could present challenge at the next level.

PRODUCTION
JR: 87 Tgts, 68 Recs, 1177 Rec Yards (17.3 Ave), 17 Rec TDs
SO: 48 Tgts, 31 Recs, 361 Rec Yards (11.6 Ave), 5 Rec TDs
INJURY: None

RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 4
Intelligence 3
Versatility 4
Grit 3
Scheme 4