A well-traveled, hard-hitting Miami safety who piled up five interceptions in his lone Hurricanes season and became Minnesota's third-round pick in 2026.
Jakobe Thomas arrives in Minnesota after a college career that took him from Middle Tennessee State to Tennessee and finally to Miami, where his 2025 season turned him into a coveted NFL draft prospect. The Vikings selected the physical, downhill safety with the No. 98 overall pick in the 2026 draft.
Path to the league
Thomas started his college career at Middle Tennessee State from 2021 to 2023, spent the 2024 season at Tennessee, and then transferred to Miami for his final year. The Vikings drafted him in the third round, No. 98 overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
At 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds, Thomas built a reputation as a physical, downhill safety who delivers big hits and triggers quickly against the run, while also being weaponized as a blitzer. His five interceptions in 2025 tied for seventh in the FBS that season.
2025 season recap
In his lone season at Miami in 2025, Thomas started all 16 games and totaled 76 tackles, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and six pass breakups, earning Second-Team All-ACC honors. That breakout campaign carried him into the third round of the 2026 draft, where Minnesota selected him.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jakobe Thomas
- Vikings.com: Jakobe Thomas 2026 NFL Draft profile
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Safety
- Group
- defense
- College
- Miami
- Hometown
- Tullahoma, TN, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
