AUBURN, Ala. – Daniel Thomas doesn't know where he's going to end up. He has no idea what round he'll hear his name called next week or which NFL team will pull the trigger on him.
It's not unlike four years ago when Thomas was a senior in high school. A three-star recruit at the time, he was committed to play at Minnesota. However, a last-minute scholarship offer from Auburn changed all that. He signed with the Tigers and spent the next four years proving the doubters wrong.
"I was always taught to keep the faith," Thomas said. "Stay strong. It might not look like it's going to happen, but you just have to hold on and know God can do the impossible."
Like he did then, Thomas is once again putting his faith in God heading into the NFL draft.
"You don't know what to expect, but you can believe," Thomas said. "I'm just believing in God, and he's going to put me where he wants to put me. I feel like I'm going to shock some people again. There are a lot of people who don't expect me to go as high, but I know God can do the impossible in my life again."
Coming out of high school, expectations were low for Thomas. After all, he was the last addition to Auburn's recruiting class. But that underdog mentality motivated him. He became a two-year starter at safety for one of the nation's top defenses, finishing second on the team in tackles each of the last two seasons. He was a team captain his senior year and tallied a total of 199 tackles for his career.
If that wasn't enough to catch the NFL's attention, he turned heads with an impressive performance at the combine in February and has been fielding calls all week from various NFL teams who want to know more about the 5-foot-10, 215-pound defensive back.
"A lot of teams like my mentality in college – how I get to the ball, how I tackle, how I'm always around the ball," Thomas said. "I'm always giving extra effort on special teams. They really like how I play. They feel I can come in and make an impact on their program. I thank God for that, just to have teams interested in me.
"I feel like He's going to do something next week that's going to shock the whole world. When people see my story, it's going to give them hope. That's all I want people to see."
NFL Combine
40-yard dash: 4.51 seconds
Bench press: 24 reps
Vertical jump: 37 inches
Broad jump: 125 inches
DT is scootin' 🏃♂💨
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) March 1, 2020
📺 @NFLNetwork #WarEagle #AUNextLevel pic.twitter.com/XRtwM7dUR8
Draft Analysis
"Rangy athlete with excellent speed for the position…strings plays out and closes the gap on the perimeter…quick to key, read and attack, reading the screen game well…rocked-up physique and well put together for only 5-foot-10…lurks as a run defender before hitting the turbo button and closing violent intentions…his coaches call him the "quarterback" of the defense due to his ability to recognize formations, communicate and make the calls…durable and didn't miss a game the last three seasons, including 26 straight starts.
"Overall, Thomas might not be the type of player you want to trust as the last line of defense, but he competes with range, confidence and toughness – traits that should shine on special teams coverages."
– Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Signature Moment
Living up to his Twitter handle, @gamechanger021, Thomas has always had a knack for big plays. That started his freshman year playing in his first Iron Bowl when he intercepted Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts not once but twice in Tuscaloosa. It was a coming-out party for Thomas who has always enjoyed playing the Crimson Tide in his career. This past year, he blew up a swing pass for a 7-yard loss during the first quarter of the the Iron Bowl. It was one of his eight tackles in a 48-45 Auburn victory.