Daniel Thomas Scouting Report

It is not often that the eighth rated junior college prospect in the state of Mississippi turns into an NFL prospect. Thomas was certainly successful during his two years at junior college, but he has come a long way in a very short amount of time. After ending up at Kansas State, Thomas was thrown right into the running back mix and quickly emerged as the Wildcats' go-to-guy. On 247 carries, Thomas rushed for 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was even third on the team with 25 receptions for 257 yards.

Kansas State fans and NFL scouts wanted to see if Thomas could continue that success during his senior campaign. Through six games, the answer is an overwhelming yes. Thomas has increased his yards per carry average from 5.1 as a junior to 5.4 as a senior and has made seven trips to the end zone. Thomas has proven that he can carry the load and at 228 pounds, he has the size to be a bruising back in the NFL.

Thomas, who played quarterback in high school and a little bit in junior college, is a smart and tough player who has had to carry the Kansas State offense and done a very good job of it. When all is said and done, Thomas should be a second or third round selection and one of the safer running backs in this class. He may not be quite as explosive as some others, but he is an every down back.

2/10 Update: Thomas ended his senior season with 1,555 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns. His 2,850 career rushing yards ranks second to only Darren Sproles. That is extremely impressive for a player who only spent two years at Kansas State. Thomas' versatility could sneak him into the second round, but right now he is likely a third round prospect barring some surprising performances leading up to the draft.