Scouting Report: Brian Thomas Jr. (WR) - LSU
Sales Pitch: “Height, weight, speed threat that brings a surprisingly well rounded game. Despite lacking an elite trait his blend of all around athleticism and good football instincts projects for an instant impact starter.”
Athletic Profile
Height: 6’ 2 7/8”
Weight: 209 lbs
Arm Length: 32 3/4”
Hand Size: 9 3/4”
40 Yard Dash: 4.34
10 Yard Split: 1.53
Vertical: 38.5”
Broad Jump: 10’ 6”
Short Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Age: 21
Relative Athletic Score: 9.84 / 10.00
Statistics
Career: 127 REC - 1,987 YDS - 14.9 YPR - 24 TD
2023: 68 REC - 1,177 YDS - 17.3 YPR - 17 TD
Strengths
Height, weight, speed threat as a true perimeter WR
Strong understanding of coverages and how to work to space as a route runner
Displays effort and aggression as a receiver and blocker
Long strider with easy speed and acceleration
Plus athlete for his size
Uses burst and strength to play through contact at the line of scrimmage and in his routes
Plus separation on one-cut vertical routes
Ball tracking and dexterity to be a downfield and contested catch threat
Impressive concentration and catch radius on errant throws
Quickly attacks upfield with the ball in his hands and has the speed/strength combo to gash defenses
Combines strength and effort to be an impactful blocker
Works to find space and become and available target vs zone
Weaknesses
Below average change of direction skills and foot quickness
Big play threat that would disappear for stretches of games
Limited quickness hurst his ability to set up double move releases
Inconsistent hand usage vs jam press
Limited route tree, struggles to separate on routes that require multiple changes of direction
YAC production primarily comes when he receives the ball with his shoulders already facing north south
Summary
Brian Thomas Jr. has a fantastic combination of size, length and speed for the WR position. LSU’s WR2 in 2023 was more than just a second fiddle to star wideout Malik Nabers. Thomas led all of FBS football with 17 TDs in 2023, a feat achieved in a large part due to his ability at the catch point. Thomas has an impressive catch radius and body control that allows him to win consistently at the catch point. He is more than just a jump ball player, he has plus burst and speed for the position that allows him to dominate defenses vertically. Strong ball tracking skills and dependable hands make him particularly dynamic running routes that require only one cut off the vertical route tree. While Thomas might never be a elite creator with the ball in his hands, a no-nonsense north-south running style with his contact balance and long speed makes him an effective runner on straight line plays. Thomas is more than just a physical winner, he is also possess excellent football instincts. He does a great job using tempo and angles on his releases and stems to manipulate defenders to get open as well as set up his teammates. He also uses his physical gifts to be a strong blocker where his effort and aggression pop off the screen. Thomas has a well rounded game but he lacks the quickness or change of direction ability to be a true star. A limited route tree in college largely comes from the fact that he struggles to separate versus press coverage and routes that require multiple moves. His feet can get job when he needs to execute one sharp cut but he lacks the foot speed to quickly changes of direction multiple times. This also shows up with the ball in his hand, where he struggles to get back up to full speed after throttling down, typically not making multiple defenders miss in space. Thomas’ combination of physical skills and mental processing project him to be a well rounded WR at the next level who can make an immediate impact. Teams that run a heavy dose of vertical passes down the field will love him as a WR2 option. Thomas may never be a star in the league due to limited twitch and a lack of an elite game changing trait but he should have a long solid career as a quality starter.