Jaylon Thomas (born March 31, 2000) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

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for the

Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team plays its home games at N ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He played

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for the

SMU Mustangs The SMU Mustangs are the sport, athletic teams that represent Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas, United States. SMU was founded in 1911 and joined the Southwest Conference, competing against Baylor Bears, Baylor, Rice Owls, ...

Early life

Thomas grew up in

Lubbock, Texas Lubbock ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Lubbock County. With a population of 272,086 in 2024, Lubbock is the 10th-most populous city in Texas and the 84th-most populous in the United States. The city is in the ...

and attended Coronado High School where he lettered in football and basketball. He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at SMU over offers from Texas Tech, Stephen F. Austin and Tulsa.

College career

During Thomas's true freshman season in 2018, he played in seven games and started six of them at right tackle. During the 2019 season, he played in and started all 13 games at left tackle. He finished the season with a tackle and a solo tackle and he was named in the All-

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second team and the Phil Steele Preseason AAC for the third-team offense. During the 2020 season, he played in and started all nine games at left tackle. By the end of the season, he was named in the All-

second team, the Dave Campbell's All-Texas College Second Team, the Outland Trophy Watch List. During the 2021 season, he played in all 12 games and started nine of them. By the end of the season, he was named on the Outland Trophy Watch List, an East-West Shrine Bowl Invite, the

Reese's Senior Bowl The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football all-star game played annually in late January or early February in Mobile, Alabama, which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those players who have completed their college eligibility. Pr ...

Watchlist, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Big Board and the College Gridiron Showcase Watchlist. During the 2022 season, he played in 12 games and started 11 of them in all five offensive line positions. By the end of the season he was named an All-AAC Honorable Mention, the Senior Bowl Watchlist, the PFF All-AAC First Team and the Phil Steele All-AAC Fourth Team.

Professional career

Baltimore Ravens

On May 18, 2023, Thomas was signed to the

Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...

as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

after going unselected in the

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. He was waived on August 29, 2023.

New York Giants

On August 31, 2023, Thomas was signed to the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

practice squad In gridiron football, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. They serve as extra players during the team's practices, often as part of the scou ...

. On September 21, 2023, he was elevated from the practice squad. Thomas was released from the Giants practice squad on October 31.

Houston Texans

On November 14, 2023, Thomas was signed to the

practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 22, 2024. Thomas was waived with an injury designation on August 3, 2024. He reverted to the team's injured reserve list after going unclaimed.

References

External links

Houston Texans bioSMU Mustangs bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Jaylon 2000 births Living people Players of American football from Texas American football offensive tackles SMU Mustangs football players Baltimore Ravens players New York Giants players Houston Texans players 21st-century American sportsmen