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How Brian Thomas Jr. is quietly leaving an impression on Jacksonville Jaguars WRs coach
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- How Brian Thomas Jr. is quietly leaving an impression on Jacksonville Jaguars WRs coach
It didn't take long for Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to establish himself as one of the top wideouts in the league.
After being drafted with the 23rd-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft , Thomas went on to catch 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. He did all of that while playing in just 10 games with starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence , catching the bulk of his passes from backup Mac Jones .
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Thomas' instant impact surprised many, but his new wide receivers coach knew what kind of player he was before entering the NFL.
"When [ Jaguars head] coach [Liam] Coen first brought me in here, and the first week was evaluating our own players. I'm sitting there, I'm going back and I'm watching his tape because I remember when he came out because we had him on our draft board as well back when I was with the other team," Jaguars wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett said in June.
STATEMENT OF FACTS: Jacksonville Jaguars roster depth chart: Who's on squad entering 2025 NFL training camp
Bennett had previously coached the Las Vegas Raiders from 2018-24. Before that, he coached for the Green Bay Packers , first as a running backs coach (2005-10), then as a receivers coach (2011-14) and finally as an offensive coordinator (2015-17).
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Though he didn't share who Thomas reminded him of, it's worth noting that Bennett coached future Hall of Fame wideout Davante Adams for seven years (2014-17, 2022-24) with both the Packers and Raiders. Regardless, Thomas' traits and abilities have stood out for quite some time to the Jacksonville-native position coach.
"I'm steady watching it and just getting more and more excited as for who he is, what he's about. I was surprised, because when I first got here, people were telling me, as far as, you know, the way he carries himself, his demeanor, very quiet and confident. But on game day, he's different. He's different, and I love that about him. Saw that instantly," Bennett said with a smile.
Thomas' demeanor away from the gridiron is incredibly unassuming. He's calm, quiet, collected and sharp. He doesn't get too high or too low, no matter what the situation is. That was well-documented last year when speaking with Thomas on multiple occasions during the week in the lead-up to a game, after a loss or after a win. Good game or bad game, Thomas was the same.
On the field, however, Thomas' demeanor changed. And it was observed right away. In Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins last year, Thomas caught multiple balls on star corner Jalen Ramsey and drew a big-time pass interference penalty that could have helped the Jaguars win the game.
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After the catch, Thomas was seen on camera yapping with Ramsey, one of the league's most notorious trash talkers.
It was then that his "quiet confidence" evolved into a blazing, unstoppable swagger.
Jaguars look to lean on Brian Thomas Jr. 's versatility, leadership
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) runs the ball during the 10th organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Thomas' next step in his young career will be to adapt to a new offensive system. During the offseason program, Thomas appeared to find his stride when the days wound down.
His chemistry and growing connection with Lawrence shouldn't be understated. The two did not get to play together enough last year and initial hiccups in connection did not come as a surprise.
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But as Thomas continues to get used to the team's new offense, the Jaguars will put plenty on his plate to get the most out of their star receiver.
"He's very versatile, and he can run any route, so we're very excited. We just got to continue to be the best version of ourselves. That's our standard. That's what we believe in, and we're taking it day by day and continuing to work out fundamentals and techniques," Bennett noted, corroborating what Coen has said in the past about Thomas' usage .
As he evolves his game, Thomas has also worked on his leadership ability and Bennett has been a witness to that already, just a few months into the gig.
"He's definitely taken more of a leadership approach and role, and he speaks up. And it's not just from a verbal standpoint, he also leads by example. And so that's another way he's helping the entire room," Bennett said.
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Thomas will be tasked with helping bring up second-overall pick, receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter , as he continues to evolve in the team's offense. Still, while Hunter is the player many talk about when it comes to the Jaguars these days, Thomas shouldn't be left out of the picture at all.
"He's definitely not resting. He doesn't have that... that's not in him. He always seems like, when talking with him, he has that approach as far as he wants to be the best. And so with that, he put the work in and so that's his approach," said Bennett.
"He puts the work in, the effort is there each and every day and it starts in the classroom. The moment he walks through the door, it's almost as though he's already in that mode as far as the classroom, walkthrough, practice field, weight room, whatever, he's giving it his all."
And it's almost time.
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"The sky's the limit for Brian. At the end of the day, if Brian performs at the level, the standard that he sets for himself, then I think each and every one who cheers on the Jaguars, they'll be extremely excited," Bennett later added.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Brian Thomas Jr. continues impressing in silence as Jaguars near camp
