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'Elite': Brian Thomas Jr. earns high praise in first day at Jaguars rookie minicamp
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- 'Elite': Brian Thomas Jr. earns high praise in first day at Jaguars rookie minicamp
The Jacksonville Jaguars are close to being back on the practice fields and the newest group of Jags got a glimpse of what life will be like in the NFL over the weekend for rookie minicamp.
On Friday, most eyes were drawn to rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. , the team's first-round pick this year.
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As far as first days are concerned, everything Thomas did looked smooth, a ball didn't appear to hit the ground and, most importantly, he exited the day unscathed. It was a solid start to what should be a long career for the former LSU Tiger.
"I feel pretty good. I feel like I had a good day today. Still got ways to improve, but I feel like I had a pretty good day today," Thomas said after the team's first day of rookie camp on Friday.
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Thomas wasn't the only former LSU Tiger in attendance, either. In addition to defensive linemen Maason Smith (second round) and Jordan Jefferson (fourth round), veteran receiver and Jarvis Landry was also in attendance, trying out for a spot on the team's 90-man roster.
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Thomas said after practice that it's been nice to have Landry and veteran wideout Seth Williams , who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 draft by the Denver Broncos , with him as he gets acclimated.
"Those guys being in the league for a couple of years, bouncing ideas off of them, seeing how they work, seeing how they practice, it's great to have them around," he said, adding later that having guys that he played with such as Smith and Jefferson have also made the jump to the pros "a little easier," making it a comfortable and smooth leap.
As far as what Thomas hopes to get accomplished over the three-day minicamp, he quickly honed in on at least one key element of success in the NFL. The playbook.
"Just getting down the playbook, coming out here, making sure I'm in great shape, football shape. Practice hard," Thomas said. "Just make sure I get the playbook down," he repeated.
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'Elite': Jarvis Landry gives first impressions of Brian Thomas Jr .
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little (39), quarterback Brennan Armstrong (14), wide receiver Jarvis Landry (6), wide receiver Brian Thomas (7), and cornerback De'Antre Prince (24) run sprints at the end of Friday's rookie minicamp. The Jacksonville Jaguars held their first day of rookie minicamp inside the covered field at the Jaguars performance facility in Jacksonville, Florida Friday, May 10, 2024. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
Landry's focus Friday was on himself, attempting to prove to himself whether he wanted to return to the NFL, or would be afforded the opportunity to do so. Still, he couldn't help but take a look at Thomas, who made a good first impression on the veteran receiver.
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"Elite. Elite," Landry said shortly after practice Friday when asked about his impressions of Thomas. "So, just watching him out here and seeing it first hand in person, I've seen it on TV a couple [of] times, but seeing it firsthand, he's elite."
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Landry said Thomas has his number. As of Sunday, Landry hadn't been signed by the Jaguars, but he said whether or not he's with the Jags, Thomas can reach out to him anytime.
"It's part of the culture," Landry said.
Thomas will sport No. 7 for the Jaguars after initially being assigned No. 80 a day after the draft.
Though he wanted to wear No. 11, the same as his collegiate number, receiver Parker Washington has a grip on it, and Thomas said he wasn't going to pry it away from him. That said, picking No. 7 was the next best number for the receiver.
"Coming from LSU, it's a big number," Thomas said, referencing LSU's long-standing history of elite players sporting No. 7 in college.
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Players such as Patrick Peterson , Tyrann Mathieu , and Derek Stingley Jr. all sported the number in college. Former Jaguars Leonard Fournette and D.J. Chark also sported the number. The number broadly represents an elite player, a true playmaker .
Now it's Thomas' turn to do so in the pros. Perhaps the standard that those players have set will continue.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Brian Thomas Jr. talks first day of rookie camp, earns praise
