Post-OSU Update: Michael Thomas was a second-round pick (47th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Thomas has played his entire career with the Saints. He’s made three consecutive Pro Bowls (2017-19) and set a NFL single-season record in 2019 of 149 receptions in a season. The record still stands as of 2023. (updated: Dec. 2023)

Jersey #: 3 (2014-15), 83 (2013)

Major: Sport Industry (2014-15), Undeclared (2013)

Weight: 212 (2015), 203 (2014), 199 (2013), 193 (2012)

2015 Media Guide: Michael Thomas has size, speed, leverage, great hands and tremendous athleticism to go along with dedication and determination to be the best receiver he can be … he is always working on improving his skills and, as a result, expect this fourth-year junior who led the Buckeyes in receiving last season to be a leader once again and one of the top receivers in the nation in 2015 … a veteran of 26 games with 14 starts at receiver, Thomas has become a go-to and a throw-to playmaker for the Buckeyes with 57 career receptions for 821 yards, a 14.4-yards-per catch average and nine touchdowns … he makes big plays, with five touchdowns over 25 yards and three over 50 yards … has a current streak of at least one reception in 16 consecutive games … has at least two receptions in 14 of his last 15 games.

2014: Thomas was the leading receiver for the College Football Playoff national champions with 54 catches … he was second on the squad with 799 receiving yards and with nine receiving touchdowns … he played in all 15 games and started 14 times, including a current streak of 11 consecutive starts … made huge plays in huge games … secured inside leverage on his defender, caught a short pass and raced 79 yards for a game-tying score at Michigan State … hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass to extend a three-point lead on the road at Minnesota … leaped high in the end zone to snare a reception and then twisted and landed his left foot parallel with the out-of-bounds line for a crucial touchdown with 12 seconds to play in the first half of the Allstate Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama … in addition to three receptions over 50 yards, which ranked 14th nationally and third in the Big Ten (trailing only the four recorded by teammate Devin Smith and Michigan State’s Tony Lippett), Thomas also had 29 receptions of 10-plus yards … had career-high 98 receiving yards vs. Virginia Tech and 91 vs. Michigan State … had a career-high seven receptions vs. Alabama … was a standout in the post-season with 14 receptions – nine of which went for an Ohio State first down and there was a 10th first down via a pass interference call – for 160 yards and one touchdown.

2014 Media Guide: Michael Thomas red-shirted the 2013 season after earning his first Varsity O letter in 2012 with considerable playing time on offense … he is a third-year sophomore for the Buckeyes … Thomas has been named an OSU Scholar Athlete twice.

2013 Media Guide: Michael Thomas is a Varsity O letterwinner at Ohio State who earned considerable playing time on offense during the 2012 season … he played in 11 games and totaled 196 offensive
plays … he had three receptions for 22 yards … his catches came against UAB (6 yards), Michigan State (10) and Michigan (5).

2012 Media Guide: Michael enrolled at Ohio State in January … he earned OSU Scholar-Athlete status in the classroom after his first two quarters and he coupled that with a fine spring practice that culminated with 12 catches in the spring game for 131 yards (all were thrown by Braxton Miller).

High School: Thomas produced a highlight reel of a senior season at Woodland Hills Taft High School, located in the San Fernando Valley, in 2010 … he caught 86 passes for a state-leading 1,656 yards and 21 touchdowns and was called the most improved football player “by a landslide” in Southern California in November 2010 by the Los Angeles Times … named first-team all-city as a senior, and the No. 98 receiver nationally by Scout.com … played in the 2011 Under Armour All-American game … coached at Taft by Matt Kerstetter … attended Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy last fall (and roomed with current Buckeye Cardale Jones) … he caught 23 passes for 497 yards and seven touchdowns at FUMA in 2011 … rated by Rivals.com as the No. 4 prep school player in the country in 2011.

Personal: Michael is the son of Michael Thomas, Sr. … the nephew of NFL star Keyshawn Johnson.