James Madison safety Jacob Thomas set for pre-draft visit with Packers

Per NFL rules, the Green Bay Packers are allowed to host up to 30 draft-eligible players (excluding “local” prospects, such as those in the UW system or nearby regional schools such as Northern Illinois) for in-person visits. The Journal Sentinel is tracking the visits and supplying profiles based on information from sources and published reports. GREEN BAY – In high school, Jacob Thomas was a quarterback who led his team to back-to-back state championships in Virginia.

Rather than pursue a scholarship offer from Richmond to play quarterback, he enrolled at James Madison as a walk-on and switched positions to defensive back. He played sparingly as a freshman, but started 13 games at safety as a sophomore, playing two games at strong safety and 10 at free safety. He started the next 27 games as a junior and senior, moving to strong safety along the way.

A team captain, he had 71 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, two interceptions and seven pass breakups as a senior. He was a second-team all-Sun Belt selection in a season in which the Dukes went 12-1 and became the first team in school and Sun Belt history to play in the College Football Playoff. James Madison lost 51-34 in the first round to Oregon.

Over four seasons, Thomas had five interceptions, 21 pass break-ups, 13 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. He is expected to visit the Packers the week of April 6. At 6-foot, 215 pounds, Thomas had an outstanding pro day, running the 40-yard dash in 4.