SUMRALL – Former Mississippi State Bulldogs and Sumrall Bobcats standout Jordan Thomas was the only NFL player at Sumrall’s baseball playoff game Saturday night. He, of course, was celebrating his selection in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.
The fancy dinners and new NFL lifestyle will have to wait because Thomas wanted to be with his hometown.
“This is my hometown, I am Sumrall,” he said. “Whatever I do, they do, too. I’m in the league, they’re in the league, too. I’m just happy I could do that for Sumrall.”
The Texans drafted the Mississippi State receiver in the sixth round with 211th overall pick. Thomas, who fits a tight end profile in the NFL, said the Texans were one of a handful of teams that showed interest in the NFL product.
“I had feelings that I was going to be in Houston, and when they called me, it was like a big weight lifted off of me,” Thomas said. “I’m just happy. I couldn’t be more excited to be going to Houston.”
Thomas said he was sitting at home earlier Saturday when his phone buzzed. It was Brian Ganie, Houston’s General Manager, on the phone, and he was calling to tell Thomas that he was an NFL player. When Gaine told Thomas that the Texans were taking him with the pick, Thomas said the entire room lit up and all he could say was, “Thank you.”
“It’s really a blessing to put Sumrall on the map,” Thomas said. “Nobody has ever done what I did in football from Sumrall, so I’m just blessed and excited to start the pros.”
The 6-foot-5 tight end caught 22 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns as a senior at Mississippi State last season. Thomas began his collegiate career at East Central Community College, where he played tight end, defensive end and offensive tackle. He also played basketball at Sumrall and ECCC.
Thomas said Houston told him to come in ready to work.
“That’s what I’m going to do,” he said.
Houston selected another Mississippi State player, too. Mendenhall’s Martinas Rankin, an offensive lineman, was picked in the third round, and Thomas said he was excited to start his NFL career with a former teammate.
