We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.
Between 2014 and 2015, the Buckeyes were a combined 26-2, beat Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game and downed Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
Wide receiver Michael Thomas was a big factor through all of it.
WR Michael Thomas
2012-2015
b. March 3, 1993 (Los Angeles, Ca.)
- 2014 National Champion and 2015 Fiesta Bowl winner
- Tallied 18 touchdown receptions in his career at Ohio State
- Set an NFL record with 196 receptions in his first two seasons
After being redshirted as a sophomore in 2013, Thomas made an immediate impact for the eventual national champions in 2014. He caught 54 passes for 799 yards and nine touchdowns, including a four-catch, 53-yard performance in the National Championship.
In 2015, he picked up where he left off, catching 56 passes for 781 yards and nine scores. In the win over the Irish, he was responsible for seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
He was a Big Ten All-Honorable Mention selection as a redshirt sophomore and a third-team All-Big Ten honoree as a junior.
Thomas announced his decision to enter the 2016 NFL draft after his junior year and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round. In two seasons with the Saints, Thomas has tallied 196 receptions for 2,382 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The 196 receptions is an NFL record for a receiver in his first two seasons. He also holds franchise rookie records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.
