2021 Tullahoma High School graduate Jakobe Thomas’ NFL dreams recently became a reality, as he was drafted in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

Before the last college football season began, Thomas’s talent had been evident. Despite that, he was not yet established as a certified draft prospect, more of a borderline one. In his limited role with the University of Tennessee in the 2024 season, he became one of the most sought-after defensive backs to enter the transfer portal the following offseason. The #18-ranked team in the country in the 2024 season, the University of Miami, was the eventual team to get a commitment from Thomas in his last year of college eligibility.

The pairing between Thomas and the Hurricanes program could not have been better. Miami eventually finished as National Championship runners-up in 2025, with Thomas having big moments all throughout the season and especially in their College Football Playoff run. With a full year of high-level tape for NFL scouts to look at, Thomas began to establish himself as a no doubt NFL draft pick.

On day two of the NFL draft on April 24, as the final picks of the third round were being called out on multiple national streaming platforms, the Tullahoma native heard his name called.

Prior to his name being announced on live television, Thomas got a phone call from Minnesota Vikings general manager Rob Brenzinski to inform him they were going to make him a Viking with the 98th pick. Thomas was obviously emotional on the call, struggling to get a word out, as it became official that he would be playing in the NFL. Brenzinski passed the phone to his new head coach, Kevin O’Connell and new defensive coordinator Brian Flores as they both talked to Thomas and shared the same sentiment of congratulating him and saying they were excited to have him on the team.

“I gotta thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ. I said a long prayer tonight with my best friends, my closest of friends. And you know, I thank my family, my parents are phenomenal parents. All my teammates at Miami, Coach Cristobal (University of Miami Head Coach), Coach Harris, Coach Etheridge, for taking a chance on a guy who was a backup, and took him to Miami, and now he is at Minnesota. I can’t be more grateful than this moment right here. I am super blessed, and I just want everyone to know that you guys got somebody that is ready to go at all moments, at all times, and is gonna give his all for everything. I am a Viking for life,” said Thomas while talking to the Minnesota media following getting drafted.

Thomas was a part of a nine-player draft class for Minnesota: Caleb Banks (DT, University of Florida), Jake Golladay (LB, University of Cincinnati), Domonoique Orange (DT, Iowa State), Caleb Tiernan (OT, University of Northwestern), Max Bredeson (TE, University of Michigan), Charles Demmings (CB, University of Stephen F. Austin), Demond Claiborne (RB, University of Wake Forrest), Gavin Gerhardt (C, University of Cincinnati).

With Thomas being selected in the 2026 draft, he also became the first Tullahoma High School alumnus to get drafted since Antonio London in the third round at pick No. 62 by the Detroit Lions in the 1993 NFL Draft.