Julius Thomas reflects on March Madness experience, signing with Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas is having a busy offseason, signing a five-year, $46-million contract with his new club on March 10.
Thomas emerged as Peyton Manning's favorite red-zone target with the Denver Broncos in recent years before cashing in with the Jaguars in free agency.
But the 26-year-old gained success in his college days in another sport. Thomas played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament twice with the Portland State Vikings, and he reflected on his experience at the Big Dance on Friday.
"I feel like I have been busy nonstop since I left college, and I don't get time to reflect very often," Thomas said to Monday Morning Quarterback's Jenny Vrentas. "But it's kind of nostalgic seeing those guys warming up and taking that court. Your biggest memories are what it feels like to run out of that tunnel and do that initial warmup. That's when you get to really take in the moment."
Thomas came off the bench for the Vikings, who were eliminated in the first round by eventual champion Kansas in 2008, and Xavier in 2009.
The two-time Pro Bowler provided his perspective on what it's like to face a juggernaut such as the Jayhawks, who at the time featured current NBA players Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur and Cole Aldrich.
"You just won your conference tournament, so you’re coming off a really big high. You're really excited about what you have accomplished with your teammates," Thomas said.
"Then you're watching Selection Sunday and you realize, I'm going to get to play one of the top four teams in the country, and it's usually going to be pretty close to where their school is. A top-four team in the nation, pretty much on their home turf. For us, playing a team like Kansas, you’re looking at four, five, six guys who are all going to be NBA players one day."
Thomas also expanded on his relationship with new quarterback Blake Bortles.
"I got to meet him this past weekend. We went out and ran a couple routes. It’s exciting, that first time you get to work out with your new quarterback. We've got a couple thousand more reps to go, but I'm really looking forward to that chemistry and growing with that entire offense."
The Jaguars' new acquisition parlayed his basketball skills into boxing out smaller cornerbacks, and now will be a major component of Jacksonville's quest to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2007.