Ouch, Bay-Bay! Tech’s Thomas breaks foot as stock soars
Demaryius Thomas shakes hands, not with Mel Kiper. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
File this under really lousy timing. On the same day Georgia Tech receiver Demaryius Thomas saw his name listed on Mel Kiper’s mock first round on ESPN.com, he broke his foot while training in Scottsdale, Ariz. So reports Tony Pauline on SI.com.
Thomas, known as Bay-Bay, broke his left foot in a three-cone drill. He’ll miss next week’s NFL combine. More from Pauline:
His agent, Todd France, told SI.com that it was a clean break and doctors expect a recovery time of four to six weeks. “There are no longterm effects from the injury and Demaryius will be 100 percent by the time OTA’s begin,” said France, who added that surgery is a possibility. “If surgery hastens the healing process, that is something we will consider.”
According to observers at Athletes Performance, where Thomas has been training, the 6-foot-3, 227-pound receiver had been turning in sensational workouts in preparation for the combine. He recently ran a verified 4.38 in the 40, which was recorded on film and will be sent to every team in the league, France told SI.com.
That glowing report jibes with Kiper what offered in his second mock draft on ESPN.com. He had Thomas projected to be taken by the Bengals with the 21st pick of Round 1. That was higher than Tech tailback Jonathan Dwyer, who’s excluded from Kiper’s Round 1 and also from his Big Board, which lists the top 25 overall prospects. (Links require registration.) Thomas was No. 21 on both, with Kiper offering this:
Here’s the big riser of the past couple of weeks. Thomas will be red-hot after the workouts get going. He’s a big target (6-3, 225 pounds) and a downfield threat. He averaged more than 25 yards per catch and remained productive in a run-based offense based. Carson Palmer needs weapons, and Thomas can be one.
And what of Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan? He’s No. 8 on the Big Board, and Kiper has him going 11th — to Jacksonville — his mock.
And what, you’re asking, of the Falcons? Well, Mel sees their Round 1 pick the same way Don Banks of SI.com saw it a few weeks ago — Kyle Wilson, a cornerback from Boise State. Here’s Mel K. on K. Wilson:
Wilson is another player who jumped at the Senior Bowl. He’s fluid, excellent in coverage and an immediate help on special teams. Wilson had a quiet season, but great cornerbacks often do. He simply wasn’t challenged enough. Stock is now back on the rise.
Scouts Inc. rates Wilson as the 28th-best player available and the third-best cornerback. (The Falcons will pick either 19th or 20th, depending on a coin flip with Houston.) Todd McShay of ESPN.com sees the Falcons taking a different cornerback — Kareem Jackson of Alabama — in Round 1. Scouts Inc. rates Jackson the 21st-best player and the second-best CB in the draft. But I’ll say it again:
Just because the outside world believes the Falcons need a cornerback doesn’t mean Thomas Dimitroff will take one in the first round. Dimitroff is especially picky about that position. (He’s considered one of the best judges of defensive backs in the business.) If he doesn’t think a guy has the potential to be a No. 1 NFL CB — a shutdown corner, in the vernacular — he’s not apt to draft him in Round 1. And Dimitroff doesn’t believe there are many shutdown corners in the entire league.
To reiterate: Were I betting, I’d still say the Falcons will take a pass rusher — be it a defensive end or an outside linebacker — with that first pick. But I’ve been wrong once or twice.
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122 comments Add your comment
atl-xmen
February 18th, 2010
11:17 am
ask any decent running back that wants to play pro, which offense would he prefer to play in and 10 out of 10 times richt offense will be chosen. the talent level at tech will take a major drop while pj is there. the qb in his offense might have a chance playing special teams in the pros but thats about it. even the off linemen will be looking for work outside of football. way to small for the pros. his running backs and receivers might make a few pros practice squads though which is promising i guess..=) but seriously if im a tech fan iam worried about what kind of talent will be coming in to try and beat the dawgs and the rest of the div 1a teams out there.
Paul's Johnson
February 18th, 2010
11:24 am
Don’t kid yourselves, kiddies, CPJ would LOVE to compete in the SEC.
But I agree with Mark that its highly unlikely Tech will switch. Hard to believe, but its been over 30 years since Tech joined up with ACC.
how2fish
February 18th, 2010
12:18 pm
That’s terrible timing hope he recovers quickly!
just the truth
February 18th, 2010
12:27 pm
Rome Dawg, here you go bringing up Tech and Vandy in the same breath. Two places where you have to get a real degree and play sports instead of ( just fill in the blank ) now days!! I’m looking at 16 players off of the UGA roster from last year trying to get a “housing” degree. Simply no education is required. Just play. Already have signed one player knowing he can’t get in for 2 years. Ridiculous for a division 1 school !! The bad thing about it ………………. there’s many people like you that either don’t understand or don’t care !!
GTechsta
February 18th, 2010
12:35 pm
atl-xmen, you don’t expect Tech’s offense to get any better? Good Lord son, they were #2 in the nation in rushing offense and top 10 in total offense and scoring. Can’t really go much further up from there, can they?
Stinger
February 18th, 2010
1:03 pm
Bullfrogs will not have anyone drafted in first 5 rounds. End of story.
Sorry TECH LOSERS
February 18th, 2010
2:11 pm
Bay-Bay Bye Bye first round !!!!!!!!!! LOL
somuchhateforGT
February 18th, 2010
2:15 pm
Why do all you people that hate GT soooooo much feel the need to try and convince yourselves that GT will not get quality players or win? CPJ proved everybody wrong his first season when GT was projected to get 3-4 wins and again in his second season when everybody was going to figure out the offense by winning the ACCCG. The only thing GT is in need of is a better o-line and defense, which what do you know CPJ is working on with last years redshirted recruits and this years caoching changes and recruits.
somuchhateforGT
February 18th, 2010
2:22 pm
atl-xmen,
What are you talking about? GT’s backs and WRs will have way more experience in blocking than most college players. I will admit that I don’t watch all of UGAs games, but I never saw Green block out anybody. By the way I’m not knocking Green I think he has great talent and unlike some UGA fans enjoying Thomas’s injury I hope Green stays healthy and does well next year before going pro.
Jesse Stone
February 18th, 2010
2:52 pm
Sorry TECH LOSERS- Laughing at an injury to anyone is classless.
sharecropper
February 18th, 2010
5:35 pm
Has anybody, say an enterprising sports reporter, ever, ever, taken note of Mel Kiper’s draft list and then followed up on it? I am betting not, because it would show how inept he is. He is a made-for-TV star, kind of the Nick the Greek of today. I wish somebody would do it. I would, except who the hell cares about Mel Kiper? Not the pro teams’ scouts and coaches, for sure.
RomeDawg
February 18th, 2010
6:58 pm
Here’s a vocabulary word for you, Dan. Nerd – A loser Tech supporter who blogs on the AJC trying to use big words to make up for his small intellect and his teams inability to win. Hey loser, in case you forgot, we spanked that bottom in both football and basketball this year. Hey Dan, ever consider Tech just sucks?
atl-xmen
February 19th, 2010
7:57 am
how can ga tech backs and receivers block when the whole offense is based on deception. the backs fake like they are running the ball and the receivers fake like they getting a pass on most plays. the receviver does have to block more than the running back in this offense but in a pro style offense the receiver actually has to hold a block longer than 2 seconds. bey bey was bigger than most of the corners he was going against so he didnt really have to block, just pretty much get in the way of the corner or blind side a unsuspecting linebacker.
the only reason this offense worked these past two years is because of the type of players that were running it. gailys pro style players. they are alot better and more talented than the ones pj will be bringing in. when gailys pro style qb, who is bigger than the running back that pj is bringing in, leaves ga tech will be in real trouble. the qbs that will be coming in will not be as big as nesbitt and wont be able to take all the hits that he took, hell,,,he couldnt even take it..he is all banged up now and no chance at being a pro qb. this offense will be the death of ga tech so to speak.
also green blocks every play that is a running play and in a pro style offense the receiver has to go get a d-back and block him straight up as the d-back can see him coming unlike the crack block that tech receivers do. green will be a better pro because of the offense that uga runs while bey bey will have to learn that stuff in the pros. he is way behind green because in the pros the receiver have to more than just catch the ball. and this is why the better players coming out of high school will avoid this offense. it doesnt prepare a player for the pros and all good players have dreams and hopes of plaing in the pros
BobinBuford
February 19th, 2010
9:26 am
atl-xmen:
This offense just recruited the number 1 running back in the state, according to the AJC. They also have 9, count ‘em, 9 of the top 50 players in the state coming to play for GT, That is the exact same number of top 50 players that UGA has.
CPJ is recruiting to fit the style of offense that he runs. In case you haven’t noticed, that team won 11 games last year with a less than stellar defense. They have not lost 2 games in a row yet, or have lost to the same team twice.
GT_Dan
February 19th, 2010
11:17 am
RomeDawg is always good for a laugh. I guess they disconnect the brains up in Rome…
secfactcheck.com
February 19th, 2010
9:06 pm
Good Luck Bay-Bay… The best number #8 receiver in the state. Who was saying that this time last year?
CHARLOTTE DAWG
February 19th, 2010
9:06 pm
I wonder what Yellow Fuzz thinks about this? He’s been coming on to the blogs more often since that heartbreaking loss in November……so good for him! yeyyyyeah Yellow Fuzz!
ALL of tech fan's DADDY
February 22nd, 2010
9:06 pm
You LOSERS know we “Run This State”!!!! hahahahahahahahahahaha. Dorks
Sporting News sees a Round 1 Tech windfall in its mock draft | Mark Bradley
February 24th, 2010
11:02 am
[...] but only a bit: He has been projected at/near the top five since December. Seeing Thomas at No. 12 a week after he broke a bone in his foot during training in Arizona is a shock. But his whole rocket-up-the-draft-board trajectory has been [...]
Mel Kiper raves about Tech's Bay-Bay, broken foot aside | Mark Bradley
February 25th, 2010
11:45 am
[...] Sally Field of draftniks.) And Mel really likes Demaryius Thomas, the Georgia Tech product who had the seeming misfortune of breaking a bone in his foot last week while readying for the NFL [...]
Mel Kiper raves about Tech's Bay-Bay, broken foot aside
February 25th, 2010
5:00 pm
[...] likes Demaryius Thomas, the Georgia Tech product who had the seeming misfortune of breaking a bone in his foot las…while readying for the NFL [...]
motown
April 23rd, 2010
12:50 am
For all you haters… Get off bay bay’s nuts