Thomas will get his chance in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, who drafted him with the 16th pick of the second round Friday. He was the 47th player drafted overall and the sixth Buckeye.
“Hey, Drew Brees, let’s get to work,” Thomas wrote on Twitter.
- Photos: Best Michael Thomas shots from 2014 and 2015
- First-round draft stories: Taylor Decker | Darron Lee | Joey Bosa | Ezekiel Elliott | Eli Apple
ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranked Thomas the seventh-best receiver in the draft. Four went in the first round Thursday. One went before Thomas in the second round.
In the first round Thursday, five Buckeyes heard their name called. Ohio State fell one short of the first-round record. Defensive end Joey Bosa went to the San Diego Chargers at No. 3 and was followed by running back Ezekiel Elliott to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 4, cornerback Eli Apple to the New York Giants at No. 10, left tackle Taylor Decker to the Detroit Lions at No. 16 and linebacker Darron Lee to the New York Jets at No. 20.
Thomas ranks 13th in Ohio State history with 113 receptions, 18th with 1,602 receiving yards and tied for eighth with 18 touchdowns. If one play defines him, it’s the one-handed touchdown grab he made in the final seconds of the first half against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The play got the Buckeyes back in the game and set them on course for winning the national championship.
Thomas, 23, attended Taft High School in Los Angeles. He attended Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia for a year after graduation, along with future Ohio State teammate Cardale Jones.
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