EAGAN, Minn. — Jakobe Thomas had a hard time finding the words to describe his emotions Friday night.

The Vikings added Thomas to the back end of their defense on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting the former Miami safety 98^th overall.

Thomas spoke with Twin Cities media members shortly afterward and emphasized gratitude multiple times throughout the interview.

"I'm super blessed," he said. "I just want everybody to know that you guys got somebody that's ready to go at all moments and all times, who's gonna give his all in everything.

"I always knew the NFL was possible. I lost a little bit of faith sometimes, but this moment — it just shows the fact anything is possible if you put your mind to it," Thomas added, sentiment clear on his face. "I'm sorry, man, I'm just at a loss for words in this moment."

Born in Starkville, Mississippi, Thomas' parents relocated to Tullahoma, Tennessee, to better support his football journey. He started his collegiate career at Middle Tennessee State (2021-23), spent the 2024 campaign at Tennessee and then transferred to Miami.

Over 16 games for the Hurricanes in 2025, Thomas totaled 76 tackles, five interceptions (one returned for a TD), 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and six pass breakups.

The five interceptions tied for seventh in FBS in 2025 and helped him garner Second-Team All-ACC honors.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell called Thomas "a great fit as a safety in our defense from a football I.Q. standpoint."

"His play style jumps off the tape. He's a very, very highly intelligent player that we were able to really dive into," O'Connell continued. "Jakobe's a good blitzer, he's a good tackler, and I know Flo' (Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores) is incredibly excited about him as a communicator and his upside football I.Q."

Asked about his ability to blitz, Thomas said, "It's just aggression, man."

A self-proclaimed "football addict," Thomas can't really recall a time in his life he didn't love the game.

In fact, the first baby photo his mom ever took of Thomas was him with a football.

Things have really come full circle.

Thomas has defied some odds along the way, going from a backup to a standout at Miami and now beginning his NFL dream.

"Do you like my shirt?" Thomas asked proudly during the virtual call, backing up from the camera a bit to show off a purple long-sleeved T-shirt with the Vikings Norseman.

He grinned broadly when asked about his Top 30 visit and meeting with Flores, whom he called a "phenomenal football mind."

"The chance to really have a sit-down conversation with a guy like him meant everything to me," Thomas said. "You look at what Coach Flores has done in his past and how he's always run his defenses, you really understand that this guy really knows football. And to learn from a guru of football like him, man, it was just amazing."

Thomas' Top 30 visit impacted him in more ways than one.

He noted taking in the environment at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center earlier this month, specifically highlighting Vikings Manager of Team Operations Milan Burgess' hospitality and the way she and other staff members interacted with each other.

"Everybody that walked past each other in the facility spoke to each other and had genuine conversations, and it just felt so family oriented," Thomas said. "It just felt so wholesome and warming to be there. I wasn't stressed or tense in the situation … and I was able to just relax and be me because there's so much humility in the building. I loved it."

It became clear through Thomas' call just how important family is to him — blood or otherwise — and that sharing this experience with his loved ones is invaluable.

"I set up a long prayer tonight with my best friends, my closest of friends," Thomas said. "And I thank my family. My parents are phenomenal parents. All my teammates from Miami, my coaches.

"And the fact I get to enjoy this with my high school coaches here … I can't even put into words with this moment mean to me," Thomas later added. "I know how much everybody in that room upstairs has put in for me to get here. I can't thank them enough."

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