Miami Hurricanes WRs post underwhelming measurements at NFL Combine

Former Miami Hurricanes wide receivers K.J. Osborn and Jeff Thomas posted underwhelming measurements at the NFL Combine on Monday.

Former Miami Hurricanes wide receivers K.J. Osborn and Jeff Thomas had their NFL Combine get off to an inauspicious debut in Indianapolis on Monday. According to his NFL Combine profile, Osborn measured 5′ 11, 203 lbs with 31 1/4 and 9 1/8 hands. Thomas measured 5-8 7/8, 170 pounds, 31 1/4 arms and 9 1/8 hands.

Andrew Ivins of Inside the U reported that Thomas weighed in as the lightest wide receiver at the NFL Combine and its second shortest. Thomas is going to have to have an exceptional performance in the Circle City and perform well in his interview to significantly upgrade his stock in the NFL Draft.

Thomas has off the field issues that date back to high school in East Saint Louis, Illinois. The former Flyer is an exceptional talent who dazzled at the Under Armour All-America Game in 2017. Thomas set a game record with 148 receiving yards and became the first player with two receiving touchdowns to earn MVP.

Thomas is an elite talent who dealt with multiple suspensions and time away from the Miami Hurricanes football program in his career. The former top-five WR and top 40 player in the Class of 2017 never came close to living up to those projections in Coral Gables. Thomas could be valuable in the NFL as a return man.

Osborn projects as a far more mature player. The native of Ypsilanti, Michigan came to Miami as a fifth-year graduate transfer in 2019. Osborn led the Miami Hurricanes in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2019. Osborn was the clear leader of the WR unit for the Hurricanes on and off the field.

With 50 receptions for 547 yards and five TDs, Osborn was critical to a Miami offense which vastly underachieved in 2019. He also proved to be an adept punt and kick returner for the Hurricanes. Osborn returned 16 punts for 255 yards and a 15.9 averaged and added 10 kickoff returns for 201 yards and a 20.1 average.

Thomas finished his three year Miami career with 83 receptions for 1,316 yards and a 15.9 yards per reception average. He added 54 kick returns for 1,219 yards and a 22.6 KOR average and returned 14 punts for 265 yards and an astronomical 18.9 yard average with one electric TD against Virginia Tech in 2018.

The skill is there for Thomas. He has a lot of maturing he needs to do quickly or he will risk being undrafted. Thomas and Osborn will workout with tight ends and quarterbacks on Thursday. Those numbers have the potential to be exceptional for Thomas. He might need an elite performance to separate himself from other WRs.