Miami safety Jakobe Thomas was surprisingly the first Hurricanes defensive back drafted when he was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round, 98th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday. Miami nickelback Keionte Scott is still surprisingly on the board after three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft are complete.
Thomas finished second on Miami with 76 tackles, had 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, had five interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, six passes defended and two fumble recoveries and forced fumbles after transferring from Tennessee during the 2025 Transfer Portal Cycle.
Projections after round one on Thursday, entering the second and third rounds on Friday, expected Scott to be selected without mentioning Thomas. Thomas joins a Minnesota defense that was seventh in points allowed, third in yards, second in pass defense and TDs allowed, but 25th in interceptions.
Thomas has been a playmaker throughout his collegiate career. In 2022 with Middle Tennessee State, Thomas had four interceptions and he had 16 PDs and four forced fumbles in five collegiate seasons. Thomas' biggest interception in college clinched Miami's Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
With the 98th overall pick of the @NFLDraft the @Vikings select Jakobe Thomas from @CanesFootball 🙌#BuiltInTheACC x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/DKrhzZlVVb
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) April 25, 2026
Projecting Thomas' with Minnesota
ESPN projects Thomas as the second-team safety for Minnesota behind starter Theo Jackson. Jackson had 47 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 2.0 quarterback hits, one pass defended and one forced fumble and one recovery playing 14 games with eight starts with 530 defensive snaps, 49.53 percent of the Minnesota total.
According to multiple reports, Jackson was quietly benched early and late in the 2025 season. Thomas could have a chance to compete with Jackson for playing time in 2026. After transferring from Tennessee, Scott and Thomas immediately stepped into the Miami defense and made huge impacts.
Thomas has a good opportunity on an elite Minnesota defense to do the same in 2026. Minnesota needs playmakers after struggling to force interceptions in 2025. More playmakers will help the Minnesota offense in 2026 and Thomas is adept at making them.
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