Cancelled Event: Football versus Spring Game
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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Jacob Thomas Signs with Minnesota Vikings
4/25/2026 8:36:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Former James Madison safety Jacob Thomas has signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.
Thomas confirmed the news to JMU following the NFL Draft.
A four-year member with the Dukes, Thomas was a captain of the 2025 team that featured one of the nation's best defenses, culminating in the program's first Sun Belt Conference title and a trip to the College Football Playoff.
Thomas was a two-time Second Team All-Sun Belt defensive back and a three-year starter in the secondary. He started 39 of his 50 career games at safety, finishing his career with 199 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five interceptions, 16 pass breakups and a forced fumble.
As a senior in 2025, the Ashburn, Va., native tallied 71 tackles with 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, seven breakups and a forced fumble. He recorded five or more stops in 10 games and as honored on watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award and Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
Thomas becomes the second JMU player ever to sign with the Vikings, joining Shawn Woodson (1984-88), who was a 12th-round draft selection in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Thomas confirmed the news to JMU following the NFL Draft.
A four-year member with the Dukes, Thomas was a captain of the 2025 team that featured one of the nation's best defenses, culminating in the program's first Sun Belt Conference title and a trip to the College Football Playoff.
Thomas was a two-time Second Team All-Sun Belt defensive back and a three-year starter in the secondary. He started 39 of his 50 career games at safety, finishing his career with 199 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five interceptions, 16 pass breakups and a forced fumble.
As a senior in 2025, the Ashburn, Va., native tallied 71 tackles with 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, seven breakups and a forced fumble. He recorded five or more stops in 10 games and as honored on watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award and Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
Thomas becomes the second JMU player ever to sign with the Vikings, joining Shawn Woodson (1984-88), who was a 12th-round draft selection in the 1989 NFL Draft.
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