Ohio State WR Michael Thomas is picked No. 47 overall by the Saints

The top receiver out of Ohio State, Michael Thomas was taken with the No. 47 overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 2016 NFL Draft. Following in the footsteps of his successful uncle, Thomas is ready to make waves in the league.

Expectations were always high for the nephew of NFL great Keyshawn Johnson, but the level to which Thomas was able to excel in college lived up to the hype. The receiver spoke at the Combine about how his uncle’s career has been a source of inspiration, quipping, “I want to be better than my uncle.”

Known for answering the media and fans with a simple “Shhhh,” Thomas lets his actions on and off the field speak louder than his words. Buckeye head coach Urban Meyer even touted Thomas as “the most competitive player I’ve ever had.”

His collegiate career didn’t take off until the 2014 National Championship season, after being redshirted in 2013 for struggling to learn the offense and potential grade issues. Not one to give up, he came back with a vengeance, recording 54 receptions for 799 yards and nine touchdowns. Consistency is key for the wideout, who followed it up with a junior campaign that included 56 receptions for 781 yards and nine touchdowns.

Following the 2014 National Championship season, Ohio State had to fill the role of “deep threat” formerly held by NFL rookie Devin Smith -- who was drafted to the Jets in 2015. Thomas was able to fill that role easily, and was nearly impossible to defend thanks to his 6’3, 212-pound frame.

Considered one of the top five wideouts in this year’s draft class, it’s no wonder he was one of the first off the board. His performance at the Combine and pro days were enough to prove his athleticism goes much further than just his size, having run an official 4.57-second 40-yard dash and put up one of the top performances in the three-cone drill with 6.80 seconds. He also cleared a 35.0-inch vertical jump and 126.0-inch broad jump.

Thomas’ route-running, awareness of his feet -- in relation to the sideline -- mixed with his ability to come over defenders to come away with the catch, makes him a lethal player downfield. Despite Ohio State having a litany of wideouts, Thomas was the leading receiver in his last two seasons with the team.

Michael Thomas has a very high ceiling in the NFL, and while he might not have been the overall No. 1 pick like his uncle, he’s hoping to finish his career with a spot in the Hall of Fame.