Lexington Thomas, RB, UNLV – Fastest RB in 2019 Draft Class

UNLV: An All-America candidate, the top returning running back in the Mountain West, Lexington Lightning needs 1,250 yards in 2018 to pass Tim Cornett (3,733 from 2010-13) and become the school’s career rushing king … Despite starting just 20 games as a collegian, he heads into the fall ranking third in UNLV history with 12 100-yard rushing games and needs six to break two-time All-American Mike Thomas’ 44-year-old UNLV record of 17 … Sits third in program history with 28 rushing touchdowns and needs 10 more as a senior to break Thomas’ mark of 37 set in 1973-74 … A unanimous preseason First Team All-MW honoree from Phil Steele’s, Athlon and Lindy’s … Ranked the nation’s No. 31 running back by Phil Steele’s … Selected to represent his team’s offense at the annual MW Media Summit in July … A super-speedy back who was the top freshman runner in the conference in 2015 and has improved every year of his career … Joined by fellow Lone Star State product Xzaviar Campbell in the Rebel backfield.

2017: After taking over the starting spot in Week Two, went on to become the third UNLV running back to be named First Team All-MW, joining Dominique Dorsey in 2004 and Jeremi Rudolph in 2000 … Turned in the fourth-highest rushing total in school history with 1,336 yards on 211 carries for a gaudy per-rush average of 6.3 yards, which ranked 17th in the nation … Also ranked 17th in the FBS with 111.3 yards per game … “Lightning” also struck often in the end zone as a junior, scoring at least one touchdown in 10 of 12 games (two or more six times) and finishing with 17 rushing TDs, which tied for 12th in the nation and tied for second on the school’s single-season list … Posted six scoring runs of 55 yards or longer en route to five 100-yard games … Caught eight passes for a career-high 143 yards … Rushed 17 times for 190 yards and three scores in win at Idaho … Sprinted for a 62-yard and a 60-yard touchdown to stun the Vandals … Of his six rushes that traveled 55 yards or longer during the fall, one went for 55 at No. 10/9 Ohio State … Earl Campbell Award Honorable Mention three times, Sept. 12 vs. Idaho, Oct. 3 after his 146-yard effort vs. SJSU and Nov. 21 after going for 127 at New Mexico.

2016: Appeared in 10 games and finished second on squad with 642 yards while leading squad with eight rushing touchdowns … Also caught six passes for 83 yards and two more scores … Turned in three straight 100-yard rushing games during the season … Bolted for 112 yards on 19 attempts vs. UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 10, 113 yards on 17 carries at Central Michigan one week later and a career-high 160 vs. Idaho on just 19 attempts Sept. 24 … His fourth century-mark effort of the fall came in a win at Hawai’i on Oct. 15 when he finished with 102 on 21 carries, including a 34-yard run to the end zone … Had two long scoring sprints: a 55-yarder scoring vs. Idaho just one week after going untouched for an 85-yard TD run against CMU … The run in Mount Pleasant marked the longest by a Rebel RB since Darin Brightmon’s school-record 89-yarder vs. New Mexico State in 1989.

2015: Earned his first letter as a Rebel by playing in all 12 games … Finished second on the team with 506 net rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 81 attempts for a gaudy per-carry average of 6.2, which ranked ninth in the country among freshman backs with at least 500 yards … Despite coming off the bench, Lex tied the school’s freshman record for 100-yard games with three … Rushed for 106 yards and one touchdown on just seven carries in Game Four vs. Idaho State … Ran a season-high 17 times for a then career-high 120 yards and a score vs. Hawai’i in Game Nine … Followed that up by sprinting for 118 yards and a score on just 11 attempts at Colorado State in Game 10 … Caught 10 passes for 100 yards with a long of 26 … Also returned 12 kickoffs for 250 yards and 20.8-yard average.

HIGH SCHOOL: A two-year letter winner at Benjamin Davis HS in Aldine, TX, under coach James Showers … Earned all-district first team honors as a senior … Also a four-year letter winner in track.

PERSONAL: Lexington Ryan Thomas was born in Houston, TX … The son of Warren Williams and Stacy Thomas … Has two brothers: Gavin Thomas and Dylan Williams, and one sister, Monique … Majoring in urban studies.

Thomas is the fastest running back in the 2019 NFL Draft Class and if not the only fastest one with a pulse to the National Football League. The former UNLV running back set a blaze to the forty on his Pro Day with 4.29 on his first attempt.

The speed is evident before he lined up and dug his fingers into the dirt before launching down the sidelines in front of NFL Scouts.

Thomas is physical despite just being 5-foot-9 and 176 pounds. He is also very productive. He left college as one of the most productive running backs in school history and plenty of accolades.

His college career earned him an invite to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl this past January a collection of top senior prospects with their eye on the NFL. Thomas once again displayed his skills during the week of practices that led up to the game over the weekend.

Pause reading this and go to his highlight link to 1:51 on the reel. Wow!

Welcome back…

The two obvious things about Thomas is he is small but he is exceptionally fast and when you lack size you better counter with something unique and that is the hallmark of his game, but he address on our podcast that he relishes in the physical nature of the game and feels that it might be something that is other looked.

Thomas shows nice vision has been durable and productive throughout his career at UNLV. Can stop and accelerate quickly but seems to be at top speed from the first step. He feels comfortable catching the football despite the Rebels offense seldom using him in that capacity. A big play waiting to happen when he touches the football. Size limitations will factor in but his play-making ability will out-weigh those concerns.

Has a chance to compete for a job as a third-down back and possibly more.