Career Highs

Pass Attempts: 31 vs. Northwestern, 11/25/17
Completions: 14 vs. Northwestern, 11/25/17
Passing Yards: 159 at Purdue, 11/4/17
Passing Touchdowns: -
Long Pass: 29 vs. Wisconsin, 10/28/17
Carries: 18 vs. Northwestern, 11/25/17
Rushing Yards: 79 at Minnesota, 10/21/17
Rushing Touchdowns: 1 vs. Northwestern, 11/25/17
Long Rush: 27 vs. Wisconsin, 10/28/17
Total Offense: 122 vs. Wisconsin, 10/28/17
All-Purpose Yards: 79 at Minnesota, 10/21/17

2017 Freshman

• Played in four games with two starts at quarterback
• Became the third true freshman QB in Illinois history to make multiple starts, joining Juice Williams (2006) and Kurt Kittner (1998)
• Completed 28 of 66 passes for 375 yards
• 52 carries for 233 rushing yards (4.5 yards/attempt) and one touchdown
• Second on the team in total offense (608 yards)
• Second on the team in rushing yards during Big Ten games (233)
• Made his Illinois debut in the seventh game of the season at Minnesota
• First career start against Purdue in the ninth game of the season
• First career touchdown against Northwestern

High School

• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals, ESPN and Scout
• Ranked No. 35 dual-threat quarterback by ESPN
• Ranked No. 44 pro-style quarterback in the nation by 247Sports
• Ranked No. 81 quarterback by Scout
• Ranked No. 21 recruit in Illinois by ESPN, No. 29 by Rivals, No. 30 by 247Sports and No. 37 by Scout
• Played at Marian Catholic for head coach Sean Mele
• Lettered three years in football
• Marian Catholic Offensive MVP
• Three-time All-East Suburban Catholic Conference selection
• Also ran track in high school and won the East Suburban Catholic Conference 200-meter title

Personal

• Born Oct. 29, 1998
• Son of Curtis and Denise Thomas
• Has one sister, Arianna, and two brothers, Kendall and Kyle
• Picked Illinois because, “of the family environment that I’ve felt from day one. Everyone here is genuine and it’s refreshing to be able to work alongside others who want a common goal, and that’s to win B1G championships and compete for National championships.”
• Listed Mike Vick as his favorite athlete because he, “started the cultural change at quarterback that paved the way for quarterbacks like myself, who are dual-threat, to showcase our talent.”
• Plans to major in business
• Wants to become a sports agent following his playing career