Ian Thomas

Ian Thomas (born June 6, 1996) is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Indiana, and was selected by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Early life Thomas's mother Martha died due to liver and kidney failure before Thomas was nine. His father died a year later due to a heart attack. College career Thomas graduated from Nassau Community College in 2016, and joined Indiana for his junior year. Thomas played all 13 games during his first year at Indiana, acting as a blocking tight end and recording only three catches. During his senior year, after a game against Georgia Southern, in which he had a 71-yard touchdown, Thomas was named the Mackey Award Tight End of the Week. As a senior, Thomas had 25 receptions for 376 yards and five touchdowns. Following his senior season at Indiana, Thomas was invited to the 2018 Senior Bowl.