On Thursday, the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks announced that they have signed former UConn Husky Noel Thomas for the upcoming year. Thomas went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft but signed with the Detroit Lions and spent the year on their practice squad.
After a year in which he caught 100 passes, a UConn single-season record, some were surprised that he was not taken in the draft and despite impressing in training camp, Thomas never made it onto the active roster and was released from the practice squad in October. He had a workout later in the year with the Jacksonville Jaguars but never made it back onto an NFL roster.
It’s still early in his career, so there’s plenty of time for Thomas should he shine in Canada to make his way back into the NFL. The CFL season begins with three days of OTAs in April followed by training camp in May.
The Redblacks won the 2016 Grey Cup, the CFL championship and also have another UConn product on the roster, with offensive lineman Alex Mateas signing a contract extension on Wednesday as well.
Originally from Ottawa, Mateas has spent the last three years with the Redblacks after being their first overall pick in 2015.