#7

Duane Thomas Jr.

WR · UCF · Jr. · #7

Returning to UCF for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Duane Thomas Jr.

WR · UCF · Jr · #7

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1966 national
CFB
College
2 teams
2023–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2023–2025

2 coaches
2025era →

Coaching transition mid-career: Gus Malzahn → Scott Frost. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2023Charlotte3-9HC: Biff Poggi · Run-leaning
2024Charlotte5-7HC: Biff Poggi · Balanced, slow tempo
2025UCF5-7HC: Scott Frost · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025UCF5352810.00--
2024Charlotte66310.51--
2023Charlotte2424410.20--
Career8383510.11--
SeasonTeam
2025UCF144510313--
2024Charlotte218------
2023Charlotte5119314--
Career217419627--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2025

W 17–10

vs Jacksonville State

-7 rush yds (2 car)

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 7 at home.

How he plays

Play style

Wins underneath on volume and route precision.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

UCF

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Wide receiver · UCF

Returning around him

  • 31% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
  • 1 UCF player drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: -3 net (32 in / 35 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

UCF · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #43 · 2026 recruiting class #66

DNA match

Player DNA

Slot Technician

Runs precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving.

WR

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Tony Freeman’s 2025 season.

Tony Freeman

78%match

Washington State · 2025

#2

Malik Washington

Northwestern · 2022

78%
#3

Myles Price

Texas Tech · 2022

78%
#4

Jayden McGowan

Vanderbilt · 2023

77%
#5

Michael Mathison

Akron · 2021

76%

Matches Tony on

Weight
Total EPA (college ability)
EPA / play (adj)

Differs from Tony on

TD rate (lower)

Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Miequle Brock’s path through Nicholls.

Miequle Brock

95%match

Nicholls · 2025

#2

Jalen Walker

Miami (OH) · 2022

95%
#3

Mekhi Mews

Houston · 2024

94%
#4

Jacob Godfrey

UL Monroe · 2025

94%
#5

Derick Eugene

Long Island University · 2021

94%

Matches Miequle on

Yards per reception
20232025

As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Kazmeir Allen's junior season at UCLA (2022).

UCLA · 2022

#2

Kam Thomas

UTEP · 2024

All-Conference USA
71%
#3

Myles Price

Texas Tech · 2022

69%
#4

Malik Washington

Northwestern · 2022

68%
#5

Mikey Matthews

UCLA · 2025

68%

Matches Kazmeir on

Total EPA (college ability)
Height

Differs from Kazmeir on

Recruiting rating (lower)
TD rate (lower)
Yards / reception (higher)

Player DNA

Players who play like Duane Thomas Jr.

#1

Mekhi Mews

Georgia · 2023

94%

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #1821

Final rank
#1921
Avg #1936.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #1821 this season.

Development

Development Trajectory · receiving yards

2023–2025
2442023
63.02024
5282025

+116%

Up 116% from first season to most-recent.