#16

Jay'shon Thomas

DE · Northern Illinois · So. · #16

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

Jay'shon Thomas

DE · Northern Illinois · So · #16

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#2252 national
CFB
College
Northern Illinois
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Northern Illinois3-9HC: Thomas Hammock · Run-heavy, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Northern Illinois1983.02.0------
Career1983.02.0------

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2025

W 19–17

vs Holy Cross

1 QB HUR

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 2 at home.

How he plays

Play style

Collapses the pocket even when the sack doesn't come.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Northern Illinois

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive end · Northern Illinois

Returning around him

  • 53% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • Transfer portal: -16 net (6 in / 22 out)

2026 Award watch

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

Northern Illinois · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #125 · 2026 recruiting class #81

DNA match

Player DNA

Pressure Merchant

Collapses the pocket even when the sack doesn't come.

EDGE

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Demeioun Robinson’s 2021 season.

Maryland · 2021

#2

TJ Guy

Michigan · 2023

81%
#3

Everitt Cunningham

Southern Miss · 2021

81%
#4

Kofi Wardlow

Charlotte · 2022

80%
#5

Khris Bogle

Michigan State · 2023

80%

Matches Demeioun on

Sack rate
Weight
TFL rate

Differs from Demeioun on

Class year (higher)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Lawrence Falatea's freshman season at Washington State (2022).

Washington State · 2022

#2

Michael Pleas Jr.

Southern Miss · 2020

81%
#3

Demeioun Robinson

Maryland · 2021

80%
#4

Donovan Rieman

Louisiana Tech · 2025

79%
#5

Marco Jones

Texas A&M · 2025

79%

Matches Lawrence on

Height
Weight
Sack rate

Differs from Lawrence on

Class year (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #10980

Final rank
#11902
Avg #11528.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #10980 this season.