South Carolina's Bryan Thomas Jr. signs as undrafted free agent with NFL team, per report

The 2026 NFL Draft saw just two South Carolina Gamecocks selected, in cornerback Brandon Cisse going to the Green Bay Packers in the third round, and safety Jalon Kilgore going to the Buffalo Bills in the fifth. 

But for one other former Gamecock in EDGE rusher Bryan Thomas Jr., his NFL dreams aren't over. He got some good news with an NFL team on Saturday evening. 

Per NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, Thomas Jr. signed a UDFA deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars

In Jacksonville, Thomas will join the likes of a Jacksonville defense that includes defensive end Josh Hines-Allen and defensive tackles Davon Hamilton and Arik Armstead. The Jags also drafted rookies in defensive tackle Albert Regis out of Texas A&M and EDGE rushers in Wesley Williams from Duke Zach Durfee out of Washington.

Although the official start date for the Jags' rookie minicamp has not yet been officially set, the camps usually start sometime during the first couple weeks of May. 

Of course, this is just an invitation by Jacksonville to see what Thomas can do. There is no guarantee he will make the team, either on the 53-man or practice squad roster. But a shot is all that Thomas wanted. 

Over his four seasons with the Gamecocks, he accounted for 92 total tackles with 12 sacks and five forced fumbles. He is the son of former UAB and New York Jets defensive end Bryan Thomas Sr., who spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the Jets. Across his career, he had 442 career tackles, 33.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles. 

S Jalon Kilgore tells Bills GM he made the best pick in the draft in emotional call

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