NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Yale University football senior Rodney Thomas II heard his name called on Saturday afternoon in the 2022 NFL Draft as he was selected by the Indianapolis Colts.
 
Thomas, who helped the Bulldogs to two Ivy League Championships in his career, was drafted in the seventh round, pick number 239.
 
"I am incredibly proud and excited for Rodney and his family. He was a huge part of our success here at Yale because of his relentless pursuit to be elite on the field, in the meeting room and as a teammate," said Tony Reno, Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach of Football. "The Indianapolis Colts drafted an exceptional player who will work tirelessly on the field and be a better person off of it."
 
Thomas, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound safety from Pittsburgh, Pa., is a two-time All-Ivy League performer and earned First Team selection this past season.
 
An All-New England Team honoree, Thomas was a multi-positional talent in college as he has played both linebacker and safety during his time at Yale.


 
This past season, Thomas paced the Bulldogs with 11 pass breakups from his strong safety position which ranked third among all Ivy League players. Thomas was second on the Bulldogs with 50 tackles while picking off two passes.
 
Thomas is Yale's first draft pick since Foye Oluokun in the 2018 NFL Draft. Thomas joins Yale's current NFL players fraternity along with Oluokun, who signed as a free agent this offseason, as well as the Atlanta Falcons' Jaeden Graham and the Chicago Bears' Dieter Eiselen.