Georgia Tech safety Juanyeh Thomas will forego his extra season of eligibility to seek a career in the NFL.

Thomas, a three-year starter for the Yellow Jackets, made his declaration for the 2022 draft Monday evening in a statement from his social-media accounts.

Thomas ranked third on the team in tackles this season, and first among defensive backs, with 81, including four for loss. He also had a team-high six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception. His 6.8 tackles-per-game average was a career high. He was named honorable-mention All-ACC.

Thomas made three of the plays of the season for the Jackets — a forced fumble of Clemson running back Will Shipley that led to a safety late in the Jackets’ 14-8 loss to the Tigers, the game-sealing interception in the final minute of the Jackets’ 31-27 win at Duke and an interception on a two-point conversion pass play of Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke that he returned for two points for Tech.

Thomas’ playmaking ability also is reflected in his having scored on a 100-yard kickoff return, a 77-yard return of a free kick after a safety and a 95-yard interception return (all in his 2018 freshman season) in addition to his two-point defensive score against Miami.

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