Blair Thomas taught the NFL a valuable lesson about not trusting a running back who had reconstructive knee surgery in college with the No. 2 overall pick. Thomas went for 1,714 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior in 1987 but missed all of 1988 after his knee surgery.
In 1989, he returned to run for 1,341 yards at Penn State and was drafted second overall by the New York Jets. Thomas was thrown into a running back rotation in New York, but he never stood out in his 4+ seasons with the Jets.
Thomas finished his six-year NFL career with 2,236 total rushing yards and just seven rushing touchdowns.