A lot of things have changed in the past year for Washington pass-catcher Logan Thomas.
One year ago, Thomas was an unknown. He had signed with Washington the previous spring, but the quarterback-turned-tight-end had never hauled in more than 16 passes in one season.
Now, after a career year in 2020 where he notched 72 receptions, 670 yards and a team-best six touchdowns, Thomas was rewarded with a three-year contract extension. With the territory comes responsibility, and the former Virginia Tech standout is now the leader of what is a young Washington tight end room.
In an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Washington's JP Finlay, Thomas was asked what it's been like serving as a mentor for Washington's two young tight ends, John Bates and Sammis Reyes. Thomas is welcoming that role of being the veteran mentor for the two of them.
"I'm the type of guy, I'll never turn somebody away," Thomas said. "I just kind of give them a little bit of insight, what I feel. But they're doing a really good job and they're asking good questions, not questions that typical rookies would ask."
Thomas has been especially impressed with Bates, who Washington used its fourth-round pick to draft this spring out of Boise State.
"John, he is hands down one of the smartest rookies I've ever been around," Thomas said. "He understands the game very much. He's picked up the playbook really quick. ... John's asking the expert level questions."
For Reyes, the questions he's asked Thomas are a tad more elementary. Thomas made it clear that it's not a knock on Reyes, though, as the former Tulane basketball player has never played a down of football in his life before at any level.
"Obviously for Sammis, he's never played before," Thomas said. "The questions he's asked are a little more baseline."
Thomas is the unquestioned starter at tight end. But, when Washington released its first depth chart of training camp on Monday, it was neither Bates nor Reyes that was listed as the No. 2 at the position.
That would belong to veteran Tamarrick Hemingway, who's been in the NFL since 2016 and spent a decent amount of the 2020 season on Washington's active roster. Bates is currently listed as the No. 3 tight end with Reyes behind him at No. 4.
Hemingway has been impressive throughout training camp thus far, too. And while Thomas is more than willing to help Washington's rookie tight ends in any way he can, he's also thrilled to see Hemingway standing out in camp as well.
"Temarrick, he's been around. He knows the game," Thomas said. "He knows what he's got to do. He's a special type of player, one of my better friends, and I've enjoyed watching him grow the past couple weeks as well."