UA Little Rock Student Explores Love of Football through Pro Football Focus Internship

A UA Little Rock graduate student is getting to do one of his favorite things in life – watching football – while gaining invaluable professional experience for his future career through an internship at Pro Football Focus.
Avery Thomas-Wells, who is earning his master’s degree in the sports management program at UA Little Rock, is spending August 2024 through February 2025 analyzing football games for Pro Football Focus.
“This is pure data analytics,” Thomas-Wells said. “At the end of the day, you need to be passionate about liking and watching football. A lot of people who work for Pro Football Focus go on to work for NFL teams. I am getting some great experience, and I think this will open up the door to some great future jobs.”
Founded in 2006, Pro Football Focus is a sports analytics company that focuses on thorough analysis of the National Football League and NCAA Division-I football in the United States.
“I am thankful for the opportunity with Pro Football Focus and appreciative that I get to watch my alma mater, the Razorbacks, play,” he said. “I am really happy and fortunate to get paid to watch Arkansas football games.”
In Thomas-Wells’ job, he analyzes every player and every play of the college football games that he is assigned to review every week. Many football-related businesses use news, data, and analysis provided by Pro Football Focus, including football teams, broadcast networks, media outlets, agencies, video game companies, sportsbetting, and fantasy companies.
“The grades we give the players weigh into where they get drafted by the NFL,” he said. “It’s pretty relevant for a coach that is recruiting, and it can be important when players are negotiating a contract.”
Getting the internship was not for the weak of heart. Applicants had to make it through a tough six-week unpaid training program in June and July.
“This program started out with 2,500 people, and they only hired 350 people,” Thomas-Wells said. “When I first started, it took me 11 hours to complete a game analysis, and now I’ve gotten it down to under four hours. A lot of people couldn’t withstand the rigorous process, but I really love football and wanted to succeed.”
Thomas-Wells said that the internship has been an incredible opportunity for him, and he plans to continue next year. After the football season ends in February, he and other Pro Football Focus employees can sign up for trainings to analyze football games in other areas.
“I plan on staying with Pro Football Focus as long as possible,” he said. “I want to finish off the year strong and hopefully take on bigger roles next year. I’m excited to see where this company is going to be in 10 years.”