Recruiting Story: Q&A with Kutztown’s Sincere Thomas
Covering the COVID-riddled Spring season last year, I had a first-hand glance at just how difficult the recruiting side of things were for many athletes who desperately needed a senior year worth of film. Harry S. Truman’s Sincere Thomas Sincere Thomas 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Post-Graduate | 2022 State PA felt the brunt of the struggles, going through cancellation after cancellation due to COVID, while already being labeled as undersized by scouts in the area. The kid was up against it.
Numerous post-Grads paved the way for an opportunity through Kutztown University. We at Prep Redzone PA are incredibly happy to see Thomas’ journey continue in what hopes to be an exciting and opportunity-filled environment at KU. Below is a Q&A discussing what Sincere Thomas Sincere Thomas 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Post-Graduate | 2022 State PA went through, hopefully providing some insight on what you could expect from your recruiting process, as well as a lesson on betting on yourself.
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PrepRedzone.com: How did you feel immediately after the Fall/Spring season commenced at Harry S. Truman?
Thomas: I felt great heading into the fall/spring season because I’ve been preparing and working hard throughout the ifs and buts of having a season. I had an excellent season with 25 TD in 6 games with 1,300 receiving yards and first state all state receiver, MVP of the year for the fall/spring season.
PrepRedzone.com: When did you first see some traction in recruiting?
Thomas: I started seeing traction after my spring season was over. I started getting some D1 looks from Monmouth, Merrimack, Rutgers, William Mary but wasn’t highly showing interest just a little bit.
PrepRedzone.com: Who reached out first? Ever have any doubts throughout this entire process?
Thomas: I had major doubts once I heard we might not have a spring season and once COVID started picking up we were shut down every other week unexpectedly. Even though I had worries, I stayed to myself and kept praying because I needed this year to show everyone what I been working so hard for.
PrepRedzone.com: Did schools recruit you for positions or roles you didn’t think fit?
Thomas: Most of the recruiting was for offense but some did want me on defense, which I barley played all season unless there was a good receiver, I followed him the whole game.
PrepRedzone.com: Tell us about the post-Grads you joined or attended, did they hurt or help your cause?
Thomas: I attended Bishop Sycamore, which was a learning experience that wasn’t the best for football but the life-learning atmosphere it taught me that at any given time, things can change. Before Bishop was all over ESPN and stuff I left because all the financial things we were supposed to have never appeared. Bishop wasn’t a fake school at all we had a bunch of good athlete’s and dogs that can play.
The other school I attended was the New Jersey Gators, which was another program that told you what you wanted to hear. My parents had to pay 10,000 upfront and it wasn’t all what they made it seem like at all. I ended up getting good film from the school, but the recruiting process was a bit scary because after they had to shut down the program because some people didn’t pay their tuition, after that the recruiting process got scary. These post grad schools didn’t really help me out I had to get it from the muscle and hope for the best honestly.
PrepRedzone.com: Long process from the end of your senior year to committing in April, what kept you believing when others didn’t?
Thomas: Committing in April, who kept me believing in myself were my parents and of course myself. I’ll be honest, my parents been with me since I was five years old, playing flag, they know my game better than anybody. When I started off younger, I use to do crazy things that not all kids knew how to do. I’ve been developing since I was younger, I only got better with age, I know I can play big time football.
PrepRedzone.com: What was it like hearing from Kutztown? Did you visit? What’re your feelings on everything Kutztown?
PrepRedzone.com: Now with Kutztown, what’re your goals for yourself and the team?
Thomas: Hearing from Kutztown made me excited. At first it was going to be a full scholarship, but I was only thinking I’m D1 even though I did have some reaching out. But my parents and I had a sit down and discussed taking the D2 route is totally fine. I did visit KU and it was bigger than I expected but great atmosphere and I’m ready to start my journey. I think this is the program to be at and it fit my atmosphere of play. My goal for Kutztown is to play as a true freshman and be all-PSAC.
PrepRedzone.com: Who helped you the most throughout this process? Mentally, physically, exposure wise?
Thomas: The people that helped me the most were my parents and the New Jersey Gators. My parents helped me mentally throughout the entire process. Honestly, I dealt with physical part of this staying in the weight room and in the field. The New Jersey Gators helped me exposure-wise because I did have a good season and was able to have good film.