Thomas impacted Waterloo East games in all three phases as a sophomore last fall. He caught 15 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, and picked up nine yards on his lone carry. Thomas registered 29.5 tackles, 16 of which were of the solo variety. He posted 1.5 tackles for loss and recovered a fumble. As a return man, he averaged 21.0 yards on six kicks returns and 16.0 on a pair of punt returns. Thomas’ 10th-grade highlight video reveals a receiver adept at taking short passes and making defenders miss in space. He succeeds with burst, speed and elusiveness. Defensively, the athleticism also stands out as does his fluid back peddle and changing of directions. It’s a group of traits that also translates well to special teams.

Thomas got his feet wet on the the varsity was a freshman last season, when he pitched in on offense, defense and special teams. We can see that athleticism and versatility when watching clips on his Hudl page. Thomas stands out for being advanced as a tackler. He finds his way to the football, breaks down the ball carrier and drops him in his tracks. In coverage, Thomas sticks with receivers courtesy of slick hip rotation and speed. The natural traits are there for Thomas to contribute much more moving forward as he develops as a football player and matures physically.