Totino-Grace DL Theo Thomas saw his stock rise from #98 to #7 overall.

We’re kicking things off with a 91-rank climb by 6’4, 260 lb. standout Totino-Grace DL Theo Thomas. His rose into the upper echelons of the state’s 2025 talent has been longer than most, and he’s done almost as good of a job as any 2025 prospect in developing his body, improving his game, and bettering himself over the long offseason and into his junior campaign. It’s a common phrase in football, but the improvement really boils down to Thomas getting bigger, faster, stronger, and more explosive. It looks like he’s grown into his body and looks more comfortable, intentional, and controlled in his movements and play, and his get-off has improved as well as his ability to shed blocks, in large part thanks to his added strength from the countless hours in the weight room.

Now an upperclassmen fully invested in the all-important junior year offseason, Thomas displayed a good get-off and first step and some pass rushing ability that included an effective long arm, a strong initial punch that possesses the strength to execute bull rushes and power moves with success, and the ability to accomplish twists and stunts with success. I also like his length and wingspan, closing speed, and positional versatility and capability to line up as a 5T, 3T, and occasionally head up on the OC as a true NG. Overall, he’s a big, long DE at a position that values athleticism that really holds his 260ish pounds well and shows significant more room to fill in. High ceiling and lots of potential in the massive 2025 MN Rankings Update Stock Riser.

Thomas emerges as a standout presence on the football field, leveraging a combination of physicality, versatility, and an array of techniques that make him a force on both the inside and the edge. His physical attributes, characterized by his big, tall, and long build, immediately establish him as a dominating presence on the line. His substantial frame gives him a natural advantage, providing disruptive power and a widespread wingspan that causes problems for ball carriers and offensive linemen. Thomas’ ability to stunt effectively from the inside out is a testament to his versatility. His explosive get-off at the line of scrimmage highlights his athleticism and quick reaction time, allowing him to consistently disrupt plays in the backfield. Thomas’ ability to play the interior and edge positions adds a layer of unpredictability to his game, making him a challenging assignment for opposing offenses. The tremendous bull rush in Thomas’ toolbox is a standout strength, allowing him to collapse the pocket with power and pressure quarterbacks. His willingness and ability to play across the spectrum of defensive line positions, from 0-tech to 5-tech, showcase his adaptability and understanding of various defensive schemes. A relentless tackler, Thomas’s impact extends beyond disrupting plays in the backfield. His tenacity ensures a powerful tackle once he gets his hands on an opponent. The inside rip move is another weapon in Thomas’s arsenal, giving himself a path to the backfield and putting an offense at a disadvantage. His tackle radius is very wide, making it difficult for runners to get around him. His ability to control space and limit the options for ball carriers emphasizes his effectiveness in run defense. To round out his skill set, Thomas exhibits a quick swim move, providing him with finesse and agility to navigate past offensive linemen. This diverse set of techniques makes him a multi-dimensional threat.

A literally large part of Totino-Grace’s XL 2023 roster, 6’4, 260 lber. Theo Thomas shot his stock up into the D1 stratosphere and got his name on the Minnesota Golden Gopher radar thanks to his play as a junior in 2023. Coming into the season with only an unofficial visit to Iowa State under his belt, Thomas now receives consistent recruiting graphics from the U of M and has earned follows from a boatload of their staff, both coaches and recruiting personnel alike. An iDL who primarily works from the 3T alignment but can bump out to the 5T, Thomas keeps blockers at bay with his long arms and can efficiently shed once he identifies and triggers on the football, plus he’s very effective with his hand usage, keeps them active and light, and shows off a clean chop/rip and long arm/stab. Thomas looks great for 6’4, 260 on tape as well, and he demonstrates impressive closing speed for his size, a powerful bull rush that knocks blockers on their backsides , strength at the point of attack that excels in the physicality department, and lateral quickness. Lots of ways to beat blocking attempts for Mr. Thomas, and he made a fool out of a few in 2023. Going to be a big offseason for #9, but first, Totino-Grace has a massive 4A state quarterfinal matchup on Thursday with Hutchinson.