Super 30: Mustang's Deontre Thomas might not look the part of a big-time defensive tackle, but he plays like one
by Scott Wright Published: July 19, 2016
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Mustang defensive lineman Deontre Thomas is shown Wednesday in the weight room at Mustang High School. [Photo By Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman]
MUSTANG — When Mustang senior Deontre Thomas walks into a room, he looks the part of a Division I football player.
But your first thought might not be: There goes a future defensive tackle in the Big Ten Conference.
At 6-foot-2, Thomas looks lean at 260 pounds. Not like the beefy behemoths Nebraska would typically plop down on the interior of their defensive line.
Funny thing is, Thomas agrees with you.
He always believed he'd be a Division I football player, but not as a defensive tackle.
“I thought I'd be recruited as a defensive end,” he said. “The coaches want me playing around 260 here, because I've got to be quick and I've got to be able to move around. But at the next level, they want me at 300 pounds.”
The Cornhuskers love Thomas' body, his athletic ability and his technical skills — along with the fact that his frame is ideal for adding that extra weight.
That's why Thomas committed to the Huskers in April, picking them over Michigan, Ole Miss and a couple others.
“I was leaning toward Michigan, but once I went to Nebraska, they blew me away,” Thomas said. “I visited Nebraska for the spring game. They were flying jets over the stadium, shooting off fireworks every time they scored. It was crazy.”
Thomas, ranked No. 7 on The Oklahoman's Super 30, also felt Nebraska was more committed to bringing him in, while Michigan viewed him as more of a secondary option.
“I want to be somebody's No. 1,” he said.
Using a handheld stopwatch, Mustang coaches timed Thomas at 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
When new Mustang defensive coordinator Adam Gaylor got his first look at Thomas in the spring, he saw a unique specimen.
“When you have a big guy who is that athletic, it allows you to do a lot of different things,” Gaylor said. “He can play noseguard, play tackle in a four-man front, or we can move him out to defensive end.
“More importantly, he's one of those guys who has an unreal skill set, but works unbelievably hard. Very few times in high school do you get to coach a defensive lineman with his skill set.”
Scott Wright
A lifelong resident of the Oklahoma City metro area, Scott Wright has been on The Oklahoman staff since 2005, covering a little bit of everything... read more ›
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Mustang defensive lineman Deontre Thomas is shown Wednesday in the weight room at Mustang High School. [Photo By Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman]
MUSTANG — When Mustang senior Deontre Thomas walks into a room, he looks the part of a Division I football player.
But your first thought might not be: There goes a future defensive tackle in the Big Ten Conference.
At 6-foot-2, Thomas looks lean at 260 pounds. Not like the beefy behemoths Nebraska would typically plop down on the interior of their defensive line.
Funny thing is, Thomas agrees with you.
He always believed he'd be a Division I football player, but not as a defensive tackle.
“I thought I'd be recruited as a defensive end,” he said. “The coaches want me playing around 260 here, because I've got to be quick and I've got to be able to move around. But at the next level, they want me at 300 pounds.”
The Cornhuskers love Thomas' body, his athletic ability and his technical skills — along with the fact that his frame is ideal for adding that extra weight.
That's why Thomas committed to the Huskers in April, picking them over Michigan, Ole Miss and a couple others.
“I was leaning toward Michigan, but once I went to Nebraska, they blew me away,” Thomas said. “I visited Nebraska for the spring game. They were flying jets over the stadium, shooting off fireworks every time they scored. It was crazy.”
Thomas, ranked No. 7 on The Oklahoman's Super 30, also felt Nebraska was more committed to bringing him in, while Michigan viewed him as more of a secondary option.
“I want to be somebody's No. 1,” he said.
Using a handheld stopwatch, Mustang coaches timed Thomas at 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
When new Mustang defensive coordinator Adam Gaylor got his first look at Thomas in the spring, he saw a unique specimen.
“When you have a big guy who is that athletic, it allows you to do a lot of different things,” Gaylor said. “He can play noseguard, play tackle in a four-man front, or we can move him out to defensive end.
“More importantly, he's one of those guys who has an unreal skill set, but works unbelievably hard. Very few times in high school do you get to coach a defensive lineman with his skill set.”
Scott Wright
A lifelong resident of the Oklahoma City metro area, Scott Wright has been on The Oklahoman staff since 2005, covering a little bit of everything... read more ›
