Not Lu, but this is the most versatile player I've seen in a while. He can rush the passer, cover, or play a traditional outside linebacker. His 2011 spring game video is better than most people's entire highlight reels.
Can you move this to the recruiting board, early morning brain fart putting it here.
Thanks DMoney for the insight. I really hope we can get this kid on Campus.
D basically summed it up. Just take a look at his spring game. In an earlier post, I believe I counted something like 11 impact plays out of a likely 30-40 plays total in a spring game.
What makes him different, though, are his feet, acceleration and change of direction. At his size, it's just unusual. I don't even have a comparison for him at this point.
FWIW, I believe he's the best player in the State of Florida since Sammy Watkins. And, #2 behind Watkins over the past 3 recruiting seasons.
High praise, and I don't think I can really deny it.
The thing about Thomas is that he not only has all-world potential, but he is already a major impact player in different facets of the game, AND you just see his progress as he continues to realize it. Example, as a sophomore he was a DE. He was a really good DE. Then his spring game last year shows him still being impactful at DE, but also taking on more stand up LB responsibilities. Then you see his highlights from this past season and he is playing MLB on some plays, rushing the LB on others, and looking fluid and dominant in both ways. You watch the state championship game and he is all over the field as a MLB, clearly the best player in the game.
Then in the offseason, you see him start to fill out his frame some. You read about his impressive testing numbers and performances at combines. Then he goes to "The Opening" - the premier national combine - and is clearly one of the top 2 most impressive LB prospects there. But, not only did he show off in the testing, but in 7-on7's he was locking down the middle of the field in coverage, using his length to pick off multiple passes throughout the event.
It really is impressive to keep tabs on Thomas and watch him progress because you realize that all the hype about his potential is not overblown as he continues to realize a different facet of it with regularity. He has a frame to easily get up to 240+ and likely maintain his athleticism.
Then, you look at what our coaches want to do on defense - be multiple, have 4-3 and 3-4 fronts and adjust throughout the game with fluidity.
I maintain that Matthew Thomas can be the foundation of our coaches' ideal defense because he can be as multiple as the schemes they want to run. On any given 3rd down, he can be rushing the passer from a 3 point stance, a 2 point stance, or he can be in coverage in the middle of the field. He can thrive as a 4-3 DE or SLB or even MLB. He can obviously also be an outside LB (JACK/SAM) or even ILB in a 3-4.
He has the potential and skillset to do all those things at a high level. That is why he is such a must get, and I might cry if he goes to FSU
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