Our incoming freshmen series takes a turn to the defensive side of the ball as we look at defensive back, Brayden Thomas. Thomas is listed at 6’1” and 175 pounds and is listed as a safety and cornerback. It looks as if he’s played free, strong, nickel and CB in the secondary which tells you a lot about his athleticism. He’s coming to MSU from St. Edward in Ohio and is a three-star recruit on all sites. St. Edward is a proven football powerhouse in Ohio, and he has proven experience facing some top
Ohio recruits. He comes in ranked between the 49th and 51st best DB in Ohio and ranked between 90 and 106 nationally at his position. Iowa State was the presumed favorite to land Thomas, but he ultimately made the decision to go with the green and white. In his senior season he racked up 80 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 1 interception on 7 pass break ups and a sack.
In watching some tape on Thomas a few things stand out to me. He seems to have very nice vision and instincts on where the ball is going. He follows the QB’s eyes and still maintains his coverage. He has quick gap closing speed and can get to the sideline quickly. His length is a strong attribute as he uses his body and wingspan on coverage. I like how he is able to make interceptions but is not just focused on that and is willing to get in there and just break up the pass, get a hand in the sight line. He seems to read the run well and is able to get by blockers to make the tackle. He also has some strength to bring down a power back in a one on one scenario. Speed seems to be a strong suit of Thomas and you’ll see on the attached video his ability to block kicks from rushing in off the edge. Clocking in at a 4.5 40, tells you the kid has speed and can make things happen.
The biggest question will be how his ability transitions into stronger and more developed opponents. I wasn’t able to find much footage on the line and how the hands are in playing man off the snap. I am curious to see his closing speed on a fast receiver and how it matches up. I could also see him potentially being tested in the return game and seeing if he is an option to return kicks at some point. Seems worth a look considering the new Gash injury. His versatility will pay dividends and it will be fun to see how he develops and where he ends up playing on the field. He is a developmental piece that MSU looks to mold into a guy who they can count on in the secondary.
What do you think TOC? Do we see Thomas on the field much this year or is he a guy we think will develop into a true Spartan Dawg but in a couple of years? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
