Interview with Fort Smith Northside 4.34 CB speedster Kiondre Thomas
Until the mid to late 1980’s football players were noted to have good to great speed but then a guy named Bo Jackson came around and shattered all preconceived notions about “football speed.” The Auburn star running back was not only big and strong along with talented, but he was also blazing fast running a reported hand-held 40-yard dash time of 4.12 at the 1986 NFL Combine.
Three years later former Florida State cornerback Deion Sanders reminded the rest of the football world just how far behind everyone is running a hand-held time of 4.27. Jackson was listed at 6’1”, 230 pounds, while “Neon Deion” was listed at 6’1”, 198 pounds. The football world was put on notice from that moment on all positions had to become bigger, stronger, and faster.
Since 1999 the NFL has used electronic timing to record 40-yard dash times taking some of the human error out of the timed equation. That same year, University of Georgia cornerback Champ Bailey posted an electronic 4.28 legitimizing the decades of hand-held timed speed before him giving future generations another benchmark to achieve.
Six other sub-4.28 times have been posted at the NFL Combine since: WR Marquise Goodwin (Texas) 2013, CB Stanford Routt (Houston) 2005, RB Dri Archer (Kent State) 2014, WR Jerome Mathis (Hampton) 2005, RB Chris Johnson (East Carolina) 2008, and WR Rondel Menedez (Eastern Kentucky) 1999.
Champ Bailey is headed to Canton after a Hall of Fame caliber career but other than Bailey, Chris Johnson in the only other notable speed demon that has been able to translate pure speed into an amazing NFL career.
In Arkansas’ second largest city, locking down an island all to himself is another young player ready to challenge the notion of speed verses skill heading off to the collegiate level – Kiondre Thomas.
The 6’0”, 170 pound, cornerback with ridiculous speed has posted mind boggling times, and not all times recorded have been announced… until now.
The benchmark that cannot be disputed is a laser timed 4.46, fast by any measure. Since the laser time Thomas has posted times of 4.37 and 4.34 hand-held. When the Class of 2016 rising star ran his 4.46 laser time he was also clocked at 4.29.
How has Thomas’ speed translated into skill on the gridiron? During his junior campaign he racked up 63 tackles for the Grizzlies, was in the neighborhood of 18 pass breakups, forced two fumbles, and picked off six passes returning one for a touchdown.
Northside found different ways to utilize Thomas’ speed giving him 14 carries which turned into 107 yards with three more touchdowns. Lining up at wide receiver Thomas caught nine passes turning three receptions into scores while picking up another 244 yards of offense.
In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview we sat down with the rare talent going over his junior season, his offseason workouts, and how his recruiting is shaping up heading into his senior season.
Kiondre, Northside is a program on the rise after finishing 10-3 in 2014. Looking back how would you grade how well the Grizzlies played last season?
“We did really well. Our defense was good. As a team we started off wonderful towards the end we didn’t do as well. We brought home the school’s first winning season in five years though.”
How well did you play in 2014? Did you feel like a lot of expectations were on your shoulders to have a great season?
“A lot of people expected me to have a good year. I expected to have a good year. The people in the Fort Smith area expected it but I don think the rest of the people in the state expected.”
Did you earn any individual honors at the end of last year?
“I was All-State.”
How does the team look heading into the 2015 season? Do you think another run into the playoffs is in the cards?
“We started spring ball on Monday. I do think we can make another playoff run next year. Our whole secondary and our linebacker core are going to be pretty good. We have some question marks on the D-line, we graduated three seniors. Our O-line, running backs, and wide receivers will be strong. We have a new quarterback. We have to fill in a couple of spots and we’ll be straight.”
What makes you a dangerous cornerback?
“I’m tall, fast, and physical.”
Simple as that?
“Yes sir.”
What do you do well at the cornerback position that makes you a recruiting target for college coaches?
“In run support I feel like I’m good because most corners are prima donnas. I try to lay the smack down. In press I’m good, I’m quick. In zone I have good vision, I’m fast and I can cover a whole bunch of space within a short time.”
What are your goals for the 2015 season?
“My goals are to win state and get more interceptions than last year.”
Will your role on offense expand next season?
“I think I’ll play more wide receiver and cornerback because of the people we lost at wide receiver. I think I’ll play a bigger role on offense this year.”
On your highlight reel you had a questionable decision off a really nice play. You tip-toed an interception about six yards into the end zone and then ran it out. You got stopped around the 10-yard line, did the coaches get onto for bringing the ball out?
“The dude that tackled me – if he wouldn’t have tackled me I would have scored. He (coach) knows I’m a playmaker. He wants to see what’s going to happen.”
You have offers from Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, Eastern Illinois, Jacksonville State, and Missouri State, what other schools are showing interest in you?
“Arkansas, Florida Atlantic, Indiana, Louisiana-Monroe, Memphis, Mississippi State, and Purdue are showing interest. Some new schools like TCU are starting to show the strongest interest along with Houston and Ohio – the Bobcats. Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Oklahoma State are showing interest too.”
What schools have you unofficially visited so far?
“I’ve been to Tulsa twice, Arkansas State, and Arkansas. I’m planning on going to Louisiana Tech soon.”
How did the visit to Tulsa go?
“It went well. The first time I went it was for Junior Day. I got offered that day. I went up there the next week got to meet with the coaches, it was pretty nice.”
How about Arkansas State? How did that visit go?
“It went well. The coaches – coach (Trooper) Taylor is the coolest coach I’ve ever met in my life (cornerbacks coach). They’re a good team. I was there for the spring game. I liked the atmosphere. They offered me after that visit.”
How did your visit to the Razorbacks go?
“When I went up to Arkansas, every year coach will bring up some freshman. He shows them what its like. I’ve already seen Arkansas a whole bunch. They showed us a round. The facilities are nice.”
Have you talked to the Arkansas coaches about an offer yet?
“I have no clue to be honest. They said they wanted to see me at camp and left it at that. The big school that I’m hopeful will offer me next is TCU. Coach (Paul) Gonzalez (cornerbacks coach) said he loved me.”
You have speed and talent that can be utilized on both sides of the ball. Which position are some of the different schools recruiting you to play?
“All are recruiting me to play cornerback. ASU and Memphis said I have a good chance to play both sides of the ball.”
Do you have a time frame on making a decision where you will verbally commit?
“I was going to do it in June, towards the first week. My mom and coaches want me to wait. I’ll more than likely do it before the season starts.”
What will influence your verbal commitment?
“The atmosphere, do I see myself fitting in with the players? Can I see myself playing there?”
What are you doing in the offseason to prepare for your senior season?
“Every morning the whole football team starts working out at 6 a.m. before school. That was before spring ball. During 7th period we work out again. Then I work on speed drills, or DB drills.”
Is there a part of your game you are working to improve in the offseason?
“I want to improve my footwork and my DB skills. I’m just trying to perfect my craft.”
Do you play any other sports for Northside?
“I run track.”
Which events?
“I run the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×1.”
What is your best time in the 100?
“10.79. I ran that my sophomore year.”
What is your fastest time in the 40-yard dash?
“That depends. My fastest time laser was 4.46. I’ve posted 4.37 and 4.34 before. When I ran my 4.46 I was clocked at 4.29 hand-held. I don’t like to tell people because I don’t want everyone to think I’m making it up.”
Do you have a bench and squat max?
“My bench is 265 pounds and my squat is 295.”
Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?
“My mom (Melissa Stubbs) has had the biggest impact on me. She didn’t raise a punk. If I was hurt on the field she would tell me to get back out there. Other moms are carrying their kids off the field, not my mom. It’s been impactful.”
What is your favorite part of playing football?
“There’s not anything specific, I just love it. It’s my favorite sport. I like everything about it.”
Thomas has already proven his worth on the field flashing elite speed and bringing the “smack down” to 63 ball carriers last season. He tormented Arkansas quarterbacks picking off six passes while breaking up 18 attempts. Chances are those stats will not be duplicated next year if opposing Arkansas high school head coaches are smart.
There’s no debate that Kiondre posses God given talent. Mixed in with hard work and a dedication to the game his ceiling is unlimited. The only debate that remains is which school will land the speed burner and how quickly will he become an impact player on the collegiate level.
Written by Ryan Wright
Photo credit: nwaonline.com; No. 10 Kiondre Thomas pulls down a pass against Greenwood.
Photo credit: swtimes.com; No. 10 Kiondre Thomas scores a touchdown against Bentonville.