Interview: Jonesboro is Building the Perfect Beast in 2019 OT Darius Thomas
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Arkansas high school football fans have a lot to be excited about heading into the 2017 season. The state is chalked full of talent with lots of young men on a mission to enforce their will against the opposition in the fall while showing next level coaches they can do their dance on the collegiate gridiron. One of the top underclassmen in the state, that helped pulverize opposing 6A defenders to a 9-3 season for Jonesboro High School, is right tackle Darius Thomas.
Potential is what one makes of it, and Thomas seemingly has all the potential in the world. During his sophomore season, he played at 6-6, 281 pounds, taking the field by storm during his first varsity campaign. While Thomas was far from perfect, all the attributes of a dominating tackle were there. Thomas used his size to steamroll linemen and linebackers racking up one pancake block after another. Where Thomas looks like a Sunday kind of player is on run blocking, an area most linemen excel at early on in their careers. The area of growth, even in his own words, that needs to come up to a dominating level of play is his pass set.
Building the perfect beast is already under way with Thomas. Once Thomas gets his pass set down, it will be difficult to best him among the land of the living. His strength, especially for his age and size, is where college coaches want to see it bench pressing 315 pound while squatting 375. His quickness off the ball is there and improving. The other noteworthy characteristic to point out, Thomas is growing. His weight is up from 281 to 306 filling in as the ideal offensive tackle.
Thomas is getting a lot of love from some very big schools, but still not enough love in the football world for the four-star caliber kind of talent his possesses. Six offers have already been laid in front of him from Arkansas, Memphis, Auburn, Texas State, LSU, and Georgia. The rest of the coaches are drivin’ on the recruiting trail have their eyes closed for now, but with another summer in the weight room and another fall on the playing field, Thomas is poised to be one of the more highly recruited linemen in SEC territory in the 2019 class.
In a Recruiting News Guru stylized interview, I sat down with the rising Natural State star covering his sophomore season on the field, off-season workouts, and recruitment to date.
Interview
Darius, when did you start playing football and when did you crack the varsity level?
“I started playing football in the seventh grade. My tenth-grade year was my first year playing varsity.”
What was the biggest adjustment you had to make to varsity football?
“It was my pass set. I had to work on my pass set to perform at the level needed.”
Did you play your sophomore season at 6-6, 280?
“I played at 6-6, 280.”
What is your height and weight now?
“6-6, 308.”
Wow. And growing.
“Yes, sir.”
What kind of offense does the Hurricane run?
“It is a quick offense, no-huddle. We play fast and spread it out.”
How did your run and pass blocking improve last season?
“I had to work with my offensive line coach to get me ready for the season. He really helped me with my run blocking and pass set. Over the course of the season my feet and punch got better. It made it easier on me. My run block was not a problem, just where to put my hands to get leverage was the biggest thing.”
What are you working on this off-season for your junior year?
“I’m focusing more on my pass set. I’m working on getting my hands right and I’m trying to get my speed up more. I want to be faster on the run block. I’m getting my legs ready for the season.”
Do you work with a linemen’s coach to help develop your skills in the off-season?
“I don’t work with an o-line coach but I do work with a trainer.”
You played primarily at right tackle but got some snaps in at left tackle as well, which position will you play this season?
“Most likely at right tackle.”
Are you going to play any defense in 2017?
“No, sir.”
Have you been to any exposure camps this spring?
“So far the Nike Opening camp in Atlanta Georgia is the only one.”
How did the camps go?
“I did not do that well. It was not my best performance.”
Even performances that you are not happy with can be great learning opportunities. What did you learn from that camp?
(Laughs) “I learned that I need to work on my pass block.”
Do you plan on attending any college camps this summer?
“Not that I know of right now. I plan on a few but I don’t know which ones yet.”
Do you have your eye on any?
“I will probably go to a Clemson camp. That is the only one I really have my eye on.”
Which schools are showing recruiting interest in you but have not offered yet?
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
Which schools have offered you?
“Arkansas, Auburn, Texas State, Memphis, LSU, and Georgia.”
What are the different college coaches telling you they like about your game?
“They like how I have fast feet on pass block. They like my size and attitude towards the game.”
Which unofficial visits have you taken so far?
“Auburn, Georgia, and Arkansas.”
How did the Arkansas visit go?
“The Arkansas visit went well. I enjoyed the campus and the coaches.”
What about the Georgia visit, how did that go?
“Georgia was good too. I enjoyed the coaches there too. I will have a hard decision to make one day.”
And what about Auburn, how did that go?
“It went well too. I liked the coaches there just as well.”
Do you have any upcoming visits planned?
“None that are planned, but I plan on visiting LSU sometime this summer.”
Do you play any other sports for Jonesboro?
“I throw shot.”
What is your favorite subject in school?
“Writing.”
Who is your favorite NFL or college offensive lineman?
“Probably Tyron Smith with the Dallas Cowboys (USC Trojans).”
Darius, thanks for your time today. Good luck with the rest of your off-season workouts.
“Thank you.”
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Photo credit: Thomas family; Darius Thomas with Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema
Photo credit: Thomas family; Darius Thomas at Georgia
Photo credit: Thomas family; Darius Thomas at Auburn