STARKVILLE — Jordan Thomas wasn’t going to let the linebacker get the best of him.
South Carolina linebacker D.J. Smith had a bead on the ball and had a chance to get an interception and deny MSU a touchdown.
When Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald under the football in the end zone, Thomas knew he had to make a play, so he used his big 6-foot-5, 295-pound frame to deny Smith an interception. Thomas then used his big hands to rip the ball from Smith’s grasp and score his first touchdown in a 27-14 victory last Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium.
“I just try to be physical when the ball is in the air,” Thomas said. “When the ball is in the air, I want it. That was the mentality in basketball: The ball is in the air, go get it.”
The play showed Thomas has the physical tools and abilities to play in the Southeastern Conference and be a reliable target for any of MSU’s quarterbacks. As a result of that catch, Thomas may see his role increase when MSU (1-1, 1-0 SEC) faces No. 20 LSU (1-1, 0-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Thomas said he wanted the football more than Lewis and used his instincts and strength to win the battle.
Fitzgerald, who was starting his second game, admitted he under threw Thomas and felt like an interception was about to occur. But he felt like his first assessment was going to be wrong when he saw Thomas use his strength.
“He definitely saved me on that one,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s a big athletic guy, and that’s what we need him to do, and that’s what he went up and did.”
Thomas finished with two catches for 7 yards. The 3-yard touchdown came on first-and-goal and gave MSU a 21-0 lead late in the second quarter.
Fitzgerald joked Thomas is proud of the fact he is just shy of the 300-pound mark.
Senior wide receiver Fred Ross had never seen Thomas make quite a play as spectacular as the touchdown in practice, but he wasn’t surprised because has seen the effort Thomas puts forth at practice. He added Thomas has an advantage because he has a frame he hasn’t seen at the tight end position.
“He’s a beast,” Ross said. “He’s been doing good, he’s been practicing, having a good week of practice, and I can’t wait to see how he’s going to play this weekend. It really gave him some confidence, and I think you’re going to see a lot more of that this year.”
After attending Sumrall High School, Thomas signed with East Central Community College. He was the No. 1 junior college tight end in the 2016 recruiting class after recording 16 catches for 207 yards and three touchdowns in seven games in 2015. Thomas had 16 catches for 138 yards and one touchdown as a freshman.
Thomas also played for the East Central C.C. men’s basketball team.
Senior linebacker Richie Brown has had some big running backs and tight ends run at him, but he never has seen a tight end like Thomas.
“He is a big dude,” Brown said. “He’s a whopper. He’s athletic, and if he hits a hole, he’s hitting it hard. I know some people are probably questioning seeing him running that fast at him, if they want to tackle him or not. He’s exciting and I’m excited to see what he’s going to turn into.”
MSU tight ends coach Scott Sallach said in training camp that the tight ends weren’t progressing as fast as he would have liked. They weren’t giving it their all and weren’t running as hard as they could on every play.
He remembers Thomas scoring a touchdown in practice, but on the next play, a run play, he didn’t give it his all. Sallach highlighted that string of plays to Thomas in film study.
Thomas felt like he could make the transition from junior college football to SEC football quickly. Although there are similarities, the SEC has more athletes and more playmakers.
Thomas learned that fact at practice, and when he got his opportunity, he felt like he was ready.
“We go fast tempo in practice, so when I get into the game it slows down. It makes (the game) seem easier,” Thomas said.
Thomas feels his role will increase and Fitzgerald will continue to target the tight ends more. Opposing defenses have given Fitzgerald and backup quarterback Damian Williams the tight ends in the first two weeks.
That might change after teams watch film, but Thomas expects more and more passes to come his way.
As for ripping the football away from linebackers, that’s what he was recruited to do, so he will continue to use his strength.
“They wanted me to come in and be a physical tight end, and that’s all I’m trying to do,” Thomas said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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