Advertisement

Sports

When 2014 rolls around, Coppell DE Solomon Thomas will have a long list of powerhouse suitors to choose from

If not for some persistent classmates, Coppell’s Solomon Thomas might not be picking up offers from nearly every significant college program in the country.

At least, not in football.

As a 6-2, 200-pound freshman, Thomas fancied himself a basketball player and thought about quitting football when he stepped on Coppell’s high school campus.

Advertisement

“They had to talk me into playing,” he said.

Sports Roundup

Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis, scores and more.

Or with:

Now a 6-3, 264-pound defensive end, Thomas is the area’s No. 1 recruit on SportsDay’s list of the juniors.

Coppell coach Joe McBride said Thomas is so athletic, he looks like “a mannequin at Dick’s Sporting Goods.”

Advertisement

“He’s one of the strongest kids I’ve ever coached,” McBride said. “He’s one of those 4.6 or 4.7 guys, who’s extremely explosive, and for a kid who’s 264 pounds, he has a six-pack. He’s a freak, athletically. But he’s just as solid a person. As impressive as he is on the field, he’s that impressive in the locker room, in the classroom and in the hallways.”

A two-year starter, Thomas helped Coppell to an undefeated regular season in 2012 with 89 tackles, 8½ sacks and 18 hurries. He accomplished all this despite losing his best friend and teammate Jacob Logan, who drowned Oct. 14.

Thomas called it one of the hardest times in his life.

Advertisement

“Jacob really took me under his wing,” Thomas said. “He taught me so much — how to work harder, be a better player, a better believer in God, a better friend. When he passed, I knew I needed to go to other people and tell them what he told me.”

Thomas said he’s working on narrowing his offers to a workable top 10 list but is in no rush to pledge, knowing that it will be one of the biggest decisions of his life.