Editor’s note: This is a regular feature profiling senior athletes at Bryant High School.
Jacob Thomas
NAME: Jacob Thomas
PARENTS: Rob and Carla Thomas
SIBLINGS: Daniel Thomas and Courtney Taylor; Daniel is 15 and Courtney’s 21.
FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: History
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? Read books
FAVORITE FOOD: Hamburger
FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST OR GROUP: The Devil Wears Prada.
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Sportscenter
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A KID? Matchbox cars
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL? Either going to Baylor, UCA or A-State, probably in journalism.
OTHER THAN YOUR PARENTS, WHO HAS HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE? My sister; she’s been there. Sometimes when my parents weren’t there to raise me, she’s been there to teach me some things. I’ve learned a lot from her.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT FOOTBALL? Just being around everybody, being around your teammates and them having your back.
POSITION: Receiver
WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE IS YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY ON THE FIELD? The main one I have to focus on is blocking, blocking during a run. Then, just running routes, making sure I get that catch.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SEASON SO FAR? It looks pretty good. I think we’re off to a good start. I think a lot of people believed that we’re not as good as we were last year but I think if we finish off strong we’ll be better than we were last year. I think we’re closer as a group because of that.
WHEN THE TEAM’S PLAYING WELL, WHAT’S THE KEY TO THAT? The chemistry’s there. People aren’t yelling at each other, getting onto each other. If we make a mistake, instead of telling them what they should’ve done, we have their back, telling them, ‘Hey, let’s just get at it again’.
WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON SO FAR? So far, that Salt Bowl game; senior year, the Salt Bowl’s been it.
WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR THE TEAM TO BE SUCCESSFUL THE REST OF THE SEASON? We can’t break apart. We’ve got to stay together. Whether it’s in the weight room or on the field, we’ve got to stay together as a group. We can’t worry about the little things. We just have to take them as they come along and support each other.
INDIVIDUALLY, WHAT ABOUT YOUR GAME ARE YOU MOST CONFIDENT ABOUT? I just stay consistent, just make sure I’ve done everything I need, got my job done. That’s what I pride myself in, just staying consistent in everything I do.
WHAT DO YOU WORK HARDEST TO IMPROVE? Blocking; blocking’s a big thing especially for the run game so that’s a big thing for receivers. We try to learn to block, stem them right, make sure they turn that 10 yard run into a 20 yard run because we block.
AFTER YOU’RE THROUGH PLAYING FOOTBALL AT BHS, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL REMEMBER MOST FONDLY ABOUT IT? The guys around me; we’ll have those moments after the games but I think, definitely, the people that I spend my time with whether it’s in the weight room or on the field. Just being around them and growing and bonding with them.
