Keir Thomas
Video by Jeff Tyner, analysis by Wes Mitchell
Evaluation by Matt O'Brien
What I like: Thomas wins my vote for toughest Gamecock commit in the 2016 class. Playing the majority of his snaps at nose tackle in high school, he physically dominated offensive linemen – despite weighing just 245-pounds. He wins with leverage due to his compact build and packs an awful lot of power which he exudes when bull-rushing, and tossing aside, interior offensive linemen. Thomas plays fast and mean, but he’s also a good athlete who boasts solid agility and impressive hand-technique for his age. Thomas' greatest value is in his versatility, as he will be able to produce from a few different spots along the defensive front in college.
Instant impact? Thomas has the ability to step in immediately and help solve some of the Gamecocks pass rush problems. Coach Muschamp likes to utilize one position in particular – the “buck” – to generate a pass rush by moving him around to create havoc from different spots. Thomas seems to fit this mold about as well as anyone on the Gamecocks roster. He will likely be given a chance to compete for the “buck” position, and I expect him to make an impact from day one.
Rivals rating: A 5.7-three star is not a bad rating by any means – in fact, I consider it a good rating for a prospect. But I would have Thomas rated as four-star based on my observations. Thomas seems to have all of the physical tools needed to make a successful transition to the college level, and could make a big impact as a true freshman.