LSU head coach Lane Kiffin promised his roster was a blank slate when he arrived in Baton Rouge.
LSU underwent a massive amount of turnover, but there were incumbent starters on both sides of the ball. Reserves returned, as well.
Jhase Thomas watched from the sidelines last year when AJ Haulcy earned All-America honors, Tamarcus Cooley started all 13 games and Dashawn Spears blossomed into a role as the nickel. Only Haulcy moved on, and Ty Benefield was one of the blue-chip additions from Boise State at the safety spot.
Playing time would be tough to come by, but Thomas surged in fall camp and took some reps with the first team. Now that Spears is out for the season with a torn ACL, and Benefield has shifted down to STAR, it’s Thomas’s time.
“The opportunity was presented to me this week,” Thomas said. “Obviously, I had to step up to the plate and do what I’ve been doing my whole life. Having a whole bunch of veterans around me made it a lot easier, a lot of guys with a whole lot of experience. It just made me more confident on the field, so it was pretty easy for me to step up and do my 1/11th for the team.”
Thomas played 55 snaps against Texas A&M. He made four tackles and broke up a pass.
LSU’s defense, playing without Spears and without Whit Weeks largely in the second half, still held A&M without a touchdown in the 35-6 blowout victory.
Thomas credited his veteran teammates with helping prepare him for the week. Cooley, Benefield and Weeks all offered advice, as did his father, Fred, a New Orleans native who played in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.
“He was just saying, ‘don’t let the moment be too big,’” Thomas said. “He raised me my whole life, taught me how to play the game from a little boy all the way to now. He’s kind of letting me go off on my own, but he does correct me at times on certain things, but as far as now, it’s pretty much just letting me be. Just like backyard football when you’re young, go out there, play ball, don’t think too much, don’t think too hard, and just play the game that you’ve been playing your whole life.”
Thomas doesn’t offer the physical presence that Benefield and Spears do. He’s only 6-foot-1 and 186 pounds. However, he’s got a burst and last season blocked a punt against Texas A&M.
Safeties coach Jake Olson and Baker have a knack for using skill sets as opposed to forcing players into roles.
Thomas offers strong coverage ability and great range in the back end of the defense. He just lacks experience.
He’s getting it now and soaking up as much as he can from those around him. Benefield and Cooley have combined to play in 79 games.
They hear from Thomas frequently.
“I can ask a lot of people questions,” Thomas said. “Sometimes you don’t always have to go to the coach to ask questions. It’s good to ask people that have been there, done that, had a lot of experience, played in a lot of games, played in a lot of big games for someone that hasn’t played in a lot of big games. So, taking advice from them means a lot to me. And then having those two in the room together it just feels great.”
