Check out this DT prospect: Walter Thomas

[Ugly Duck]

NFL Draft Site blurb:

This year in the 2007 NFL Draft there is a monster defensive tackle named Walter Thomas from Northwest Mississippi Community College. Thomas weighed 6' 5" 370 pounds at the Texas vs. Nation All-Star game, and can reportedly run in 4.8-4.9 range. He was heavily recruited, but left Oklahoma State early in his college career. Thomas Played in only two games this year for his tiny Community College, but completely and utterly dominated those games with 16 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Thomas is only a junior, so this young man has a lot of upside. He has been all the talk recently among NFL Scouts, and I have even heard some say he could be drafted as early as the 5th round in the 2007 NFL Draft.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_qjCoAi_O8oE/Rg11Ghldb4I/AAAAAAAAAGo/dqE0AF66V_s/s400/four.jpg

[Crushisback]

Damn he's huge! Wonder why he only played 2 games last year.

[fontaine]

Draft him.

It'll be worth it just to see him line up beside 5'10 DE Dumervil.

Twins!

:rofl:

[400HZ]

His cankles aren't big enough. If he can improve on that, it looks like he could be an ideal 3-4 NT.

[Barry Ramey]

I hope teams give him a really good physical. I'd worry a guy that big would have some sort of heart issues or defects, so hopefully that's being done.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

I've heard his 40 times are more in the 5.1 range, which is still really good for a big guy. Unless the broncos acquire other picks, i dont think they'll get him because they wont take him in the third and he'll probably be gone before the 6th

[Dukes]

So if he's a good athlete why didn't be play more? Why did he leave Oklahoma St in the first place? We need answers!!

[That One Guy]

Yeah, the obvious thing is that something isn't right or he'd be playing for OK State or some other halfway respectable school rather than the Eastern Northwest Missippi Mens Senior Citizens 3A team... or whatever team he played for.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

I'm sure he had some behavioral problems. People dont flunk out of SEC schools...i mean, i dont even think those kids go to class

[That One Guy]

But that look on his face just yells "I could fail out of any school." He seriously looks like he could lift my house off the foundation but would need 3 tutors and a shrink to tie his shoes.

[Paladin]

He maybe the next body guard for Michael Jackson if he comes back. I heard he had issues with academic sunjects.... reading, writing, arithmatic, stuff like that.

Big guy, but can he spell cat?

[mattob14]

He maybe the next body guard for Michael Jackson if he comes back. I heard he had issues with academic sunjects.... reading, writing, arithmatic, stuff like that.

Big guy, but can he spell cat?

Or "subjects"?

[Dukes]

After looking at the his picture he reminds me of the huge black character on "The Longest Yard". "You want me to play foosball"

I don't really care if he isn't that smart off the field, I'd be more worried about his understanding of the game. And if his (so called) lack of intelligence implies to his play as well. If he's a smart DT, then there's no reason not to get him.

[Cecil Lammey]

I first heard about Walter from his agent Marty Madgid at the Shrine Game practices.

Here's some clips from Sigmund Bloom who was covering the Texas v. the Nation game for my show.

here's a link to an interview with several players from that game (including Walter Thomas):
http://podcast.footballguys.com/Footballguys-Audible-2007-Vol27a.mp3



A breakdown of player performance:



Tyler Ecker (Michigan) was the class of the TEs again today. His soft hands and smooth athleticism have been apparent all week. Desmond Allison (South Dakota) continued to look more like a WR, especially on a terrific hands catch in traffic. I didn't watch the pit as much as I did the last few days, but Louis Leonard (DT -Fresno St), Keenan Carter (DT -Virginia), Scott Stephenson (C-Iowa State) were among the players who made plays that caused great reaction from the players watching and surrounding the pit.. Xsavie Jackson (DE-Missouri) is clearly best pass rusher here and got an easy sack in the scrimmage. Walter Thomas (DT - NW Mississippi CC) also had his daily share of astounding plays, absolutely destroying Jonathan Palmer (OL-Auburn) on one confrontation - Palmer has been one of the most outstanding OL all week.



DL: Louis Leonard (Fresno St) disrupted play after play, and Keenan Carter (Virginia) played a much better pad level today and generally pushed his opponent around. Joe Cohen and Marcus Thomas (Florida) combined with Carter and Leonard to make the interior of the Nation line almost unstoppable. I interviewed Thomas and he said the right things about his problems, without sounding rehearsed. Missing the SEC and National Championship games seems to have really woken him up. On the Texas side, Justin Rogers (SMU) really improved his play and beat Barbre a few times. Xsavie Jackson (Missouri) continues to hurtle himself at the QB like a bat out of hell. Jackson's spin move is NFL quality. Walter Thomas (NW Mississippi JC) still stood out when he did everything right. I interviewed Walter - he's a very shy kid who probably has no idea how much buzz he is creating.



Walter Thomas, DT, NW Mississippi CC - Unstoppable when he got a good push, showed a good spin move (!) and was astoundingly nimble for a guy his size (think Gabe Watson at his best during Senior Bowl practices last year - dancing bear). Seemed to tire, and then get second wind. Didn't excel on every play but was dominant when he did. Got lots of individual coaching and encouragement. Talk of the scouts in the stands. Jags practically drooling on him




· Walter Thomas, DT, North Mississippi CC - Your star of the weigh-in. He drew reactions ranging from gasps to smiles to a simple shake of the head in disbelief. Thomas is 6'4" 370. He's got some baby fat, but he's a legit 335 without it, and that's without the benefit of a formal weight training regimen - just natural size. His upper body weighs more than I do, and I love fried food. His body screamed NFL.



- Walter Thomas, DT, NW Mississippi CC - This man mountain (6'5" 335) was heavily recruited but left Oklahoma State early in his college career. He can reportedly run in 4.8-4.9 range.

[cmhargrove]

I've heard his 40 times are more in the 5.1 range, which is still really good for a big guy. Unless the broncos acquire other picks, i dont think they'll get him because they wont take him in the third and he'll probably be gone before the 6th

I don't know why they have DT's run the 40. I think they should have them run 2 yards into a cinder block wall and measure the foot-pounds of force. If our DT's are running the 40, we need to draft new DE's.

[BroncoInferno]

I have a feeling we might reach for this guy in the 3rd. It'd be a risk I'd be OK with. The guy has tremendous upside.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

He is obviously big, but can he play football?

[Drek]

He is obviously big, but can he play football?

Shrine Game coaches have commented on how coachable he was, so there's at least something there to work with.

Dude makes Broderick Bunkley look like a runt, can't help but be impressed by that. He's obviously not academically capable in the least, probably not super mature either. He needs the right setting with the right coaches, but he's one hell of a boom/bust potential.

We rolled the dice on an athlete no one else had ranked highly with Scheffler last season, wouldn't surprise me if pick #86 goes to this big fella.

[Dukes]

I think he'd be worth a 3rd. Seems to have a huge potential. Even if he doesn't have great moves or techniques, he doesn't need to. He's going to get double, or eve tripple teamed by sheer necessity. The guy looks like he could move mountains

[phibacka31]

I would throw our 2nd 3rd for him for sure. He is a mountain:thumbsup:

[chaz]

After looking at the his picture he reminds me of the huge black character on "The Longest Yard". "You want me to play foosball"

I don't really care if he isn't that smart off the field, I'd be more worried about his understanding of the game. And if his (so called) lack of intelligence implies to his play as well. If he's a smart DT, then there's no reason not to get him.

i was thinking that too!! "I'll teach you anything...just dont eat me!"

[Rascal]

I brought him up in January actually.

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=52595&highlight=Walter+Thomas

[elsid13]

Guy is big, but he is a development prospect at best. He needs a year on apractice squad and real strength coach. A 6th rounder at best.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I agree. There are several "big fatties" that have better football resumes. I'm not opposed to a project late, but not on the first day.

[BroncoInferno]

I agree. There are several "big fatties" that have better football resumes. I'm not opposed to a project late, but not on the first day.

Most every draft pick outside the 1st round (and many even included in the 1st round) is a "project," first day or otherwise. We probably wouldn't have to wait any longer on Thomas than we would on someone like Soliali (sp?), for example. I'm perfectly fine rolling the dice on a guy like Thomas in the 3rd.

[azbroncfan]

I agree. There are several "big fatties" that have better football resumes. I'm not opposed to a project late, but not on the first day.

Heck lets bring that Brock dude from WWF as a project and save the draft pick. ;)

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I'm just saying that in the third round, Tyler, Mebrane, Pitcock, Ryan, McBean, Cohen, Patterson Antonio Johnson and Soliai have more experience against real competition and are safer picks with at least as much upside potential.

[Paladin]

There is mock somewhere that has Denver picking this guy in the 6th. That would be okay as a project. He'd be a PS guy and maybe an NFLE guy, but he'd maybe learn with repitition:

1. If football moves, then
2. Get guy with football, then
3. Fall on him.
4. Repeat until Lynch tell you to stop.

Sounds like: "Stop, Forrest, stop."

Or Wimpy from the Joe Palooka cartoon comics.....

[chaz]

I brought him up in January actually.

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=52595&highlight=Walter+Thomas

good for you? ^5 ?

[BroncoInferno]

I'm just saying that in the third round, Tyler, Mebrane, Pitcock, Ryan, McBean, Cohen, Patterson Antonio Johnson and Soliai have more experience against real competition and are safer picks with at least as much upside potential.

They definately have more experience, but not as much upside as a 6'5" 370 pounder with the athelticism and speed of a 270 pounder. Safer, yes....as high a ceiling, no. I'd be OK with a role of the dice with Bates who is known as a motivater.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

They definately have more experience, but not as much upside as a 6'5" 370 pounder with the athelticism and speed of a 270 pounder. Safer, yes....as high a ceiling, no. I'd be OK with a role of the dice with Bates who is known as a motivater.

For a guy whould could not pass remedial hay bailing at Okie St.? Guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

[BroncoInferno]

For a guy whould could not pass remedial hay bailing at Okie St.? Guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Like Slappy, has said, you don't want your DL to be terribly bright. Best they not have a full understanding of what they are doing to their bodies.

[BroncoInferno]

For a guy whould could not pass remedial hay bailing at Okie St.? Guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Like Slappy has said, you don't want your DL to be terribly bright. Best they not have a full understanding of what they are doing to their bodies.

[chaz]

I'm just saying that in the third round, Tyler, Mebrane, Pitcock, Ryan, McBean, Cohen, Patterson Antonio Johnson and Soliai have more experience against real competition and are safer picks with at least as much upside potential.

how can they have as much upside? there is no DT prospect that has as high of a ceiling as this huge monster of an athlete...if he matures and develops he could be the best tackle in the draft...who knows...

more realistically just become a solid contributor and run stuffer but you never know where you're gonna find a gem

[footstepsfrom#27]

http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/1004/88482.jpg

Kris Jenkins was drafted in the 2nd round...this guy's worth a flyer in the 3rd if we're serious about trying to upgrade the D-line because after the reviews he got from scouts chances are somebody will pick him on potential alone before the 6th round...probably in the 4th. He wouldn't be the first guy to drop to the JC ranks due to grades. Anybody we pick that low is likely to be nothing but another Monsanto Pope anyway. At least this guy's got the raw physical ability to dominate that Bates is looking for. It sounds like a no brainer. I found this on Yahoo:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jm-highrisers040907&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

NW Mississippi CC defensive tackle Walter Thomas
If you ever wanted to know how to make 100 NFL scouts raise their eyebrows, set loose an unknown, 370-plus pound defensive tackle such as Thomas in late January. Thomas was highly recruited out of high school by most schools in the Big 12, and picked Oklahoma State where he stayed for just over a year before having academic issues.

Thomas ended up at the JC level and thanks to him being a native of Galveston, Texas found his way into the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Classic. He punished opposing defenders in one-on-one drills, using sheer strength, quickness off the ball and impressive balance for an athlete of his size. Thomas was also a sponge when it came to listening and taking to the coaching he received during the week.

His recent workout numbers wowed even the most hardened scout as he measured in at nearly 6-5, 373 pounds; ran between 5.11 and 5.20 in the 40; has 33 bench reps of 225 pounds; and had 11½-inch hands. Players of his size and agility just do not come along often enough for teams to pass on him once the fifth round starts in spite of his limited game film, exposure to big-time competition and raw technique. Just think about this tidbit for a moment: he ran 1.70 in the first 10 yards of his 40. In comparison, one of USC wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett's 10-yard splits was 1.65 and Thomas weighs over 150 pounds more than Jarrett.

[SoCalBronco]

he ran 1.70 in the first 10 yards of his 40. In comparison, one of USC wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett's 10-yard splits was 1.65 and Thomas weighs over 150 pounds more than Jarrett.

Gross.

[Dukes]

If Shanny has a chance to get this guy on the 2nd day I hope he does it. He's got just as much (if not more) upside than any other player in the later rounds. Not to mention he plays the position we're weakest at.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I'm all for it on the second day. Despite his workout numbers and size, I can't see taking a chance on a guy on the first day who has almost no real football experience.