South Carolina Football’s most under the radar players to watch in fall camp:
EDGE/Linebacker Bryan Thomas, Jr.
One of the top performers in the Garnet and Black Spring Game was sophomore pass rusher Bryan Thomas, Jr. An undersized EDGE player (under 240 pounds), Thomas was not expected to play a large role for the Gamecocks until his standout performance this spring.
The son of 11-year NFL EDGE player Bryan Thomas, Sr., it should not be a surprise that the younger Thomas is a very good athlete who uses elite quickness and bend to get around offensive tackles and surprising footspeed to chase down the football.
The elder Thomas played alongside former Gamecock great John Abraham in New York, and both of the Jets’ pass rushers had a knack for knocking the ball from the hands of opposing quarterbacks. Thomas, Jr. has the athletic makeup to be that same type of disruptive turnover-causing pest if things go well for him in his continued development.
Almost a guarantee to get some snaps in obvious passing situations, Thomas’ play this fall could go a long way in seeing if he will have an even bigger role in the defense once the season begins. Can he hold up against the run as a defensive end? Will he get some snaps as a traditional linebacker? Fall camp will help show fans the answers to those questions.