2017 UConn JUCO Commit - Eli Thomas (Elmira New York) (Edited from 2018 to late 2017 enrollee)

[huskymedic]

Richie Schnyderite‏ @RichieSRivals 4m 4 minutes ago
#UConn has landed a commitment from a JUCO LB



Eli Thomas is a 6-2 220lb LB/Safety from Elmira New York attending Lackawanna College (Dec Grad) Scranton PA. Other offers from CCSU, Sacred Heart and Wagner. He was just up to UConn this past weekend. He will enroll in January and have two years of eligibility left.



Freshman Year @ Lackawanna Film

Interesting that in an article earlier this week by Richie S - Thomas said "I’m not going to commit anywhere until after the season. I’m looking for a competitive school, and one that is eager to win. I also want to be a part of a program that prepares you for the next level as well as life after football,”<<

Mind changed...

On changing his mind on holding off committing till after his season (Richie S @ Storrs Central):

>>Originally Thomas said he was planning on holding off on a decision until after the season. However he recently had a change of heart after the visit.“Realizing how much my mother loved it, and really thinking about the opportunity at hand. I decided to commit,” Thomas said.<<

 

[huskyblooz]

Nice wrap up tackler with a good bit of speed. Welcome Eli!!

YES! Reminds me of Tyler Matekevich. A little undersized, but makes blockers miss. I love going the JC route. Outside of WR, our junior class is down.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

I was reminded in another post in 2018 Recruiting Thread:

 

[NEforceUConn]

Welcome to your future! Huge get, something we need and the kid looks like he has skills.

Stay committed, great things to come!

 

[huskymedic]

>>Thomas, at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, has put on 40 pounds of muscle since high school while still retaining the 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed that presented so many problems for Express opponents and is a big reason UConn is giving him this chance.

"A lot of schools noticed I played sideline to sideline a lot," he said. "That's what they liked about me. My speed is definitely one of my biggest assets."<<

 

[Drew]

 

[blue93]

Uh did I miss something or is this unexpected good news?

 

[Exit 4]

Not on the roster just yet.

If true, guess this means he won't be sacrificing his body this fall playing meaningless JUCO games? If so, thats a win right there.

 

[Husky25]

YES! Reminds me of Tyler Matekevich. A little undersized, but makes blockers miss. I love going the JC route. Outside of WR, our junior class is down.

If he turns out to be 3/4 of TM, He will be in the running for my favorite Husky of all time. Seems much smaller than Matekevich, who IIRC was wide and low to the ground.

 

[Exit 4]

>>Thomas, at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, has put on 40 pounds of muscle since high school while still retaining the 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed that presented so many problems for Express opponents and is a big reason UConn is giving him this chance.

"A lot of schools noticed I played sideline to sideline a lot," he said. "That's what they liked about me. My speed is definitely one of my biggest assets."<<

I guess what I didn't notice the first time is that he did not play last fall. He really hasn't played that much at all since getting injured in high school. UConn has taken this kid based on his camp performance and his spring football practice performance for Lackawanna.

Anyways, I'm still bullish.

 

[Stinger92860]

Can he redshirt this year and still get 2 years?

 

[Exit 4]

Can he redshirt this year and still get 2 years?

I dunno, but between Buss, Levenberry and Thomas, we certainly have some interesting eligibility questions.

 

[huskymedic]

I always figured he'd be an early enrollee (like January 2018) - not September 2017!

Be interesting to see where he lands eligibility wise all said and done.

 

[Confident Carl]

Plays like Deacon Jones. Probably a bit faster though.

Deacon Jones? Boy that brought back memories of the Fearsome Foursome:
Rosey Grier, Lamar Lundy, Merlin Olsen and Deacon Jones of the Los Angeles Rams in the late 60's and early 70's. They were a wrecking crew and fun to watch!

 

[ktuck911]

Uh did I miss something or is this unexpected good news?

I think I misinterpreted his comment too.. Just checked the roster.. He's not on it...

 

[huskymedic]

I think I misinterpreted his comment too.. Just checked the roster.. He's not on it...

He did one year @ Lackawanna. He would (pending special circumstances) have to sit a year anyways? He's in-house, taking classes. It's a good thing in my mind. Number of years of future eligibility TBD based on circumstances.

 

[huskymedic]

Nice job by Richard Schnyderite

>>"I'm enrolled at UConn now, but I won't play this season as I will be redshirting. I have two years left to play," - Eli Thomas <<

 

[huskymedic]

From today's media conference call:

Jim Fuller‏ @NHRJimFuller 5m 5 minutes ago
Randy Edsall confirmed that LB Eli Thomas is enrolled in classes but is not expected to play this year for #UConn

Gavin Keefe‏ @GavinKeefe 2m 2 minutes ago
Edsall said that Eli Thomas, a junior college transfer, has enrolled at UConn. Thomas, a linebacker, won't be eligible until next year.

 

[BlueMAB]

Prefer to have him enrolled at UConn, adjusting, learning the system, growing with the teammates, using our facilities. Solid decision. Plus, we don't have to worry about him blowing up at JUCO and someone else coming in.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Is he able to practice?

 

[BNich]

Is he able to practice?

I don't see why not. He's enrolled and redshirting. Should be allowed to practice, no?

 

[BlueMAB]

I would think he'd be able to practice, assuming he had no issues qualifying. But if he couldn't qualify academically, he probably wouldn't have even been admitted anyway.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I don't see why not. He's enrolled and redshirting. Should be allowed to practice, no?

I would think so. But this is the NCAA we're talking about.