University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
DQ Thomas Embraces Football Lessons as Motivation
8/14/2019 1:38:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. --Â That Nasty Bunch starting rotation is not an easy one to break, especially when it's your first year on campus. But if there is anyone on the defense that knows hard work, it's senior DQ Thomas.
"When I first got here, everything was like a blur," he says as he looks back on his arrival to the program. "There was so much going on, but I was a sponge to the coaches and learned a lot under Picasso Nelson, who's now with the Jaguars. Being with a guy as smart and talented as him, he took me under his wing which guided me to a starting spot."
Thomas, a native of Arlington, Texas, was a vital part of the Southern Miss defense last year, which finished No. 3 nationally in allowing just 278 yards per game. Thomas recorded a pair of pass breakups and forced a fumble to go with his 16 tackles. And yet, his football career didn't begin on defense.
"I didn't play football until eighth grade, starting as a B-team receiver," he said. "I gradually worked my way to linebacker. I played it throughout high school under Bob Wager and fell in love with the game, and knew I wanted to take it to the next level.
"In high school, I was a stocky-type guy, but I didn't have the stature. I was a prototypical linebacker. I could move, was fast and could have played safety, but I was physical enough to play linebacker. When I got here, I was moved to a hybrid nickel-safety."
Thomas was part of one of the more talented, all-around athletic programs in the state, Arlington Martin High School. He even cites one of his former teammates, Myles Garrett (first-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft) as a player he admires the most. Thomas did not quite get the collegiate offers he was looking for, but something even better for his future was waiting for him.
"I took my faith and went to Tyler Junior College, where I played under Danny Palmer [Southern Miss football letterwinner 1969-70] and Thomas Rocco," he said. "Just being there for two years, I materialized as a person and a player and realized that sometimes going through a struggle will help you get to where you need to go. In high school, I would think I was entitled to something. The juco route got me to where I am today."
From there, Southern Miss head coach Jay Hopson and defensive coordinator Tim Billings recruited him hard, and as he says, "I knew this was where I was supposed to be."
The football journey has motivated Thomas in another fashion: paying it forward when it is time to hang up the cleats.
"I want to be a sports psychologist," he said. "I've been around the game so much and know how sports, in general, can take a mental toll on athletes. I want to be able to help create a balance between the two. I thought of it during my time here with how much football can stress you out, and balancing it with your regular life."
Thomas and the Golden Eagles will kick off the 2019 slate on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. versus Alcorn State. Single-game and season tickets are on sale via SouthernMissTickets.com, calling 1-800-844-TICK, or visiting the Pat Ferlise Center during normal business hours.
"When I first got here, everything was like a blur," he says as he looks back on his arrival to the program. "There was so much going on, but I was a sponge to the coaches and learned a lot under Picasso Nelson, who's now with the Jaguars. Being with a guy as smart and talented as him, he took me under his wing which guided me to a starting spot."
Thomas, a native of Arlington, Texas, was a vital part of the Southern Miss defense last year, which finished No. 3 nationally in allowing just 278 yards per game. Thomas recorded a pair of pass breakups and forced a fumble to go with his 16 tackles. And yet, his football career didn't begin on defense.
"I didn't play football until eighth grade, starting as a B-team receiver," he said. "I gradually worked my way to linebacker. I played it throughout high school under Bob Wager and fell in love with the game, and knew I wanted to take it to the next level.
"In high school, I was a stocky-type guy, but I didn't have the stature. I was a prototypical linebacker. I could move, was fast and could have played safety, but I was physical enough to play linebacker. When I got here, I was moved to a hybrid nickel-safety."
Thomas was part of one of the more talented, all-around athletic programs in the state, Arlington Martin High School. He even cites one of his former teammates, Myles Garrett (first-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft) as a player he admires the most. Thomas did not quite get the collegiate offers he was looking for, but something even better for his future was waiting for him.
"I took my faith and went to Tyler Junior College, where I played under Danny Palmer [Southern Miss football letterwinner 1969-70] and Thomas Rocco," he said. "Just being there for two years, I materialized as a person and a player and realized that sometimes going through a struggle will help you get to where you need to go. In high school, I would think I was entitled to something. The juco route got me to where I am today."
From there, Southern Miss head coach Jay Hopson and defensive coordinator Tim Billings recruited him hard, and as he says, "I knew this was where I was supposed to be."
The football journey has motivated Thomas in another fashion: paying it forward when it is time to hang up the cleats.
"I want to be a sports psychologist," he said. "I've been around the game so much and know how sports, in general, can take a mental toll on athletes. I want to be able to help create a balance between the two. I thought of it during my time here with how much football can stress you out, and balancing it with your regular life."
Thomas and the Golden Eagles will kick off the 2019 slate on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. versus Alcorn State. Single-game and season tickets are on sale via SouthernMissTickets.com, calling 1-800-844-TICK, or visiting the Pat Ferlise Center during normal business hours.
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