Arkansas Players in the 2014 NFL Draft

Featured, Football, Razorbacks, Red Wolves | May 10, 2014 by Sporting Life Arkansas | 0 Comments

Robert Thomas

CAREER SUMMARY: Thomas has appeared in 24 games with seven starts since transferring to Arkansas in the spring of 2011 and made 41 tackles, 7.5 for loss with 3.5 sacks, and seven quarterback hurries.

2012: Thomas played in all 12 games, earning starts vs. No. 1 Alabama and vs. Rutgers, and recorded 18 tackles, 5.0 for loss with 2.5 sacks, and five quarterback hurries. He had two tackles, 1.5 for loss, and one quarterback hurry in the season-opening 49-24 victory vs. Jacksonville State. He recorded a season-high five tackles, including a career-high 2.0 for loss with 1.0 sack, and one quarterback hurry vs. ULM. He registered a career-high two quarterback hurries in his start vs. Alabama and made four tackles in his start vs. Rutgers. He made one tackle at Texas A&M and recorded 1.0 sack for a 12-yard loss in the 24-7 win at Auburn. He made one tackle in a 49-7 weather-shortened victory vs. Kentucky and one stop vs. Ole Miss. He recorded one tackle and one quarterback hurry at Mississippi State. In the season finale vs. No. 8 LSU, he registered two tackles, including 0.5 sack.

2011: He played in 12 games, missing only the 38-14 win vs. No. 15 Auburn, and made five starts while recording 23 tackles, 2.5 for loss with 1.0 sack, and two quarterback hurries. He recorded a career-high six tackles, including 0.5 for loss, at No. 3 Alabama. He made two tackles, 0.5 for loss, in each of his first two games as a Razorback, the 51-7 season-opening win vs. Missouri State and the 52-3 victory vs. New Mexico. He recorded one tackle and a career-high two quarterback hurries the next week in a 38-28 win vs. Troy. He made one tackle in the come-from-behind 42-38 victory vs. No. 14 Texas A&M and returned to make one stop in the 29-24 win at Ole Miss. He collected two tackles, 1.0 for loss with 1.0 sack, in a 31-28 victory at Vanderbilt. He made three tackles in the 49-7 win vs. Tennessee and one tackle the next week in a 44-17 victory vs. Mississippi State. At No. 1 LSU, he registered three tackles. He wrapped up the season with one tackle in the 29-16 AT&T Cotton Bowl defeat of No. 11 Kansas State.

BEFORE ARKANSAS: Thomas joined the Razorbacks after a successful season at Coffeyville Community College in 2010. Thomas made 48 tackles, including 15 for loss, 4.5 sacks and two pass deflections for junior college coach Darian Dulin. During his senior year at Muskogee High School, Thomas had 89 tackles, 68 solo, 15 tackles for loss, five sacks, four quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and two blocked field goals. On offense, he carried the ball six times for 16 yards and one touchdown. He was listed as the No. 71 defensive tackle in the nation and the No. 19 prospect in Oklahoma by Rivals.com. Thomas was ranked as the No. 101 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com. He was named the Muskogee Phoenix Defensive Player of the Year and he was also selected by the District 6A-3 coaches as the lineman of the year. His high school coach was Matt Hennesy. He was also recruited by Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Kansas State. He enrolled at Arkansas in the spring of 2011.

PERSONAL: Born Feb. 18, 1991, he is the son of Roslynn Thomas and the grandson of Robert and Sonya Thomas.

Robert Thomas NFL Scouting Report

The Oklahoma prep began his college career at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College in 2010. Played in 11 games and recorded 51 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and five sacks with two passes batted and one forced fumble. Transferred to Arkansas in ’11 and appeared in 12 games (five starts) that fall, tallying 23-2.5-1. Missed one game with a leg injury. In ’12, he saw action in all 12 games (two starts) and had 18-5-2.5. Started the first seven games of ’13, managing 31-6-3.5 suffering a season-ending broken left leg against South Carolina. Had surgery in October, but had not recovered in time for the NFL Scouting Combine. Team captain.

STRENGTHS

Has good body mass. Can keep blockers occupied, fight the double team and control gaps. Plays hard and competes. Is a respected team leader.

WEAKNESSES

Round-bodied. Struggles to play off or split the double team. Limited short-area range and closing burst. Gets stuck in place and struggles to disengage blocks. Lacks power to walk back blockers or generate a push.

DRAFT PROJECTION

Priority free agent

BOTTOM LINE

A heavy-bodied, short-range, effort player, Thomas did not finish the season after breaking a bone in his leg. Can fend for a role as a rotational wave backup in the pros. Practice-squad candidate.