Jaheim Thomas, LB, Wisconsin
Size:
Height: 6’4” | Weight: 240 lbs
Accomplishments:
Four-star recruit
“Jaheim Thomas is a versatile and physical defensive weapon who impacts all three downs in multiple ways and from multiple alignment positions.”
Strengths:
Shocks, stacks, and deconstruct blocks
Potential as a QB spy against good athletes
Runs through RBs in one-on-one pass-rush situations with speed to power
Concerns:
Lacks plays on the ball in coverage
Segmented mover and direction changer in coverage
Cleaning up missed tackles
Film Analysis:
Jaheim Thomas is a versatile defender with good burst and acceleration downhill. He offers a big frame with good athleticism. Thomas plays with the power to stack, peek, and deconstruct blocks at the point of attack. He operates with an enforcer and fearless downhill mentality. He has played for Cincinnati and Arkansas before transferring to Wisconsin.
Physicality is a great way to describe Thomas as a run defender. He attacks the line of scrimmage with the intent of blowing up the play before it starts. He is a good and disciplined run defender, staying true to his run fits. Thomas reads blocking concepts and the backfield action while maintaining gap/lane integrity. He plays with great stopping power as a tackler in the middle of the field. Thomas is a quality run blitzer who can knife through lanes and create chaos in the opposing backfield. He is a forceful and powerful attacking defender triggering downhill toward the line of scrimmage.
Thomas impacts the passing game in multiple ways. He rushes off the edge as an extra defender on overload blitz calls. He is an effective one-on-one rusher against most of the RBs he faces in pass protection. With a full head of steam, Thomas will run through the RB’s chest in the backfield to apply pressure on the QB. He is a functional spot drop into the short zone coverage areas. He flashes potential as a QB spy defender with his athleticism to contain athletic or scrambling QBs from bashing his defense. His ability to mug the A-gaps and align on the edges creates simulated pressure looks and disguises the coverage call.
Concerns with Thomas’ profile begin with his effectiveness and consistency as a lane-filling defender against pin/pull concepts. He will get pushed and moved off the spot due to high pad leverage during the initial contact exchange with the OL. Thomas has the power needed to shed/deconstruct blocks but the quick wins are lacking. He does not shoot/fire his hands quickly enough to maximize his skill set.
In coverage, Thomas does not make many plays on the football. This is how a defender is viewed or labeled. The more plays on the ball, the more impact is going to be felt. Due to his bigger LB body, Thomas is a segmented mover and direction changer in coverage. He struggles to redirect when the play stresses him laterally in forces to quickly plant and move.
Overall, Thomas is a physical downhill defender. He is a powerful and stout second-level defender whose presence will be felt. Thomas projects as a productive middle linebacker with impactful versatility on runs and passing downs.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: LSU (2023), Alabama (2023), Ole Miss (2023)
