Thomas' Oklahoma Two-Step

A few months ago if you’d have told Tulsa Memorial defensive end Isaiah Thomas that he would spend consecutive April days in Norman and Stillwater as a huge target he might have asked you if one of those days would be ‘April Fool’s’. That’s just how meteoric the rise has been for the 6-foot-5, 230-pound edge rusher as he has spent the last 48 hours visiting the two Big 12 rivals.

Thomas, who also holds offers from the likes of Tennessee, Texas A&M, Baylor, Arizona, and Missouri, says that the chance to see the two on back to back days provided a unique perspective.

“It was great, it was perfect, I got to see two in-state rivals, instead of seeing one, one month and then the other the next month. It’s great to compare and contrast what one had and the other didn’t have it was perfect to weigh out my options,” Thomas said.

Funny enough the two arch rivals have more in common than they do in opposition according to Thomas.

“Both have amazing family-like environment, the coaches get along, it’s a great environment, it was a place you want to be at both colleges, that is what makes them both so successful,” he explained.

“They are very similar in a lot of ways, I couldn’t really find a big difference. They both had plenty to offer, preaching the same thing to me and they were all true. They weren’t just saying these things that weren’t true.”

Finding the truth in a visit was something that he aimed to do when he headed to Norman. A big part of that truth was going to be the experience of his mother who was making her first trip to Norman with him.

“I was playing the role of getting to know everything just as much as my mom was, I was up there for a junior day and mainly to see a practice but this time I got to see a bunch of the other stuff,” he explained. “I saw their facilities as well, got to see the new stuff they are building and improving. We watched a video of how it will look. I was learning as much as my mother was.”

Something that he has learned more and more about is how Oklahoma, and new defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux, see him fitting into the plans of their future front seven.

“Actually they told me I could play defensive end if I get more weight or I could be their JACK linebacker, like (Eric) Striker played. I fit perfectly in what they do, I could pass rush the quarterback or drop off into coverage,” he said.

“I’m actually comfortable with both, I don’t really prefer one position. I play just whatever position I’m needed at. I’m comfortable with either one.”

Though his trip to Norman was his mother’s first, his trip on Monday to Stillwater was a first visit for mother and son. And with both taking in nothing but new information it seems Thomas enjoyed himself thoroughly.

“I was really impressed by everything they have, I met all the players, they all came up to me and talked to me and see the coaches – I was very, very impressed. It was great being there,” he explained.

“The players told me how much they loved OSU and why they picked it. I knew Jordan Brailford, he was a senior at Booker T. Washington when I was a freshman

“I talked to him a little bit, he was talking to me and stuff, was telling me about his experience at OSU.”

All of this being said, don’t think that Thomas is getting overly locked into the idea of staying in-state.

“I definitely plan to visit other schools from outside the state, I’m still weighing my options and settle for these two visits, there are tons of other schools to see those other schools,” Thomas offered.

“There are a couple of schools, I’d really like to visit before I do are Nebraska, Baylor, and Texas A&M.”

Is there anything particular about the trio of schools that has caught his eye?

“Mainly it’s the relationship with the coaches and how interested they are in me, they wouldn’t put this time if they didn’t want a kid to come and see it,” he said.

Though Thomas isn’t sure he will be able to take all of his visits by the time he is ready to decide but he does have a loosely timed deadline he is approaching when he’ll be ready to make his choice.

“I’m going to try and make sure I definitely commit before the beginning of my senior year, I don’t want to have that on my mind, so I won’t have to be thinking of that while I’m practicing or playing.”