R Mason Thomas spent time learning behind Ethan Downs. Now with Downs gone, Thomas is stepping into a much bigger role on OU's defensive front.
ATLANTA — R Mason Thomas finally showed what he’s capable of on the field when fully healthy last season.
Now, the next step of Thomas’ evolution aims to make him not only a more complete player but a leader on an OU defense that figures to once again be the strength of the team.
Thomas and the Sooners open preseason camp this week ahead of their Aug. 30 opener against Illinois State.
When he arrived ahead of the 2022 season after starring at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Thomas was far from being at the front of the classroom.
“As a freshman, I’m in the back. I don’t know what to expect,” Thomas said at SEC media days. “I rely on information from other guys — the leaders — to tell me what to do and I expect myself to do the same for when the younger guy comes in, that I’m the senior that they’re looking up to. So it’s been a journey from not talking as much to now talking a lot more.”
But while those leaders Thomas looked to for advice knew some about the college experience and the basics, they were also new in Brent Venables’ defense.
Now, Thomas steps into the role having played three seasons in Venables’ system and excelling.
“With experience, you just know what it looks like,” Thomas said. “So when you prepare and you want to build a good team, you want to tell a younger player how it looks like.”
He credits Ethan Downs, who signed with Jacksonville as an undefeated free agent in the offseason, with helping shape his leadership style.
“Ethan showing me what it will look like, so that when Ethan does that, I can show the younger guys what it will look like when I step into that role that I’m doing this year,” Thomas said. “So I’m putting my spin on it, but for me to be under him for three years and for my time to kind of lead in my own way, it’s been real good.”
Thomas was excellent last season, earning second-team All-SEC honors among coaches and finishing 20th nationally in sacks.
The edge rusher led the team with nine sacks — no other Sooners’ defender had more than Gracen Halton’s five. Thomas had 12.5 tackles for loss, also well ahead of any teammate.
Six of those sacks came in the fourth quarter of games with the Sooners protecting leads.
He also led in quarterback hurries with 11. The rest of the line combined for just 10 more, and no other player at any position had more than three.
Thomas tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries with two and forced a pair of fumbles, tied for second on the team.
Thomas’ body has also continued to mature.
“When R Mason showed up he was 212 pounds soaking wet,” Venables said. “Now he’s over 250 pounds, one of the most fierce and explosive pass-rushers in college football. … All of his best days are in front of him.”
Thomas figures to anchor a defensive line that could be the best OU has fielded in some time. The group brings back quite a bit of interior production in Halton, Damonic Williams and Jayden Jackson.
David Stone figures to play a bigger role there as well, with Florida State transfer Marvin Jones Jr. added to the edge along with returners P.J. Adebawore and Danny Okoye.
“Last year we had multiple guys but not as much as we do now,” Thomas said. “So experience for us helps a lot to know what to expect.”
That experience has Thomas expecting big things from the group.
“Our ceiling can be however high we want, and whatever we tolerate is what goes,” Thomas said. “Whatever we tolerate, that’s what the young guys are gonna tolerate. So, however we can nurture and facilitate our defensive line, our ceiling can be whatever it wants to be. And I think it can be really high.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football's R Mason Thomas ready for expanded role in 2025 season
Category: General Sports
