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Get To Know Your Orange Man - #17, LB Jonathan Thomas

"Get to Know..." freshman linebacker Jonathan Thomas today

By John Cassillo
Jonathan's Twitter Feed

Name: Jonathan Thomas

Position: Linebacker

Year: Freshman

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 199

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Ga.

High School: Collins Hill

2013 Stats: Recorded 64 tackles and 7.5 sacks for Collins Hill, and was named First-Team All-Region 7-AAAAAA.

2014 Projections: The recent depth chart indicates he's done well enough to insert himself into the outside linebacker conversation -- though it is just a depth chart. He's a redshirt candidate who's a bit below weight, though injuries could push him for some playing time too. We'll have to see how things shake out...

How'd He Get Here: Oklahoma, Indiana and Cincinnati were also vying for his services, but he made the right decision and came to Syracuse instead.

What'd Recruiting Sites Say: Three stars across the board.

Money Quote: Just a portion of a quote about Jonathan from Clark Lea. Really great stuff:

"...And right around there in October we get the film, and I'm going to be honest, it was probably the most impressive film that I have evaluated last year. High energy, making plays, plays very similar to the Sam position that we're going to have him play here, blitzing off the edge, playing firm against the tight end. Then you see the energy level. You can tell he's got a passion for the game, and so we get on the phone, and again here's a guy who has an incredible back story and Mom basically raised him with the help of a step-father figure, and the mom made the move when she was young from Sierra Leone — and this was when JT was just a baby — and worked her way through fast food to pay for her college education and just continue to grow into this incredibly successful woman..."

Links Of Wonder: SU's coaching staff helped give Thomas the push and confidence he needed to qualify academically.

Twitterfeed: @Jonny_Suave1

Tweets Of Wonder: Two things: 1. Why don't I use the orange emoji more/at all? And 2. Dude is fast...

What Does Shafer Think Of Him: He doesn't refer to him by name here, but "JT" is the subject of this quote from Coach, following National Signing Day:

"At the linebacker position, wanted to go out and get four to five linebackers, depended upon who was available. Felt really good about the kids we have had committed for a really long time, and we needed to find one more space player that could run, and blitz. A Dyshawn Davis type of kid, and I think we found that youngster."

Interesting Nugget O'Interest: Thomas attended the same high school as WNBA star Maya Moore.

Let's Get A Good Look Atcha: Check out Jonathan's senior year highlight reel:

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