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Blue Springs, MO —
Derrion Thomas, the defensive anchor of the Class 6 state runner-up Blue Springs South football team, might soon be reunited with Jaguars teammate Blaine Dalton.
Thomas told The Examiner Tuesday that he has decided to walk on at Missouri after completing some summer classes at Longview Community College.
Dalton left Blue Springs South last December and enrolled early at the University of Missouri, where he was listed as the No. 3 quarterback behind projected starter Blaine Gabbert after spring practice.
“A couple of my (South) teammates are going to Missouri and I had talked to their coaches last season, so I have decided to walk on the football team,” said Thomas, whose five-sack game against Rockhurst quarterback (and University of Illinois recruit) Nathan Scheelhaase in a stunning 14-9 state quarterfinal win made him one of the most sought after seniors in the metro area.
“I’ve talked to Blaine a couple of times this summer, but we never really talked football. (Running back) Winston (Wright) is going to Missouri and is going to walk on and we’ve talked some.
“I want to play, and it would be nice to play close to home and for a team that’s had so much success.
“I just talked to the Missouri coaches last week, and we’re getting it all worked out.”
Thomas said he is taking classes at Longview to get him prepared for college life.
“I need to see what that college studies are all about,” Thomas said. “I know it’s a lot more laid back in the summer than it will be at Missouri, but at least I’m taking some classes and getting myself ready for that part of college.”
Thomas was recruited by several Division I schools during the last football season, but nothing materialized.
“That was then, and this is now,” Thomas said, “and I’m excited about Missouri. It hasn’t really hit me yet, and it probably won’t until I walk on that practice field for the first time. That’s going to be fun – playing football again and having my former teammates there with me.”
Before all that takes place, Thomas will travel to Canton, Ohio, to take part in the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony of his father, the late Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro linebacker Derrick Thomas, on Aug. 8.
“I’m still working on my speech,” Thomas said. “I want it to be perfect.”
The night Thomas recorded five sacks against Rockhurst, he wore his father’s No. 58 shoulder pads.
The younger Thomas will donate those pads to the Hall of Fame when he travels there for the induction ceremony.
“I felt like my dad was with me that night against Rockhurst and I know he’ll be with me in Canton,” Thomas said.
Derrion Thomas, the defensive anchor of the Class 6 state runner-up Blue Springs South football team, might soon be reunited with Jaguars teammate Blaine Dalton.
Thomas told The Examiner Tuesday that he has decided to walk on at Missouri after completing some summer classes at Longview Community College.
Dalton left Blue Springs South last December and enrolled early at the University of Missouri, where he was listed as the No. 3 quarterback behind projected starter Blaine Gabbert after spring practice.
“A couple of my (South) teammates are going to Missouri and I had talked to their coaches last season, so I have decided to walk on the football team,” said Thomas, whose five-sack game against Rockhurst quarterback (and University of Illinois recruit) Nathan Scheelhaase in a stunning 14-9 state quarterfinal win made him one of the most sought after seniors in the metro area.
“I’ve talked to Blaine a couple of times this summer, but we never really talked football. (Running back) Winston (Wright) is going to Missouri and is going to walk on and we’ve talked some.
“I want to play, and it would be nice to play close to home and for a team that’s had so much success.
“I just talked to the Missouri coaches last week, and we’re getting it all worked out.”
Thomas said he is taking classes at Longview to get him prepared for college life.
“I need to see what that college studies are all about,” Thomas said. “I know it’s a lot more laid back in the summer than it will be at Missouri, but at least I’m taking some classes and getting myself ready for that part of college.”
Thomas was recruited by several Division I schools during the last football season, but nothing materialized.
“That was then, and this is now,” Thomas said, “and I’m excited about Missouri. It hasn’t really hit me yet, and it probably won’t until I walk on that practice field for the first time. That’s going to be fun – playing football again and having my former teammates there with me.”
Before all that takes place, Thomas will travel to Canton, Ohio, to take part in the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony of his father, the late Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro linebacker Derrick Thomas, on Aug. 8.
“I’m still working on my speech,” Thomas said. “I want it to be perfect.”
The night Thomas recorded five sacks against Rockhurst, he wore his father’s No. 58 shoulder pads.
The younger Thomas will donate those pads to the Hall of Fame when he travels there for the induction ceremony.
“I felt like my dad was with me that night against Rockhurst and I know he’ll be with me in Canton,” Thomas said.
