Omari Thomas, IDL, Tennessee
Size:
Height: 6’4” | Weight: 305 lbs
Accomplishments:
Four-star recruit
“Omari Thomas has the ideal size and athleticism to develop into an important piece of a defensive line rotation in the NFL, producing as both a run defender and pass rusher.”
Strengths:
Quick first step
Alignment-versatile
Effort
Concerns:
Plays with high pad level
Lower-body tightness
Underdeveloped pass-rush plan
Film Analysis:
Omari Thomas is a senior defensive line prospect for Tennessee who was a highly sought-after player out of high school and has contributed to the defensive front since his freshman year. Thomas has worked his way from a rotational player early in his career to a starter and an important piece of this defensive unit. Thomas’ winning traits as a player are his athleticism combined with his size and effort. They allow him to make winning plays for this defensive unit in both the run game and as a pass rusher.
As a run defender, Thomas’ best results come when he is asked to use his athleticism to get upfield and be a penetrating run defender. At the snap, Thomas can showcase a quick first step and get upfield quickly. Thomas’ quickness combined with size and strength can make him a difficult player to stop for some offensive linemen when he is attacking the gap and has the responsibility to work upfield and be disruptive. Thomas also has the athleticism to chase down ball-carriers from the backside of the play if he can get into the backfield quickly or left unblocked.
As a pass rusher, Thoams also uses his athletic ability to give him an opportunity to win. At the snap, he quickly works upfield from the IDL position and then can dictate the rush, allowing himself to continue upfield or to change direction, cross the face of the offensive lineman, and create pressure. Thomas has hand counters, showing to be effective with his swim move and two-hand swipe.
The improvements for Thomas start with how he plays with a high pad level and it negatively impacts him in both the run game and as a pass rusher. In the run game, Thomas will expose his chest plate and give the offensive lineman a good opportunity to win the leverage battle. This leads to Thomas struggling to hold the line of scrimmage and being displaced yards away. Thomas also appears to struggle against double teams, struggling to win and losing ground. As a pass rusher, Thomas’s high pad level gives offensive linemen a big target to shoot their hands toward to control him. This limits Thomas' ability to string together counter-moves and continue to rush the quarterback. Because Thomas appears to be a fluid mover, he should be a more dynamic pass rusher and have the opportunity to string together consecutive moves.
Overall, Thomas has many physical traits that are wanted in an NFL defensive lineman. With improvements to the details of his game, he can become a contributing IDL in the NFL.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Role Specific Contributor
Written By: Keith Sanchez
