2019 Season Countdown: #96 Charles Thomas
Name: Charles Thomas
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 224 lbs.
High school: Oakdale (CT) St. Thomas More
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Thomas was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 49 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and a 44-yard punt return for a touchdown.
TTB Rating: N/A
Thomas is a tough prospect to pin down – figuratively and figuratively. (Not literally, because that would just be mean.) Not only has he attended three high schools – Langston Hughes in GA, IMG Academy in FL, and St. Thomas More in CT – but his highlights are a bit scattered. He’s listed on Michigan’s signing day info as being 5’11” and 224 lbs., even though those are often exaggerated, and he was listed as a recruit at 6’0″. So he’s probably 5’10”.
As for his play on the field, it doesn’t appear to be too impressive. He doesn’t show a lot of sideline-to-sideline speed, and his physicality is combined with less than stellar technique. He could be a thumping two-down middle linebacker, but those are a thing of the past. Can he improve his speed and coverage? If not, I’m afraid he’ll be playing from behind throughout his career. I expect him to redshirt while those things get sorted out.
Prediction: Redshirt
