As a high-school prospect, Justin Thomas could envision himself as a Florida State Seminole. From his home in Prattville, Ala., he made multiple trips to Tallahassee, Fla., to visit the campus.
At the same time, Florida State was recruiting another quarterback from Alabama — Jameis Winston. Thomas said this week that it was “an either/or situation — whoever made the jump first” to commit would get the spot. Thomas decided to look elsewhere and, after first committing to Alabama, made his final decision to play for Georgia Tech.
It is a rather bewildering scenario to envision, Thomas in garnet and gold, and Winston perhaps elsewhere. But, of course, it didn’t come to pass. Thomas will lead No. 11 Tech into Saturday’s ACC title game against the No. 4 Seminoles. Every college football fan knows Winston, the winner of the 2013 Heisman Trophy whose profile has been elevated by his off-field behavior. Perhaps by the end of Saturday night, everyone will know Thomas, too.
Said Thomas of the title game, “It should be fun.”
The Seminoles and Jackets will collide in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte traveling different arcs. Florida State began the season as defending national champions and the preseason No. 1. While emerging from the regular season at 12-0, Florida State has absorbed slings and arrows of all types and fallen three spots. Tech began the season completely off the radar and has risen to No. 11 and a 10-2 record led by Thomas, who at season’s start was perhaps most identifiable as the quarterback replacing Vad Lee, who transferred after the 2013 season.
With his pre-snap checks, deft operation of Tech’s option game, quickness, speed and quiet confidence, Thomas has elevated Tech’s offense into one of the more efficient in the country, his ascendance mirroring his team’s.
“He’s a really good player,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said following Tech’s 28-6 win over the Tigers. “That’s why they’re 9-2 (following the win over Clemson). He’s a game-breaker. He can flip the field at any time you give him a crease. Just a terrific decision-maker, then he’s got a live arm with accuracy.”
With relatively little fanfare, Thomas has led the Jackets to just their fourth 10-win season since 1956. He was at the center of Tech’s first win over Virginia Tech since 2009 (finding wide receiver DeAndre Smelter for a must-have conversion on a fourth-and-15 with 2:30 to play), over Miami since 2008 (leading four touchdown drives of 62 yards or longer against what has proven to be the No. 15 defense in the country), over Clemson since 2011 (completing eight of 11 passes, four of which converted third downs, for 102 yards and a touchdown) and over Georgia on Saturday since 2008 (after a questionable fumble enabled Georgia to take the lead with 18 seconds to go, his 21-yard scramble set up Harrison Butker’s game-tying field goal).
“I’m glad he’s on our team,” A-backs coach Lamar Owens said. “He makes a ton of plays for us. Just really, really impressed with the way he’s handled himself throughout the entire season.”
Coach Paul Johnson has remarked more than once that his play and unflappable demeanor can make people forget that he’s a first-year starter and a third-year sophomore. On top of having the physical skills for the position, he has the mental quickness to operate this quick-hitting scheme at high speed, like a point guard running a fast break.
“That’s pretty much what the position is,” Thomas said. “You’ve got the option to give it, pitch it or keep it, same thing as a point guard. You’re distributing the ball.”
Over 12 games, the daring and skill with which he can distribute has opened up the offense for its architect. Earlier this season, Johnson remarked that he was having “way more fun.” That’s in no small part because, with Thomas’ improved mechanics and Johnson’s trust in him, the offense can be run true to Johnson’s vision for it.
“I think he can execute everything we ask him to do,” Johnson said. “That’s the comfort level. I don’t have to not call a play because of him.”
Against Georgia, Thomas ran to the sideline in something of a two-on-two with A-back Deon Hill against Bulldogs linebacker Lorenzo Carter and defensive back Damian Swann. The latter was assigned to Hill, but Thomas ran at both, drawing in Swann. As he leapt into both, he flipped the ball over Swann’s left shoulder to Hill, now free to make a 17-yard gain that set up a game-tying touchdown in the third quarter.
“Jump pitch?” Johnson asked, when queried about the play. “Pretty, wasn’t it?”
Thomas’ potential has caught the fancy of a former high-school option quarterback who is now a college football kingmaker — ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who will call the action Saturday night for ABC.
“As young as he is and as gifted as he is, it makes the future pretty exciting for this offense because they can do so much around him,” Herbstreit said. “It’ll be fun to watch his athletic ability against the Florida State defense.”
Should be fun for Thomas, too.
