On Wednesday morning in Sandy Springs, Denver Broncos wide receiver and former Georgia Tech star Demaryius Thomas seemed to be enjoying football camp as much as the campers. At the New Era Football Camp at Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, Thomas, one of several NFL players in attendance, threw passes, defended wide receivers half his size, signed autographs and horsed around.
Thomas broke out in a Denver playoff win over Pittsburgh in January, catching an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime to beat the Steelers. Earlier this month, he completed offseason team workouts in Denver with new quarterback Peyton Manning. Thomas is understandably eager for this new phase of his career.
Thomas spoke with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about his new teammate, his hopes for the season and his tangle with the NCAA while at Tech. Questions and answers were edited for clarity and length.
Q: What's a message you try to give kids at camps like this?
A: My main thing I tell kids, no matter what you do, if it's football, if it's just going to school to get your education, the only person that can stop you is yourself. If you go out and work hard and you just keep your mind to what you're going to do, you can do it.
Q: How has your success last season impacted your offseason and your outlook?
A: It was a big [factor], to go from where I'd come from, because I played well in college, but then when I went to the NFL, I was injured both years. To finally have a decent year and to show some people what I could do, it was exciting. ... I feel good right now. I'm looking forward to the season. I'm looking forward to working with my teammates, my new quarterback. I'm just excited.
Q: How will being healthy in the offseason affect your upcoming season?
A: I think it's a big part for helping me this season because I can actually get out there and run the routes and see the defenses instead of just watching film. I can actually get out there and get the reps and get the timing down. I think that' going to be a big part of my season.
Q: Where were you when heard that Peyton Manning had signed?
A: I was back in Georgia. I was in Atlanta. When I heard the talk about it, I never thought it was going to be true, but once I found out, I was excited, but I was nervous at the same time.
Q: Why were you nervous?
A: That's a Hall of Famer. He didn't pick a team just to go to a team. He wants to win a championship. That puts pressure on certain people. I want to win one, too, but he's been in the league awhile. He's come [to Denver] to win one soon. We're going to work hard together, and hopefully we can get that goal.
Q: What have your impressions been?
A: Great guy. A leader. All about football. When it's time for football, [he is] all about football. I think he's one of the biggest leaders I've seen since I've been playing.
Q: I've read he's been pretty tough on you in your work together.
A: He's tough on everybody. He's just wanting the right thing, wanting the right timing. I've never been around a quarterback like that. He said he's never been around a receiver like me, but he's had a lot [of receivers]. We're just trying to get on the same page before the season starts.
I think he's trying to get better, get on the same timing and he's trying to get me better, get in shape and get ready for the season and get the routes down, get the calls down. We might do some extra stuff, but I think it's helping both of us in the long run.
Q: What do you think about the Monday night game against the Falcons at the Georgia Dome?
A: I'm ready to play the Falcons. I'm just ready to come back home to get a chance to play in front of my family and some of my fans I've got back in Georgia.
Q: What do you make about what happened with the NCAA? (Tech was put on probation and stripped of its 2009 ACC title because of findings stemming back to Thomas accepting clothes from what the NCAA determined was a friend of a sports-agency employee.)
A: I don't even think about it. it wasn't a big deal to me. I guess they felt like it was a bad thing for Tech and a bad thing I did, but it wasn't anything, really.
Q: Do you have any regrets about it?
A: No. I didn't do anything illegal.
Q: What did you learn at Tech that prepared you for the NFL?
A: Nothing's easy. Tech is hard, and you had to get your grades to be on the field. That's the main thing.
Q: A lot has been made about how, because of the offense, it's hard for a receiver to get to the NFL from Tech. What would you say to a high school wide receiver considering Tech?
A: It's not hard. I got drafted first round. Stephen Hill got drafted second round. It's all about the 'want to.' If you go there and do what you've got to do, you'll get your chances, basically.
