Every month, NFL Player Engagement and Scholar Baller® highlight a high school or college football student-athlete for their outstanding performance in the classroom and community. This month’s Scholar-Baller of the Month is Solomon Thomas, a high school senior committed to play at Stanford University next fall.
Solomon Thomas: Leader in More Ways Than One
Growing up in Australia, Solomon Thomas would spend his afternoons bodysurfing on the Great Barrier Reef getting sacked as unrelenting waves came crashing down.
Now, just over a decade later, Thomas is the one doing the sacking. In his junior season at Coppell High School in Texas, Thomas accounted for 89 tackles and eight sacks on opposing quarterbacks.
Thomas became such an imposing force on Coppell’s defensive line that he quickly became one of the hottest names in college football recruiting.
He received scholarship offers from over 30 of the most prestigious schools across the country. After all, who wouldn’t want a 6-foot-3, 256-pound beast who squats twice his weight and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds?
Rated as a top 25 recruit by ESPN, Thomas committed to Stanford University on February 5th, 2014. There, he will be able to utilize his All American athleticism on the field and compliment it with his All Academic brain in the classroom.
At Coppell, Thomas maintained a 4.5 GPA on a 5.0 scale – making him one of the best students in his class. He plans to pursue a career in business or sports management following his career at Stanford. That is, of course, unless the NFL becomes a possibility..
And while he certainly stands out as a distinguished “Scholar-Baller®,” perhaps Thomas’ most impressive quality is his remarkably mature leadership ability. In a time of tragedy during his junior season, Thomas stood strong and united his community.
After Thomas’ teammate and best friend Jacob Logan’s body was found in a lake about 110 miles west of Dallas in October of 2012, Coppell’s players made Logan’s younger sister, Jordan, an honorary captain for the team.
Thomas held Jordan’s hand and escorted her onto the field before Coppell’s next game. Jordan was met with chants of her brother’s name.
Thomas plans to carry on his best friend’s legacy as he prepares for the next level in the Pac-12.
“I’m going to go to a place where I can challenge myself. I want to go to a place where the coaches actually emphasize academics, where they make sure you’re in front of the class and where you’re always in class and studying after football. I don’t want to be somewhere where the cheerleaders do all your stuff.”
~ Solomon Thomas
Scholar Baller® of the Month: Andrew Brown
Andrew Brown:
- Brown was named the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year.
- First Team All-State selection in Virginia
- Also named a USA Today All-USA First Team honoree
- Chosen to play in the Under Armour All-America Game
- Rated the number 4 recruit in the nation for the Class of 2014 by ESPN and a 5-star prospect by Rivals
- Maintained a weighted GPA of 3.64
- Has volunteered locally on behalf of youth football camps
- Committed to attend school and play football for the University of Virginia in the Fall
