LSU’s great defensive back tradition includes Thorpe Award winners, All Americans and first round NFL Draft picks. But DBU was also built by players such as Dwayne Thomas, a tough and versatile New Orleans native who could line up in several spots and was never afraid to bring some attitude with him.

Thomas spent five seasons at LSU from 2012 through 2016, overcoming two injury shortened seasons while contributing at cornerback, nickel back and in other defensive packages. By the end of his career, he had accumulated 110 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 19 pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Those numbers reveal what made Thomas unusual. He was a defensive back who could cover receivers, attack the quarterback and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

A New Orleans Product

Thomas grew up in New Orleans and attended O. Perry Walker High School, where he developed into one of Louisiana’s better defensive back prospects.

He finished his senior season with 67 tackles, 14 pass breakups and three interceptions. He earned Louisiana All State recognition and had previously received All State, All Metro and All District honors as a junior. He also played in the Offense Defense All American Bowl.

Recruiting services generally viewed Thomas as a strong prospect. Rivals and Scout rated him four stars, while ESPN gave him three. Rivals and 247Sports both ranked him as the No. 14 cornerback nationally, and Rivals rated him fifth among Louisiana prospects.

LSU kept him home, and Thomas became the sixth O. Perry Walker player in a 20 year period to sign with the Tigers.

An LSU Career That Almost Stalled Immediately

Thomas arrived at LSU in 2012 and played in three of the Tigers’ first four games.

Then he was injured.

His season ended without him recording a statistic, and Thomas received a medical redshirt. The setback meant his first real opportunity would not arrive until 2013.

When he returned, LSU began finding different ways to use him.

Thomas appeared in 11 games in 2013 and finished with 10 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Those are unusual numbers for a young defensive back and showed that LSU could use him for much more than traditional coverage assignments.

A Big Finish Against Arkansas

One of Thomas’s biggest early moments came against Arkansas in the final game of the 2013 regular season.

LSU had taken a 31 to 27 lead after backup quarterback Anthony Jennings connected with Travin Dural for a late 49 yard touchdown. Arkansas still had an opportunity to answer.

Thomas helped make sure it did not.

He recorded a sack and forced a fumble during Arkansas’s final possession, helping LSU finish the victory. Thomas ended his redshirt freshman season with three sacks. Two had come against Furman, giving LSU an early glimpse of how effective he could be when attacking from the secondary.

Another Injury Interrupts His Rise

Thomas opened 2014 playing some of the best football of his young career.

He recorded five tackles and a pass breakup against Wisconsin. Against Sam Houston State, he produced seven tackles, half a sack and the first interception of his LSU career.

Thomas then had six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble against Mississippi State. Through LSU’s first four games, he had accumulated 22 tackles.

Then another injury changed his season.

Thomas suffered a knee injury against New Mexico State and did not return. His season ended after five games with 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception and a fumble recovery.

For the second time in three seasons, an injury had taken away a significant portion of his year.

Thomas came back again.

Finally Becoming a Full Time Starter

Thomas returned in 2015 and finally received an extended opportunity in LSU’s starting lineup.

He appeared in 10 games and started nine. Five of those starts came at cornerback and four came at nickel back, illustrating exactly what Thomas brought to the defense.

He finished with 34 tackles, three tackles for loss and six pass breakups. His six breakups tied for second on the team.

Thomas made his first collegiate start in LSU’s SEC opener at Mississippi State. He responded with a career high 10 tackles and a pass breakup as LSU held on for a 21 to 19 victory.

After years of injuries and situational roles, Thomas had finally established himself as a regular starter in LSU’s secondary.

Surrounded by DBU Talent

Thomas played during an extraordinary period for LSU defensive backs.

Tre’Davious White became one of the best cornerbacks in college football. Jalen Mills was an experienced and versatile veteran. Jamal Adams developed into an elite safety. Donte Jackson brought exceptional speed to the secondary.

Thomas gave LSU something different.

The Tigers could use him outside at cornerback or move him inside to nickel. LSU also viewed him as capable of playing either safety position in addition to contributing in nickel and dime packages.

That versatility became particularly valuable during his final season.

Dave Aranda arrived as defensive coordinator before the 2016 season, and Thomas fit naturally into a defense that could use defensive backs in multiple roles.

His final season became his most productive.

His Best Season Came Last

Thomas played 12 games during his fifth year senior season in 2016 and finished with a career high 42 tackles.

He also recorded a career best seven tackles for loss, one sack, seven pass breakups and one interception. Including the interception, that gave him eight passes defended for the season.

The seven tackles for loss are particularly striking.

Thomas was a defensive back, yet he spent much of his career making plays normally associated with linebackers. He could come off the edge, attack a ball carrier in the backfield or drop into coverage.

That versatility was on full display during his final season.

Thomas Was Never Short on Confidence

Thomas also became known for his personality.

That was especially apparent before LSU faced No. 1 Alabama in 2016. Thomas publicly expressed confidence in LSU’s defense and its ability to handle Alabama, creating national attention before one of the biggest games of the season.

LSU ultimately lost 10 to 0, but its defense delivered an outstanding performance against the eventual SEC champion. Alabama did not score until the fourth quarter.

For Thomas and the LSU defense, the result was disappointing. But the performance demonstrated that his confidence was not simply talk. LSU held an Alabama team that averaged nearly 39 points per game that season to only 10.

Thomas was part of a defense that gave LSU every opportunity to win.

The Numbers Show His Versatility

Thomas finished his LSU career with 110 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, 19 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

His progression also tells the story of persistence.

Thomas played only three games during his injury shortened 2012 season and recorded no statistics. He produced 10 tackles in 2013, 24 in another injury shortened season in 2014, 34 in 2015 and a career high 42 as a senior.

What matters most is what Thomas did when healthy.

He became one of LSU’s most versatile defensive backs.

A Brief NFL Opportunity

Thomas went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft but received an opportunity with one of the league’s premier organizations. The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent in May 2017.

He appeared in New England’s preseason opener against Jacksonville and played four special teams snaps, but his stay ended shortly afterward. The Patriots released Thomas on August 10, 2017, and announced the transaction the following day when the team signed defensive lineman Keionta Davis.

Thomas never appeared in an NFL regular season game. His professional career did not develop into the lengthy NFL run enjoyed by several of the defensive backs who played alongside him at LSU.

His football legacy was built primarily in Baton Rouge.

More Than Just Another DBU Name

Dwayne Thomas will never be the first name mentioned when LSU fans discuss the greatest defensive backs in school history. The competition is simply too strong.

Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne won Thorpe Awards. Tyrann Mathieu became a Heisman Trophy finalist. Tre’Davious White and Jamal Adams became major NFL stars.

Thomas occupied a different role.

He was physical enough to finish his LSU career with 16.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He could cover receivers, blitz from the secondary and play multiple defensive back positions. Most importantly, he repeatedly came back from injuries that could have derailed his career.

Thomas arrived from New Orleans as a highly regarded cornerback and left LSU as something much harder to define.

He was simply a defensive football player.

And on LSU teams loaded with future professional defensive backs, Dwayne Thomas found his own way to make an impact.

Sources

LSU Athletics, Dwayne Thomas official biography and statistics
https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/season/2016/player/dwayne-thomas-2/

LSU Athletics, Dwayne Thomas 2012 biography and medical redshirt information
https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/season/2012/player/dwayne-thomas-2/

Sports Reference, Dwayne Thomas college statistics
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dwayne-thomas-2.html

New England Patriots, Dwayne Thomas release and Keionta Davis signing
https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-rookie-dl-keionta-davis-release-rookie-db-dwayne-thomas-303476

New England Patriots, 2017 official transactions
https://www.patriots.com/team/transactions/2017

NFL, 2017 undrafted rookie free agent signings
https://www.nfl.com/news/2017-undrafted-free-agent-deals-for-all-32-nfl-teams-0ap3000000804807