2015 Football Roster
Roster
Cory Thomas
- Position:
- DL
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 301
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Bessemer, AL
- High School/Previous School:
- McAdory HS
CAREER: Physical defensive tackle who made an impact as soon as he took the field for the first time in 2015 … Saw time in 39 games, including six starts at defensive tackle … Finished with 51 total tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and one sack … Also recorded one interception, forced one fumble and defended three passes … Was limited during his junior season in 2017 due to a foot injury … Added depth to the defensive line with his large frame and physical nature … Arrived in Starkville after a standout prep career in Alabama … Graduate from MSU in December 2018 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
2018 SENIOR SEASON: Played in 12 games … Recorded 12 total tackles, including 1.5 for loss and one sack … Did not play against Louisiana (9/15) … Collected a season-high three tackles against Florida (9/29) … Matched a season-high in tackles (3), equaled a career-high in sacks (1) and set a career-high in tackles for loss (1.5) against No. 16 Texas A&M (10/27) … His solo sack against the Aggies resulted in an 8-yard loss and came on first and goal from State’s 15-yard line during A&M’s second to last drive of the game.
2017 JUNIOR SEASON: Appeared in six games and made two starts … Missed the majority of the season with a foot injury … Grabbed a career-high four tackles against Charleston Southern, while forcing his first-career fumble (9/2) … Returned from a foot injury and recorded at tackle against No. 24 Texas A&M (10/28) … Recorded his first pass breakup of the season, along with two tackles, vs. No. 1 Alabama (11/11).
2016 SOPHOMORE SEASON: Participated in every tilt of the season; started in four… Tallied at least three tackles for the first six matchups of the season, including a career-high four tackles twice: vs. South Alabama (9/3) and vs. Auburn (10/8)… Made four tackles including a four-yard TFL in the season opener vs. South Alabama (9/3)… Recorded a career-high 1.0 TFL four times this season against South Alabama (9/3), South Carolina (9/10), at BYU (10/14) and vs. Arkansas (11/19)… Totaled two quarterback hurries against the Samford Bulldogs (10/29).
2015 REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON: Saw time in eight games, with seven of those coming in the first nine games of the season … Totaled three tackles, one sack and one interception on the year … Made his debut vs. LSU (9/12) and notched his first tackle against Northwestern State (9/19) … Intercepted a pass vs. Kentucky (10/24) and recorded a 12-yard return on the play … His first-career sack came against NC State (12/30) in the Belk Bowl for a loss of four yards.
2014 TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON: Redshirted during his first year on campus.
HIGH SCHOOL: A three-star defensive tackle according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports ... Rated as the 19th-best prospect in the state of Alabama by ESPN.com ... A four-year letterwinner for head coach David Powell ... 2013 Alabama Sports Writers Association First-Team 5A All-State selection following junior and senior campaigns ... Earned a place on the MaxPreps 2013 Alabama Preseason All-State Football Team ... Helped the Yellow Jackets to a 10-3 overall record and 6-1 mark in Region 5 contests as a senior ... Squad advanced to the quarterfinals of the AHSAA 5A state playoffs before falling to Southside 28-25 ... Anchor of a defense that surrendered only 161 points, an average of 12.4 per contest ... Recorded 75 tackles and 3.0 sacks during final campaign ... Recovered a fumble against Southside in the quarterfinals that led to a touchdown and 7-0 McAdory lead ... Played as a safety as a freshman ... Also suited up for the basketball program.
PERSONAL: Born Cory Tyrone Thomas on Aug. 2, 1995 … Nickname is “Big Cory” … Parents are Pearl and Orlando Thomas … Wears the No. 34 because of Bo Jackson … Twitter handle is @bighomie_34.
THOMAS’ CAREER HIGHS:
Tackles: 4, (three times) last vs. Charleston Southern (9-2-17)
Tackles for loss: 1.5, vs. Texas A&M (10-27-18)
Sacks: 1, vs. Texas A&M (10-27-18)
Pass Breakups: 1, (twice) last vs. Alabama (11-11-17)
Interceptions: 1, vs. Kentucky (10-24-15)
Forced Fumbles: 1, vs. Charleston Southern (9-2-17)
