2018 Football Roster
Roster
Cory Thomas
- Position:
- DT
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 310
- Class:
- Senior
- 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)
![Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) punts during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 48-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Fmsstate.sidearmsports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F1%2F1%2FUSATSI_27828199.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
