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Jersey Number 25
Ray Thomas
- Position:
- DL
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 300
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Hometown:
- Racine, Wis.
- High School/Previous School:
- Washington Park HS (Northern Illinois)
Career Honors
2025 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2024 Academic All-MAC
2023 CSC Academic All-District
2023 Academic All-MAC
2023 MAC West Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 25 at Kent State)
2022 Academic All-MAC
2021 Academic All-MAC
ย
Career Notes
Played in 56 career games with 41 starts โฆ Concluded his collegiate career with 208 tackles, 24 TFLs, 7.0 sacks, nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries โฆ Only played with Mississippi State for the 2025 season.
ย
2025 (Graduate Season)
Played in seven games with zero starts โฆ Recorded 10 tackles, 2.9 TFLs, 1.0 sack and had one forced fumble.
ย
2024ย (Graduate Season - Northern Illinois)
Played in four games with zero starts ... Earned a redshirt โฆ Recorded 12 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one pass breakup โฆ Made his season debut at Ball State on Oct. 26 and played in four-straight games through Nov. 19 at Miami (OH).
ย
2023ย (Senior Season - Northern Illinois)
Played in 13 games with 13 starts โฆ Finished the season with a team-leading 74 tackles, the most by any defensive lineman in the country โฆ Only FBS defensive lineman to lead his team in tackles, and the first NIU defensive lineman in school history to lead the Huskies in tackles on the season โฆ Added a pair of quarterback sacks and his 7.5 tackles for loss led the Huskies โฆ Recorded at least three tackles in every game โฆ Named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week after making nine tackles with one for loss in the win at Kent State (11-25) โฆ Contributed six tackles and was in on a sack in the Camellia Bowl win over Arkansas State (12-23) โฆ Made six tackles versus both Eastern Michigan (10-21) and Ball State (11-7) with a half tackle for loss against the Cardinals โฆ Recorded five stops versus Ohio (10-14) โฆ Led all players with 11 tackles versus Tulsa (9-23) with a tackle for loss and half a sack โฆ The 11 tackles, including seven solo stops and four assists, were the most by a Huskie defensive lineman since 2013 (Ken Bishop, 11 vs. Toledo โฆ Credited with five tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup at Nebraska (9-16) โฆ Has recorded at least five tackles in a game 15 times in his career โฆ Totaled four tackles, including two for loss and his first sack of the year against Southern Illinois (9-9) โฆ Had five stops and two quarterback hurries in NIUโs overtime win at Boston College (9-2) โฆ A preseason Second Team All-MAC choice by Phil Steele and preseason third team All-MAC by PFF and Athlon โฆ Earned CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-MAC Honors โฆ Named Defensive Most Valuable Player following 2023 spring practices.
ย
2022 (Junior Season - Northern Illinois)
Played in 12 games with 11 starts โฆ Honored as the teamโs defensive lineman of the year following the season โฆ Totaled 44 tackles, led the Huskies with 9.0 tackles for loss and broke up three passes โฆ Credited with at least two tackles in 11 of 12 games โฆ Made five tackles with half a sack in season-opening win over Eastern Illinois (9-1) โฆ Recorded a four-yard sack and five tackles at Tulsa (9-10) โฆ Also tallied five tackles at Ball State (10-1) โฆ One of his two tackles versus Toledo (10-8) went for loss โฆ Registered three tackles and half a tackle for loss in win at Eastern Michigan (10-15) โฆ Made a season-high eight tackles against Central Michigan (11-2), adding a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a forced fumble โฆ Recorded a career high four tackles for loss and a pass break-up in NIUโs win at Western Michigan (11-9) โฆ Earned Academic All-MAC honors.
ย
2021(Sophomore Season - Northern Illinois)
Played in 14 games with 11 starts โฆ Led all Huskie defensive linemen, and ranked seventh on the team, with 48 tackles while playing in all 14 games and making 11 starts โฆ Totaled 19 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and half a sack, broke up three passes and recovered two fumbles โฆ Tallied three tackles in the MAC Championship Game (12-4) versus Kent State and two in the Cure Bowl game versus Coastal Carolina (12-17) โฆ Made two tackles or more in 13 games โฆ Twice totaled a career high six stops - vs. Wyoming (9-11), when he also recovered a fumble and had a tackle for loss, and vs. Ball State (11-10) โฆ Added a half tackle for loss and broke up a pass versus the Cardinals โฆ Second fumble recovery came in the Eastern Michigan (10-2) game, when he made four tackles โฆ Knocked down two passes with a pair of tackles against Bowling Green (10-16) โฆ Posted five stops and was in on a sack in NIUโs 22-21 Boneyard Win at Georgia Tech (9-4) โฆ Contributed five stops at Kent State (11-3) and versus Western Michigan (11-23) โฆ Member of the 2021 Academic All-MAC team.
ย
2020 (True Freshman Season - Northern Illinois)
Played in six games with six starts โฆ Started all six games, one of seven Huskie defensive players to do so โฆ Finished with 20 tackles, including a tackle for loss โฆ Earned a career-best six tackles and a pass break up against Central Michigan (11-11).
ย
High School
Three-year varsity letterwinner at defensive end โฆ Ranked 26th in Wisconsin and 114th nationally among defensive ends according to 247sports.com โฆ Selected as a finalist for the Tim Krumrie Award, presented to the Top Senior Defensive Lineman โฆ Named team captain all three years on varsity and was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference player โฆ Made the all-county team in 2017 and 2018 and was all-region and honorable mention All-State his senior season โฆ Credited with 93 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks for the Panthers in the 2019 regular season โฆ Washington Park Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore with 85 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks and 11 pass break-ups โฆ As a junior, he had 72 tackles, seven sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, 11 batted balls, two forced fumbles and a blocked punt โฆ Tallied 38 stops his junior year with three PBUs and two fumbles forced โฆ Recovered a pair of fumbles his sophomore season โฆ Team won the conference championships in 2017 and advanced to the playoffs his freshman and senior seasons.
ย
Personal
Full name is Raishein Romeil Thomas but he goes by the nickname "Ray" โฆ Son of Evelyn and Roscoe Thomas โฆ A kinesiology major.
Career-Highs
Tackles: 11, vs. Tulsa (09/23/2023) *
Tackles for Loss: 4.0, at Western Michigan (11/09/2022) *
Sacks: 2.0, vs. Akron (11/13/2024) *
QB Hurries: 2, 4x, last vs. Ohio (10/14/2023) *
Pass Breakups: 2, vs. Bowling Green (10/16/2021) *
Forced Fumbles: 1, 2x, last vs. Alcorn State (9/13/2025)
Fumble Recoveries: 1, 2x, last vs. Eastern Michigan (10/02/2021) *
* Career-high set at Northern Illinois
2025 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2024 Academic All-MAC
2023 CSC Academic All-District
2023 Academic All-MAC
2023 MAC West Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 25 at Kent State)
2022 Academic All-MAC
2021 Academic All-MAC
ย
Career Notes
Played in 56 career games with 41 starts โฆ Concluded his collegiate career with 208 tackles, 24 TFLs, 7.0 sacks, nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries โฆ Only played with Mississippi State for the 2025 season.
ย
2025 (Graduate Season)
Played in seven games with zero starts โฆ Recorded 10 tackles, 2.9 TFLs, 1.0 sack and had one forced fumble.
ย
2024ย (Graduate Season - Northern Illinois)
Played in four games with zero starts ... Earned a redshirt โฆ Recorded 12 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one pass breakup โฆ Made his season debut at Ball State on Oct. 26 and played in four-straight games through Nov. 19 at Miami (OH).
ย
2023ย (Senior Season - Northern Illinois)
Played in 13 games with 13 starts โฆ Finished the season with a team-leading 74 tackles, the most by any defensive lineman in the country โฆ Only FBS defensive lineman to lead his team in tackles, and the first NIU defensive lineman in school history to lead the Huskies in tackles on the season โฆ Added a pair of quarterback sacks and his 7.5 tackles for loss led the Huskies โฆ Recorded at least three tackles in every game โฆ Named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week after making nine tackles with one for loss in the win at Kent State (11-25) โฆ Contributed six tackles and was in on a sack in the Camellia Bowl win over Arkansas State (12-23) โฆ Made six tackles versus both Eastern Michigan (10-21) and Ball State (11-7) with a half tackle for loss against the Cardinals โฆ Recorded five stops versus Ohio (10-14) โฆ Led all players with 11 tackles versus Tulsa (9-23) with a tackle for loss and half a sack โฆ The 11 tackles, including seven solo stops and four assists, were the most by a Huskie defensive lineman since 2013 (Ken Bishop, 11 vs. Toledo โฆ Credited with five tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup at Nebraska (9-16) โฆ Has recorded at least five tackles in a game 15 times in his career โฆ Totaled four tackles, including two for loss and his first sack of the year against Southern Illinois (9-9) โฆ Had five stops and two quarterback hurries in NIUโs overtime win at Boston College (9-2) โฆ A preseason Second Team All-MAC choice by Phil Steele and preseason third team All-MAC by PFF and Athlon โฆ Earned CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-MAC Honors โฆ Named Defensive Most Valuable Player following 2023 spring practices.
ย
2022 (Junior Season - Northern Illinois)
Played in 12 games with 11 starts โฆ Honored as the teamโs defensive lineman of the year following the season โฆ Totaled 44 tackles, led the Huskies with 9.0 tackles for loss and broke up three passes โฆ Credited with at least two tackles in 11 of 12 games โฆ Made five tackles with half a sack in season-opening win over Eastern Illinois (9-1) โฆ Recorded a four-yard sack and five tackles at Tulsa (9-10) โฆ Also tallied five tackles at Ball State (10-1) โฆ One of his two tackles versus Toledo (10-8) went for loss โฆ Registered three tackles and half a tackle for loss in win at Eastern Michigan (10-15) โฆ Made a season-high eight tackles against Central Michigan (11-2), adding a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a forced fumble โฆ Recorded a career high four tackles for loss and a pass break-up in NIUโs win at Western Michigan (11-9) โฆ Earned Academic All-MAC honors.
ย
2021(Sophomore Season - Northern Illinois)
Played in 14 games with 11 starts โฆ Led all Huskie defensive linemen, and ranked seventh on the team, with 48 tackles while playing in all 14 games and making 11 starts โฆ Totaled 19 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and half a sack, broke up three passes and recovered two fumbles โฆ Tallied three tackles in the MAC Championship Game (12-4) versus Kent State and two in the Cure Bowl game versus Coastal Carolina (12-17) โฆ Made two tackles or more in 13 games โฆ Twice totaled a career high six stops - vs. Wyoming (9-11), when he also recovered a fumble and had a tackle for loss, and vs. Ball State (11-10) โฆ Added a half tackle for loss and broke up a pass versus the Cardinals โฆ Second fumble recovery came in the Eastern Michigan (10-2) game, when he made four tackles โฆ Knocked down two passes with a pair of tackles against Bowling Green (10-16) โฆ Posted five stops and was in on a sack in NIUโs 22-21 Boneyard Win at Georgia Tech (9-4) โฆ Contributed five stops at Kent State (11-3) and versus Western Michigan (11-23) โฆ Member of the 2021 Academic All-MAC team.
ย
2020 (True Freshman Season - Northern Illinois)
Played in six games with six starts โฆ Started all six games, one of seven Huskie defensive players to do so โฆ Finished with 20 tackles, including a tackle for loss โฆ Earned a career-best six tackles and a pass break up against Central Michigan (11-11).
ย
High School
Three-year varsity letterwinner at defensive end โฆ Ranked 26th in Wisconsin and 114th nationally among defensive ends according to 247sports.com โฆ Selected as a finalist for the Tim Krumrie Award, presented to the Top Senior Defensive Lineman โฆ Named team captain all three years on varsity and was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference player โฆ Made the all-county team in 2017 and 2018 and was all-region and honorable mention All-State his senior season โฆ Credited with 93 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks for the Panthers in the 2019 regular season โฆ Washington Park Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore with 85 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks and 11 pass break-ups โฆ As a junior, he had 72 tackles, seven sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, 11 batted balls, two forced fumbles and a blocked punt โฆ Tallied 38 stops his junior year with three PBUs and two fumbles forced โฆ Recovered a pair of fumbles his sophomore season โฆ Team won the conference championships in 2017 and advanced to the playoffs his freshman and senior seasons.
ย
Personal
Full name is Raishein Romeil Thomas but he goes by the nickname "Ray" โฆ Son of Evelyn and Roscoe Thomas โฆ A kinesiology major.
Career-Highs
Tackles: 11, vs. Tulsa (09/23/2023) *
Tackles for Loss: 4.0, at Western Michigan (11/09/2022) *
Sacks: 2.0, vs. Akron (11/13/2024) *
QB Hurries: 2, 4x, last vs. Ohio (10/14/2023) *
Pass Breakups: 2, vs. Bowling Green (10/16/2021) *
Forced Fumbles: 1, 2x, last vs. Alcorn State (9/13/2025)
Fumble Recoveries: 1, 2x, last vs. Eastern Michigan (10/02/2021) *
* Career-high set at Northern Illinois
Saturday, October 17
Saturday, October 17
Saturday, October 17
Monday, October 12
