Ohio State receiver Michael Thomas put off exploring Bourbon Street and this city’s other amusements.He’s been too busy studying tape and preparing for the Sugar Bowl.”I can go on vacation after I finish my job,” he said Tuesday.Thomas spoke from behind a table reserved specifically for him at media day at the Superdome. It was situated on the goal line.Thomas would like to cross it Thursday, ball in hand after scoring a touchdown or two when Ohio State plays top-seeded Alabama in a semifinal of the inaugural College Football Playoff.”You want to just show what you can do,” he said, “because everyone is going to be watching.”Alabama’s defense cannot afford to lose track of Thomas, who played at Woodland Hills Taft High and has matured into one of the Buckeyes’ top offensive threats.The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Thomas is the nephew of Keyshawn Johnson, a former USC and NFL star. He wears No. 3, as Johnson did, and shares some of the same legendary confidence.Thomas’ Twitter handle? @cantguardMike”I feel like it’s pretty legit,” he said.After studying tape of Thomas and the rest of Ohio State’s receiver corps, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart did not disagree.The sure-handed Thomas used his size, speed and leaping ability for a team-best 43 receptions, eight for touchdowns. “He’s a matchup problem,” Smart said.Thomas’ journey to this opportunity included snubs from USC and UCLA, a stop at a military prep school, an unexpected but productive redshirt season in 2013, and a breakout performance this season.The third-year sophomore’s evolution, on and off the field, has been “a complete 180,” offensive coordinator Tom Herman said.Thomas’ road to Columbus, Ohio, started at Westlake Village Oaks Christian High. He played football as a freshman, but as a sophomore was home-schooled and did not participate in high school sports.He enrolled at Taft for his junior year.”He was a string bean,” former Taft coach Matt Kerstetter recalled.Thomas worked to put muscle on his then-6-2 frame and to understand Taft’s West Coast offense. He played as a reserve — “He used it as motivation, he turned that into fuel,” Kerstetter said — then made a major leap in the spring and summer leading into his senior season.Thomas played for a seven-on-seven team organized by Johnson that which featured prospects such as receivers Devin Lucien and Jordan Payton, now at UCLA. He also worked out on his own.”He was relentless,” Johnson said. Thomas returned for his senior season at Taft in 2010 and combined with quarterback Mike Bercovici to form one of the Southland’s top passing combinations. He caught 86 passes, 21 for touchdowns.Neither USC nor UCLA offered scholarships.”It was kind of frustrating,” he said. …
Continue Reading: Ohio State’s Michael Thomas backs up sharp play with hard work
