The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/111015
football recruiting issue Dymonte Thomas��� Baseball Background Pays Off For Him In Football Raised as a Cleveland Indians fan, Dymonte Thomas idolized pitcher CC Sabathia, and even the left-hander���s move to New York, to play for the hated Yankees, couldn���t soil his opinion of him. Thomas wasn���t a pitcher, but he did grow up playing baseball, starting in center field for Marlington���s varsity team during his freshman, sophomore and junior campaigns, and earning scouts��� attentions. ���His freshman year, our team is playing in the regional finals against a pitcher that wound up getting drafted, and Dymonte was 2 for 3 off of him, and immediately everyone wanted to know who he was,��� Dukes football coach Ed Miley said. ���He always had the potential to star in baseball, go on to college and maybe beyond, but his football upside is so tremendous, and I think he loved it just a little more.��� ���I had such a passion for baseball, and people always told me I was good enough to play in college and maybe professionally, but it became more of a backup the better I got at football,��� Thomas said, echoing his coach���s sentiments. ���If there was an opportunity to play both ��� but the football coaches don���t want you to get hurt, and I���m on a football scholarship, so it makes sense to give it up.��� Thomas hit .390 for his career and racked up 69 stolen bases in three seasons, but he has put his glove and bat away, focusing entirely on learning In four seasons at Marlington, Thomas recorded 360 tackles, including nine sacks, and rushed for 4,587 yards on 573 carries (8.0-yard average). photo courtesy rivals.com the nuances of the safety position after spending much of his high-school career at linebacker. In four seasons at Marlington, Thomas recorded 360 tackles, including nine sacks, and rushed for 4,587 yards on 573 carries (8.0-yard average). ���There was one game where he actually played along the defensive line, at linebacker, at cornerback and at safety all within four quarters,��� Miley said. ���He���s so physical; I���ve seen a lot of fast kids and good athletes, but never seen anyone as physical as Dymonte. ���He���s relentless to the football, and