Editorβs note: The Star is counting down the top high school football players in Tucson. Up next: Canyon del Oro two-way star Jordan Thomas.
Name: Jordan Thomas
Rundown: Thomas is a 5-foot-10-inch, 175-pound senior running back and cornerback.
Who he is: For the last two seasons, Thomas dominated for the neighboring Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks, with 125 carries for 1,006 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging nearly 92 yards per game.
However, Thomas transferred to CDO in the offseason because Ironwood Ridge βwasnβt a good space for what I was trying to do with my future.β
Due to Arizona Interscholastic Associationβs transfer rules, Thomas will have to sit out the first five games of this season, and will return Oct. 14 for the Doradosβ contest at Douglas.
βThatβs definitely the hardest decision Iβve ever had to make so far, because when you transfer, youβre betting on yourself, especially since I have to sit out the first five games of the season,β Thomas said. βIt was difficult, but you do what you gotta do to move forward and better your career and what youβre trying to do.β
When Thomas returns to the lineup, his big-play ability is going to be the ideal counterpart to CDO junior running back Kayden Luke, βwho is just a bruiser.β
βI think we can make some noise with that guy whoβs a bruiser, then give the ball to a kid who can go 90 (yards),β said Dorados head coach Dustin Peace. βThatβs going to be a game-changer for us.
βThe thing we lacked last year was being explosive, scoring touchdowns from 50 or 60 yards. We didnβt have that, and heβs definitely that kind of kid, so I think that changes who we are offensively.β
Added Peace: βWithout a doubt, heβs an explosive player. Heβs a great young man just by the way he works. Everything that heβs done, heβs just been so humble. Heβs quiet, but heβs competitive, and heβs fitting in great. But on top of that, I didnβt realize he was so talented.β
Last season, Peaceβs Dorados defeated Ironwood Ridge 26-22 and held Thomas to 41 yards on eight carries. The Dorados see a different, much better version of Thomas in practice.
βHaving played him for the last two years, you see him on film and youβre like, βOK, heβs good,β but having the chance to work with him daily, heβs got to be one of the best cornerbacks weβve ever had at CDO,β Peace said. βHeβll get attention for running the ball and catching the ball, because heβs so explosive, but I think heβs a Division I (cornerback).
βIn high school, itβs tough because if youβre good at corner, no one is going to throw the ball and theyβre going to throw the other way. Itβs a hard spot to get a lot of attention, but man, heβs going to complement what we do.β
So far, everything has gone according to plan for Thomas as he prepares for his final high school football season.
βTalk about workers,β Thomas said of CDO. βFrom the first day I came in, everyone was just working, so it keeps me motivated to keep pushing. Even when you canβt go anymore, you have to keep going, because everyone else is. Itβs just a good group of people to be around. Theyβve been super open and helpful to me, and theyβre just a good group of guys.β
Proof heβs good: In Thomasβ final season at Ironwood Ridge, he was named the Class 5A Sonoran Region Player of the Year and earned all-region honors as a kick returner.
During offseason 7-on-7 tournaments earlier this summer, Thomas was the Doradosβ top performer at wide receiver and cornerback.
βDuring 7-on-7, he just took over,β Peace said. βEvery event we were at, he was the best receiver and best corner. Every event. Heβs a great football player β both sides of the ball.β
He said it: βHeβs an all-around football player β offense, defense, special teams β and just a great young man, too. Iβm super surprised that he hasnβt gotten any Division I attention. I think β I donβt think, I know β heβs a Division I-caliber kid. If we have the season we have, heβll have the attention he deserves.β β Peace