Jhase Thomas Prepared For Bigger Role As LSU Deals With Injuries

LSU safety Jhase Thomas was called upon for an expanded role against Texas A&M after the Tigers lost Dashawn Spears to a season-ending injury.

Now, the Louisiana native could be seeing much more of the field moving forward.

“The opportunity was presented to me this week,” Thomas said. “Obviously, I had to step up to the plate and do what I had to do, do what I’ve been doing my whole life.”

Thomas said LSU’s secondary has prepared for situations like this, with younger players getting the reps they need to be ready when called upon.

“We all work together day in and day out. I feel like all the DBs have a pretty good bond with each other,” Thomas said.

“So no matter who’s back there, or who subs in, or who has to step up to the plate, I feel like we all pretty good. We all got a chance.”

For Thomas, getting himself ready for a bigger role has been a process that started well before the Texas A&M game.

“I had to trust the process, watch a lot more film, be in the film room a lot more, talk to the older guys,” he said.

Thomas specifically pointed to Ty Benefield and Tamarcus Cooley as veterans he has leaned on to learn how to study film and prepare for games.

That experience around him helped when his opportunity finally arrived.

“Having a whole bunch of veterans around me made it a lot easier for me,” Thomas said. “A lot of guys with a whole lot of experience, so it just made me more confident on the field.”

Thomas’ father, Fred, who played 12 seasons in the NFL, including eight with the New Orleans Saints, also had some advice before his son stepped into a bigger role against the Aggies.

“Don’t let the moment be too big,” Thomas recalled.

“Just like backyard football when you’re young, go out there, play ball, don’t think too much, don’t think too hard, and just play the game that you’ve been playing your whole life.”

Here's Thomas' full media session from this week: