GRAY DEYOSports Writer

With the regular season now coming to an end in college football, former Wildcat football player Jakobe Thomas is closing out the final moments of his college career, and is doing so in flying colors.

Tennessee Vols fans were not particularly happy when Thomas opted to transfer to the Miami Hurricanes in his final year of college ball, and that is for good reason. They missed out on a ‘DAWG’. Thomas helped elevate the Hurricanes’ defense in a multitude of ways, as they now sit and wait, hoping for a college playoff berth with a record of 10-2. The selection committee has them currently slotted as the #12 team in the country. With the way the playoff is currently structured, this will likely have Miami missing the playoffs, despite them, like many other bubble teams, having a good case to make it. A couple of their strong talking points are the team currently ranked at #9–Notre Dame–they beat in the regular season. The Hurricanes won that matchup by a score of 27-24. They are also coming off a commanding win in their final regular season against the University of Pittsburgh, winning that matchup by a score of 38-7. Pittsburgh was ranked as the #24 team in the country before the matchup.  Another rule playing against Thomas and the Hurricanes making the playoffs is the Group of Five conference rule. This rule states that at least one team from either the American Athletic, Mountain West, Sun Belt, Conference USA, or Mid-American Conference must make the playoff. This will likely bring a team outside the top 12-ranked teams to make the bracket, which will jump Miami and secure a playoff spot.

Despite what may or may not happen regarding the postseason, Thomas, in the regular season, has had some impressive moments. In the regular season, he had 30 solo tackles. This is the highest amount he has had since his sophomore year with MTSU. He also had a career high in sacks (3) and tied his career high in interceptions (4).  His play stood out in a major way for Miami in several games, especially in a contest against the #18-ranked team in the country at the time, Florida State.

The Hurricanes won this matchup 28-22, and Thomas’ performance in the game was critical in the overall win. On the day he had five solo tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception. This remarkable individual game of his led to him being given the Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week award. This award is given out by the Football Writers Association of America. The award itself recognizes a player with an outstanding defensive performance in a particular week. Following this game against the Seminoles, Thomas was also named the defensive back of the week in the ACC.

It again will remain to be seen how the final days of Thomas’ college career will be played out. Whether that is a bowl game or a national championship game remains unknown. But one thing is for certain: the former T-Town Wildcat gave it all he had on the gridiron at the collegiate level. It will be exciting to see what is next for Thomas.