South Carolina senior labeled under-the-radar impact player
South Carolina EDGE rusher Bryan Thomas, Jr. has waited his turn. The rising senior has spent three seasons in garnet and black. Though he has seven career starts, he has been in a timeshare at the defensive end position. He’s been productive in his role, and he really came on late in the 2024 season. He finished the year third on the team with 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. Before his final fall at USC, Thomas is a leading candidate for a starting role opposite All-American hopeful Dylan Stewart.
With the expected role increase, ESPN’s Eli Lederman has labeled a sleeper pick to become an impact player.
Said Lederman, “Much of the attention within the Gamecocks’ pass-rush depth will be centered on sophomore phenom Dylan Stewart and Charlotte transfer Demon Clowney, cousin of former two-time All-American Jadeveon Clowney. But as South Carolina works to replace the production of 2024 SEC sack leader Kyle Kennard, fourth-year edge Thomas will have an important role to play as well. The 6-foot-2, 247-pounder logged career highs in sacks (4.5) and total tackles (23) a year ago, and he’s poised to step into a starting role opposite Stewart this fall following Kennard’s jump to the NFL. If the Gamecocks are going to feature one of the nation’s fiercest pass rushes again in 2025, Thomas will have to be a big part of it.”
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There is reason to share ESPN’s optimism about Thomas. In his one start last season (the Citrus Bowl), he had a career-best six tackles and the team’s only sack.
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Thomas has always been a good athlete who has shown some juice rushing the passer. However, in 2024, he showcased some improvement against the run. He was responsible for one of the biggest 4th-down stops of the year, swimming around one blocker and blowing up another on a 4th-and-1 play against Clemson that allowed linebacker Demetrius Knight and defensive back Jalon Kilgore to knife in and bring down running back Phil Mafah short of the sticks. The stop was crucial as it kept Clemson off the scoreboard in what would become a one-possession win for Carolina.
Thomas and the Gamecocks will open the 2025 season in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium against the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Sunday, August 31st contest will broadcast on ESPN at 3:00 p.m.
