CIS Football Player Profile: Jake Thomas, Acadia Axemen (12 of 26)

Source: John Keefe, AUS and Eric Cederberg, Acadia Sports Info

Name: Jake Thomas
University: Acadia University
Hometown: Douglas, N.B.
High school: Leo Hayes H.S.
Position: Defensive Tackle
Academic program: Bachelor of Business Administration
Year of eligibility: 4
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 275

Key stats 2010:
Played in all eight regular season games, led all AUS defensive linemen with 29 solo tackles and 28 assisted tackles for 43.0 total tackles to finish eighth overall in Atlantic conference tackles. Thomas also ranked fifth in the conference in both sacks (4.0) and tackles for a loss (8.5).

Awards & honours (since start of CIS career):
- 2011: Canadian National Senior Team – silver medalist, IFAF World Championship in Austria.
- 2010: Atlantic University Sport all-star (defensive tackle); named the week one AUS football defensive player of the week.
- 2009: Canadian National Junior Team – named a second team IFAF world all-star; named the Acadia Axemen most improved player.

PROFILE

Jake Thomas hopes to contribute to his team’s improvement from last year’s 4-4 record and a third place finish in the AUS.

Heading into this fourth season, Jake continues to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Josh, who was a multi-year Atlantic conference all-star for the Axemen and the 1998 AUS lineman of the year.

As the senior statesman on the defensive line this year following the graduation of all-Canadian defensive end Adrian Saturley, Thomas, who has dressed in every game for the Axemen since arriving in Wolfville in 2008, will lead an aggressive core of Acadia defenders.
Head Coach Jeff Cummins expects only the best from Jake this season.

“I expect Jake to have a huge impact on the defensive side of the ball in this conference and in the CIS,” says Cummins. “There is a pretty good chance he will play on offense too.”
Strength and skills on the field are just a couple of Jake’s many assets. His leadership on and off the field is surpassed by his classroom results.

In the 2010-11 academic year, Thomas posted a 3.65 GPA, which gave him academic all-Canadian status.

“Jake is a tough and aggressive and above all a smart player who works as hard as anyone I’ve ever had at Acadia over my nine years as head coach,” comments Cummins. “He is a relentless pass rusher, has a great take off and I believe he has the potential to be drafted in the 2012 CFL Draft.”

Deciding to come to Acadia was never much of a decision for the 6-foot-2 senior from Douglas, N.B., even though he insists he was never pressured by his big brother to join the Axemen program.

“Coach Cummins was a very big influence in my decision to come to Acadia. When it came down to my final decision I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else after cheering for the Axemen my whole childhood.”

This season, Jake hopes the Axemen can build on last year’s 22-14 AUS semifinal quadruple-overtime road win over Mount Allison.

“Last season’s overtime win against Mount Allison has been my favourite moment thus far in an Acadia uniform. It was a mud bowl that went to multiple overtimes. Everyone was so dirty and tired and excited. It was an awesome moment to be a part of.”

The Axemen will travel to Saint Mary’s for a pre-season contest on September 3rd before kicking off the regular season campaign September 10th in Antigonish versus the StFX X-Men.

Jake’s Year-by-Year Profile:

2010: (Junior) Selected as a member of the Canadian Senior Team to compete in the IFAF Senior World Championships hosted in Austria, where Thomas helped bring home a silver medal…Selected to play in the 2011 CIS East-West Bowl at Western …Named an AUS all-star (DL)…Led all AUS defensive linemen in total tackles with 43.0…ranked fifth in the conference in both sacks (4.0) and tackles for a loss (8.5).

2009: (Sophomore) In the off-season, Thomas was selected to the World Team roster of the best players aged 19 and under from IFAF member countries to compete against Team USA during the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl week in Florida…led the Axemen with 4.0 solo sacks – third overall in the AUS conference, and ranked second in the conference with 8.0 tackles for a loss.

2008: (Freshman) Dressed in all eight regular season games as a rookie…recorded 8.0 solo tackles, 4.0 assisted tackles and registered his first career sack in week four (09/27/08 vs. Saint Mary’s).

Before Acadia: Prior to Acadia, Thomas attracted attention across Atlantic Canada as a perennial all-star in New Brunswick…was named the Leo Hayes High School Football Rookie of the Year in Grade 10 and was named the football program’s MVP in both grade 11 and 12…He was honoured as the Leo Hayes male athlete of the year in his graduating year…was also named a NBHSFL all-star in grades 11 and 12.

Acadia Head Coach Jeff Cummins on Jake:

"Jake is a relentless pass rusher and has a great take off. With no real weakness, the only aspect I can think of that is out of his control is that he is so young. Completing his third year and only 19 years old, I can only imagine if he was as old as some of his teammates or opponents, what he could accomplish.”

“The football skill sets that he possesses; work ethic and attitude will only benefit him down the road. Not only what he has accomplished already, but what his future holds should make him one of the top CFL prospects this coming fall.”

Did You Know: Jake’s favourite NFL team is the Buffalo Bills...his favourite current NFL player is Peyton Manning…his favourite food is a Joe’s Food Emporium Nachos with Chilli…the person who has influenced his life the most is his grandfather Joey George (former St. Thomas fullback). His grandfather has always taught him lessons on how to be a great person and how to succeed as an athlete.

Getting to know Jake Thomas:

Q. What has been the biggest adjustment from high school to university level football?
A. The biggest adjustment from high school to university is the overall knowledge of football. In high school, it is “see the ball and make the play”. In university, it’s all about just doing your individual job. The best way to be a part of a successful defense in university is doing your job and being able to trust that the guy beside you is doing his.

Q. What has been your best moment in an Acadia uniform so far?
A. Our win last season against Mount Allison and also our success in the IFAF World Senior Championships this year.

Q. One thing I cannot live without is...?
A. It is my family. Whenever I am in a jam I know I can pick up the phone and call anyone in my family and they will be there to talk to me no matter what they are doing.

Q. My dream vacation destination is...?
A. Is going to the Super Bowl with my roommates and my brothers

Q. Tell us one thing that fans may not know about you?
A. That I have a 3.65 GPA

Q: Do you recall watching your brother (Josh) play for Acadia?
A: It’s the earliest childhood memory I can recall, from age 5-9 I remember traveling to every game. My favorite moment would be watching Acadia win the AUS championship against Eric Lapointe and the Mount Allison Mounties in Sackville.

Q: Did Josh have any influence on your choice of Acadia?
A: He stayed out of the decision for the most part he didn’t want his prior history influencing my decision at all. He wanted me to make the best decision for myself.

Q: Are you competitive with Josh in any way?
A: My brothers and I are very competitive in anything we do from playing cards to swimming. Josh and I will always razz each other about accolades…he will always say he already had two all-Canadian awards entering his fourth year and an AUS title. Hopefully after this year I can have something to defend myself.

Follow Jake on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/fatboiThomas

Jake’s Career Stats Summary:

DEFENSE   GP Solo Ast. Tackles  Sacks   TFL  Int BrUp  FF  FR  Saf
------------------------------------------------------------------
2008           8    8    4      10.0      1.0      2.0    0    0      0   0    0
2009           8   25    8     29.0      4.0      8.5    0    0      1   0    0
2010           8   29   28    43.0      4.0      8.5    0    1      1   1    0
Total         24   62   40    82.0      9.0    19.0    0    1       2   1    0