Thomas Ready to Lead Offense in Boston College

NC State redshirt sophomore wide receiver Thayer Thomas has emerged as the Wolfpack’s top offensive weapon. With a road contest versus Boston College next on the slate, Thomas stands tall as one of the team’s leaders and aids in keeping State’s morale high.

“We feel great, but now’s just another test we’ve got to go on the road and pick up,” Thomas said. “We haven’t gotten a win on the road this year so far, so it’s just another challenge for us. We’re really looking forward to going into the bye week 5-2. [If] we go into the bye week 5-2, I feel like we’re going to feel really good about ourselves.”

With the Pack shuffling its quarterbacks around, the thought of the receivers’ chemistry fluctuating is one that could worry State fans. However, Thomas has the utmost faith in redshirt sophomore quarterback Bailey Hockman, as well as the other options the Wolfpack could use throughout the rest of the season. With 19 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown on the year so far, that’s indicative of how much the quarterbacks have faith in him, in return.

“In practice, I try to show [Hockman] I’m a reliable receiver for him to get the ball to,” Thomas said. “I try to make great catches and good plays and try to be as consistent as possible so we can make a connection there.”

Thomas has also showcased his prowess in other ways. In addition to being the Wolfpack’s punt returner where he’s picked up 131 yards on nine returns with one touchdown, Thomas has also thrown for 50 yards and two touchdown passes on three total attempts.

“It’s always a good feeling whenever I’m used in those different ways this year,” Thomas said, “but you just have to go back and continue to make those plays when they come and try to be a consistent play-maker.”

One of the two common points of criticism of the Wolfpack’s offense is the inability to retain the same level of scoring momentum in the second half than in the first half. Thomas believes that the fault may not necessarily fall on a lack of energy, but he knows that that energy needs to be elevated for State to maintain success.

“We always try to have the same energy no matter what,” Thomas said. “Sometimes, that’s how it is. I don’t think it’s us having no energy. I think it’s just sometimes that’s the way it is. We’ve just got to find a way to get more energy coming out of the half to make more plays.”

The other point that often worries NC State fans as the game winds down is how the Wolfpack tends to end up in the red zone only to come away with field goals. As good as sophomore placekicker Christopher Dunn has been, obviously the offense wants to pick up seven points rather than three on its drive. With the Wolfpack only scoring 14 of its 24 successful red-zone scoring opportunities via touchdown, Thomas knows that that isn’t good enough to sustain a successful offense.

“One of our goals this week is to score in the red zone instead of getting field goals,” Thomas said. “The more we can score, the better we put ourselves in front of the other team. If we’d had scored [touchdonws] on those field goals against Syracuse, it would have been a completely different game. We’ve just got to come away with those plays in the end zone. I think it’s just sometimes the defense making good plays, but we’ve just got to make some of those plays when they come our way, too.”

The Wolfpack is primed to enter Chestnut Hill, Mass. and pick up the win. As one of the biggest leaders of the team, Thomas knows the eyes of the younger players will be on him. However, Thomas feels like this corps will not only be paramount to getting the win for State, but also that these players don’t necessarily need to be classified as “inexperienced.” 

“We were a young team in August,” Thomas said, “but now we’ve got freshmen that have played in six games so far. I don’t consider them young anymore. They’re playing, and they’re playing pretty good. We’ve got to keep adding to that momentum, and the young guys have to continue to step up and make plays for us."

Thomas and the Wolfpack are ready for the second half of the season. With a tough road contest on tap, State can bury its bad luck on the road with a win at Alumni Stadium. Needless to say, the Pack’s receiver corps is in good hands with Thomas in the fold.