Linebacker Nick Thomas leading by example for impressive Bisons defence – University of Manitoba Athletics

Midway through the 2024 U SPORTS football season, No. 8 nationally ranked Manitoba is off to their best start in 17 years, starting 4-0 for the first time since winning the Vanier Cup in 2007.
 
The Herd have been firing in all facets, including on defence. They’re currently leading Canada West, allowing just 18.5 points per game. A fast, physical and experienced starting 12 has helped Manitoba tally five interceptions, and also five sacks, both second in the conference.
 
Four different student-athletes have also forced a fumble, contributing to 11 take aways over the first two weeks, and at least one interception in three different contests.
 
Anchoring the group is fifth-year middle linebacker Nick Thomas.
 
The longest-serving member of the roster (dating back to 2017), along with receiver AK Gassama, Thomas is a 2023 CFL Draft pick of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and he’s brought his experience from two pro camps back to the Herd in a major way.
 
In three games (missed one contest to attend his sister’s wedding), Thomas leads Manitoba and is seventh in Canada West with 5.7 tackles per game. He’s added an interception and two pass break-ups, flashing the form that earned him All-Canadian honours in 2021.
 
Thomas has always had incredible speed and strength on the gridiron. Defensive coordinator Stan Pierre‘s utilized the fifth-year’s skill-set to a greater extent in 2024, shifting him from his boundary position to the middle.
 
“I’m calling the plays from our coaches, and I’ve got the mic in my helmet, and I make sure everyone has a call. I’m right in the middle, so I kind of talk to everyone. There’s a lot more room. I can play the numbers to the numbers. I’m extending my range at MAC,” he said.
 
“In regards to the physical stuff, our linebacker coach we had [at Saskatchewan], he was really technical with our footwork and how we move. We have to be the most efficient movers on the team at linebacker. I brought some of that stuff to our guys this offseason, our cross-over, shuffle and attack footwork, stuff I learned from my coach with the Riders. I feel like it’s translating well on the field. I feel a bit different, I feel smoother.”

‘You don’t always get what you deserve, but Nick has’

Thomas has rightfully earned the trust of Manitoba’s coaching staff over the years, evolving from a raw rookie to “one of the best linebackers we’ve ever had in our program,” according to 29-year head coach Brian Dobie.

 

It’s an incredible progression for a student-athlete who was originally recruited at the club level out of British Columbia.

 

Thomas was a late bloomer to the sport, with his background originally rooted in rugby. And while he was clearly a raw prospect, his athleticism and 100-mile an hour mindset intrigued Dobie.

 

In 2017, Thomas made his debut at Manitoba. Like many rookies who enter the program, it took him a long time to learn Pierre’s defence. On top of that, he was dealing with “incredible struggle” in school. He had thoughts of quitting after season one, but Dobie helped convince him otherwise.

 

Fast forward to present day, and Thomas is a CFL Draft pick, All-Canadian and will graduate with his degree in 2025.

 

“I’ve had so many opportunities come my way by being here. I’m so blessed. Coach Dobie’s been a big part of my life. I came here as a little boy in 2017, and now I feel like a grown man,” he said.

 

“He’s seen me grow, coach [Stan] Pierre has seen me grow, all my teammates I’ve been with like AK [Gassama], who’s been here since day one with me. We’ve all grown up so much and had so many opportunities that have come with it.”

 

Academically, Thomas’ major is psychology and minor is philosophy. Both areas of focus are fitting for the eternally positive individual.

 

Despite moving around, along with his sister, to ten different foster homes as a kid, and dealing with enormous adversity on and off the field, Thomas has always lived his life with a smile.

 

“All I ever remember seeing of Nick in my entire time recruiting him, and my entire time working here, when I think of Nick Thomas, I think of him smiling,” beamed Dobie.

 

“It makes you check yourself about empathy, about sympathy, about understanding. You see someone like Nick, who grew up not in a foster home, but in a series of I believe ten successive foster homes. [Thomas and his sister] have handled their situations in the most unbelievable, positive way. People like that deserve chances. You don’t always get what you deserve, but Nick has.”

 

Thomas’ support system has been enormously important. That includes his family, along with his girlfriend and their family, and the Bisons program as a whole.

 

“I’m not going to let [my support system] down no matter what I do. That’s family. It would be a shame if I didn’t go my hardest,” he said.

 

“I don’t know where I’d be without everyone in the Bisons program, but I’m just thankful that I do have the opportunity to be here.”

 

Thomas channels his emotions, both positive and negative, on the gridiron. It’s a way he can express himself in a healthy manner. That passion, combined with enhanced football IQ on a yearly basis, has allowed Pierre to employ the veteran in a variety of ways.

 

The coach’s trust in Thomas is clear. He can do things many others can’t simply because of his athleticism.

 

A perfect example came in week one against Saskatchewan, when Thomas sprinted from 15 yards downfield to stick Huskies running back Ryker Frank with a ferocious tackle at the line of scrimmage on a check down.

 

Thomas was manned with the back on the play, but also used his range to deny multiple in-bound routes from receivers.  

 

“Coach Pierre has been telling me to play the deeper in-routes while I’m manned up with the back, so just playing the check downs from depth. That’s allowed me to show my athleticism. It doesn’t look like I’m manned up on the back there, but I am. I’m just playing through the dig windows to my check down,” he mentioned.

 

“That’s where my footwork comes into play. I’m shuffling, staying square and making sure I can make all my breaks as efficiently as I can.”

 

Thomas’ play has been a microcosm of Manitoba’s defence overall.

 

Eleven returning starters anchor a speedy unit that makes you feel their presence early and often. It’s not uncommon to see four student-athletes rallying to the ball on any given play.

 

Against the Huskies, that pack mentality helped the Bisons cause five take aways in a 37-24 win.

 

“That was one of our big emphasises, all of our positional groups on defence. We want to pursue. We were playing a lot of zone in that game [against Saskatchewan], so we had to rally around to check downs, and I feel like we did a good job swarming to the ball. When we were getting turnovers, people were near the ball every time, and we capitalized on it. It’s going to be a normal thing. We just want to keep getting better at it.”