Colleges have numerous prospects that have gone off to flourish in the National Football League whether it be Alabama, Florida or Ohio State. Ferris State is not one of these schools.
Ferris alum, cornerback Tavierre Thomas, is looking to break the mold and find success in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Detroit, Michigan native began playing football in elementary school when watching a pair of his friends, both of whom suited up for a local football team.
“I first started playing football in the third grade,” Thomas said. “Because my two best friends in my class (Eric & Pakiya) were playing and I always used to go to their games, when they were playing for the West Side Cubs.”
This led to his fondest memory of him getting the ball in his hands for the first time on offense. It didn’t end gloriously, however.
“My first memorable moment I can think of was when I first touched the ball on offense,” Thomas said. “I ran 40 yards and fumbled at the one yard line, but nobody touched me and my coaches came to conclusion that I was gonna play only defense.”
That would carry over into high school where he played quarterback, running back and cornerback for Detroit Allen Academy. Thomas was also a multi-sport athlete participating in football as well as track and basketball.
But his heart was always in football and his greatest sports memories at that time belong on the gridiron.
“My most memorable moment while playing high school football was during my first game of my senior year when none of the starters could play till the fourth quarter because of disciplinary reasons,” Thomas said. “We were down 23-6 with three minutes left when we entered the game and we ended up coming back and winning in double overtime. I caught the game winning interception to end the game.”
With high school over and done with, Thomas set his sights on playing college football and Iowa came knocking, but requirements needed to go to the school were not met. Fate would then pull him to what is now his alma mater.
“Coming out of high school I was getting highly recruited by the University of Iowa, but I could not get an 18 on my ACT. I got a 17 three times in a row, so they pulled back there offer,” Thomas said. “I had a 3.8 (grade point average) coming out of high school and our school(Allen Academy) was being chartered by Ferris State, so they gave me a academic scholarship and I walked on to the team and never looked back.”
Thomas hit the ground running at Ferris State. As a freshman in 2014, he recorded eight tackles and an interception. His numbers would jump exponentially in his sophomore year, he recorded 48 tackles and picked off three passes to help the Bulldogs to win their second consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) title.
Thomas didn’t slow down his junior year as he started in all 15 games of the regular season leading the team in interceptions with a career high of six along with 15 passes defended earning him accolades such as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Back of the Year as well as being named a Division II All-American.
He would not stop in his senior year, garnering Division II All-American honors, once again leading the team in tackles (60), interceptions (four), and what would be a career best 18 passes defended.
For Thomas, despite the numerous accomplishments and great statistics, had low expectations when it came to the draft process and got to work on being in peak physical condition to outdo himself.
“Leading up to the draft I didn’t feel that I would do great at my Pro Day with my 40-yard dash and other drills,” Thomas said. “I trained day in and day out at Total Performance in Wixom, Michigan. They worked me hard and got me running faster then I ever ran. So on my pro day I really shocked myself.”
Even with the addition of solid pre-draft workouts, Thomas didn’t hear his phone ring or his name called during any of the seven rounds but kept his head up knowing that an opportunity would come knocking sooner rather than later.
“After not hearing my name called during the draft I really wasn’t that discouraged because I knew my agency would get me an opportunity with a team and they did just that,” Thomas said. “I was blessed to get the call right after the draft from the Arizona Cardinals organization.”
As a defensive back signed with an organization like the Arizona Cardinals you get a rare gift to learn from one of the best and most versatile cornerbacks in the NFL in seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first team All-Pro Patrick Peterson. Thomas was always a big fan of Peterson even through his early days in football.
“When I first walked in, I was star struck when I ran across (Patrick Peterson),” Thomas said. “I always looked up to Pat when it came to cornerback. I had his wristbands and some attire off his website in high school and college, so yea I was amazed to just sit in the room with him.”
Thomas was not only “starstruck” by Peterson but by journeyman Antoine Bethea who’s held the Lombardi trophy as a Super Bowl champion with the Indianapolis Colts and has been selected to three Pro Bowls.
“When it comes to (Antoine Bethea), I’ve always wanted to have a long career when it came to football,” Thomas said of the 34-year old Bethea. “To talk to a guy like AB on what he does to manage his body and things of that sort to stay in the NFL year after year after year you can learn a lot from that guy.
From both idols now teammates, he has learned one simple message that he plans to carry with him his entire career.
“What I’ve most learned from those guys was that at the end of the day the real definition of the NFL means “Not For Long,” Thomas stated. “So take advantage of ever opportunity that comes your way and enjoy playing while your here.”
Thomas has monumental odds against him to make the Cardinals roster as he is fighting for playing time with players like former Carolina Panther Bene’ Benwikere, 2016 third-round selection Brandon Williams, Deatrick Nichols, and Tim Scott.
The rookie also has to deal with the curse that comes with being a player from his alma mater that never seem to catch on in the NFL. Thomas plans to break this norm with his fight he has had his entire life.
“I do feel that I will break the streak this year for Ferris players not making it in the NFL because I’m a skill defensive player,” Thomas stated about himself. “What I mean by this is that I’ve been tackling my whole life, so it’s like riding a bike when it comes to playing special teams. Most of the guys were either lineman, quarterbacks, or offensive guys coming out of Ferris, so that’s why I feel it was a little harder for them.”
Thomas has gone out and tried to make an impact in the first two preseason games where the Cardinals came out on top, stating that while he did things right in his mind, there’s still so much that he can do to be better in the long run.
“In the first two preseason games I feel like I did a decent job with knowing we’re I’m suppose to be when I am in the game. Also I feel like I did a good job of making plays when the ball is thrown my way or making a tackle on special teams when a ball is ran my way,” Thomas critiqued. “What I feel I can improve on is my technique when it comes to checking a receiver at times. Such as leverage (Inside/Outside) and disguising more just like the older guys do when there in the game. Just being a little more confident.”
Thomas has goals and he has a vision to strike fears in the hearts of his opponents with his physicality and enforcing nature that according to the cornerback, is a rarity in today’s NFL.
“If I were too make the roster I feel like my physicality will stick out to a lot of my opponents,” Thomas said. “And that’s a good thing because that’s the first tendency of the Arizona Cardinals DNA and there aren’t a lot of physical cornerbacks in the game.”
