NO DOUBTING THOMASES
What are the odds two brothers are good enough to play Division I football, become stars at the same time in the same program and practice against each other on opposite sides of the ball?
Let’s take a guess: Nil-ish? Yet that’s the sweat-soaked reality for offensive lineman Zach Thomas and defensive lineman Cam Thomas, DNAlinked anchors for No. 19 San Diego State. The Aztecs, with nearly 10 percent of their starters from one family, chase their 11th win of the season Friday against Boise State.
“It’s awesome having them on the same team,” said their father, Mike Thomas.
It’s one thing for brothers to start. It’s another stretch of the already sizable odds that each is among the best in the country at what they do — but the numbers prove it.
Zach, the senior left tackle, played the first 10 games of the season without allowing a sack or quarterback hit, according to Pro Football Focus. The same publication grades the 6-5, 300-pounder as the eighthbest offensive lineman in major-college football among those with a minimum 300 snaps.
College Football News labels him as San Diego State’s best offensive player, regardless of position.
Cam, a junior at 6-5, 270, is the first player in Aztecs history to be named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award given to the outstanding defensive player of the year.
He leads the Mountain West in tackles for loss (18.0, third in the country) and is tied for the top spot in sacks (91⁄2). Pro Football Focus grades him the second-best defensive player with a minimum 600 snaps … in
Carlsbad brothers feed off each other in practice with Aztecs
the country.
“Me going against him and him going against me, I think we help each other,” Zach said of the Carlsbad High School pair. “It’s an iron-sharpensiron type of deal.”
Who wins the majority of those matchups?
“I think I win most of them,” said Zach, with a laugh. “I like that answer. But I think word for word, he’d come up with the exact same answer.”
One thing is for certain: The parents enjoy those moments the least.
“Watching them go at each other, it’s rough,” Mike Thomas said.
Wendy, the duo’s mother, agreed.
“You want both of them to win, so I don’t like watching them go against each other,” she said.
When Zach began drawing recruiting interest, the family was surprised. That inspired his brother to keep pace.
“When Cam found out, he wanted to put in 125 percent effort to do the same thing,” Mike Thomas said.
Initially, Cam considered fleeing the nest to make his
own way. When he started investigating programs like Nebraska, the parents began some salesmanship.
One line landed.
“We said, if you go to different schools you won’t have both of us at your games at the same time,” Wendy Thomas said.
So now, they win together. They lose together. And they practice together, whether it’s time to practice or not. The brothers routinely engage in one-on-one drills against each other after teammates hit the
showers.
“Their effort to be better makes me want to be better and makes other teammates want to be better,” tight end Daniel Bellinger said. “So, that’s kind of just like a drive thing. Their drive makes us want to be better.”
It’s calculated.
Zach shares tips with his rushing, run-defending sibling about strategies and tactics employed by offensive lineman. Cam flips the script, explaining techniques through the opposite lens.
Call it mental practice, stacked on top of the physical kind.
“I played with my brother (at Ball State),” Aztecs coach Brady Hoke said. “… It was fun. Now, we both played on defense. This is even more fun because Zach, being a left tackle, and Cam … I have a great time getting after whichever one of them that their little brother beat ’em or their big brother’s whoopin’ their butt.
“They’ve both worked their tails off to be as good as they can be. … I’m really proud of both of them.”
As one dream rushes closer to a close, the family considers a way all of this could continue. Cam, with a season of college eligibility remaining, has not ruled out leaving early and entering the NFL Draft.
What if they landed on the same team at the same time?
“I couldn’t imagine,” Mike Thomas said. “They’re on different sides of the ball, so I guess it’s possible. It would be some fairy tale.”
Then dad offered one caveat. “As long as it’s not the Lions,” he said.
Even family dreams have limits.