Tennessee

It appears as if Tennessee is giving Thomas a similar pitch to the one that helped the Vols land Lausanne running back Eric Gray.

"They’re the in-state school. You get a good feeling there. It’s comfortable. It’s a program that’s been down a little bit but will be on the rise with the new coaching staff," Thomas said. "That’s what they’re selling – come here and build this program back to where it used to be. And I like the idea of coming to build a program."

He also said that coach Jeremy Pruitt is "the kind of coach you want."

"Coach Pruitt is a laid-back guy, but he’s going to get on you. It’s not going to be easy there. He’s not a pushover," Thomas said.

"But he’s a players coach, and that's the kind of coach you want – someone who will get on you but talk to you as well."

Texas A&M

Thomas said that he prefers playing defense over offense because of the opportunity to make plays and have his name called. Texas A&M told him he'll have the opportunity to make those plays as a part of the Aggies' defense.

"They’ll have me playing as a three technique at 'D' tackle. And they told me its not a defense where you’re just locked in against the offensive lineman for the linebackers to make plays; you’re going to make plays, so that's what I like there," Thomas said. "And my relationships with the coaching staff are very good, and I just didn’t have any bad vibes there, either."

Reach Khari Thompson at Kathompson@gannett.com and on Twitter @_Kharithompson