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Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times Online - High School

Pitt is frontrunner for Beaver Falls' Thomas

By Bill Utterback, Times Sports Staff

Published: Saturday, August 9, 2008 11:43 PM EDT
BEAVER FALLS - As he packs his toothbrush and T-shirts for a week at football camp, Todd Thomas has stuffed an intriguing list of possibilities into his overnight bag.

Thomas, the all-state senior from Beaver Falls, is considering scholarship offers from a roster of schools that includes, tentatively in the top five slots, Pitt, Penn State, Boston College, Michigan and Ohio State.

“Pitt’s been coming on strong lately. I’d say Pitt’s at the top of the list right now.”

Ohio State, with a roster than includes Rory Nicol of Beaver and Evan Blankenship of Center, was a late entry into the competition, but the Buckeyes have his attention. If he chooses Ohio State, he could be collecting passes from friend and rival Terrelle Pryor.

Thomas — listed at 6-foot-4, 199 pounds — is being pursued by most schools, including the top five on his list, as a wide receiver. While his ability to sprint through pass routes has made him one of Pennsylvania’s most attractive recruits, he feels no need to sprint to a decision.

“I know some players have made their decision and got it out of the way, but I’m not in a hurry,” he said. “I’ll know when the time is right.”

Thomas has a more immediate agenda as scholastic football practice begins Monday and the Tigers head for camp at Slippery Rock University. He helped Beaver Falls to the WPIAL Class AA championship game at Heinz Field a year ago, where the Tigers lost to Pryor and his Jeannette teammates.

“As a senior, I think I’m more determined,” he said. “Last year, we saw a senior — Terelle Pryor — who was determined to do anything to lead his team to a title. He would not be denied. I have that same attitude this year. I don’t want to be remembered as Todd Thomas, a good player, a good athlete. I want to be remembered as someone who led Beaver Falls to a state championship.”