Jaylin Thomas

Photo by: Jeff Sochko/Tim Cowie Photography

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

Photo by: Michael Hickey

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

Photo by: Ricky Bassman

Position:
Inside Linebacker
Ht./Wt.:
6-1 / 235
Class:
Redshirt Fifth Year
Hometown:
Lima, Ohio
Prev School:
Lima Senior HS
High School:
Lima Senior
Major:
General Studies

Awards and Honors:
2019, 2020 All-Mid-American Conference Third Team
MAC West Defensive Player of the Week (Dec. 14, 2020)
2016 Bill Meitzler Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense)

Career: Thomas’ 289 career tackles entering the 2021 season are the most of any active MAC player.

2020 (R-Sr.): Named to the All-MAC Third Team … started all eight games at inside linebacker … ranked second on the team, sixth in the MAC and 28th nationally with 9.8 tackles per game … finished the season with 5.0 tackles for loss … reached double-digit tackles in five games … registered a career-high 16 tackles in the MAC West championship-clinching win over Western Michigan, earning MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance … recorded 13 stops, matched his career-best with 2.0 TFLs and had a sack in the win over Northern Illinois … notched pass breakups in the MAC Championship Game victory over No. 23 Buffalo and the Arizona Bowl win over No. 19 San Jose State … member of the football program’s leadership council … No. 9 on the team’s annual “Tough Cardinals” list.

2019 (R-Jr.): Started all 12 games at inside linebacker … finished second on the team with 97 tackles … reached double-figure tackles in three of the final six games, including a personal-high 14 stops against Central Michigan on Nov. 16 … recovered a second quarter fumble in the CMU game that led to a Ball State touchdown … reached 200 career tackles in the road game at Kent State on Nov. 23 … teamed up with defensive lineman Chris Crumb for a safety against Fordham on Sept. 7 … chipped in with nine stops and 1.5 tackles for loss in the finale against Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 29.

2018 (R-So.): Saw action in all 12 games with eight starts at inside linebacker … finished third on the team in tackles (76) … had two sacks and his first career interception versus Kent State on Sept. 29 … his first quarter interception versus KSU set up a Ball State touchdown … set a season high with nine tackles at No. 8 Notre Dame on Sept. 8 and topped it with 10 stops in the win at Central Michigan on Oct. 13 … totaled at least six tackles in nine of 12 games.

2017 (R-Fr.): Made an appearance in 10 games as a reserve linebacker and on special teams … missed two games early in the season with an injury … earned his first collegiate start at Northern Illinois on Nov. 9 … recorded at least three tackles in nine contests … registered a season-high six stops, along with his first collegiate sack, at WKU on Sept. 23 … notched a tackle for loss in three other games.

2016 (Fr.): Took a redshirt season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Earned four letters for coach Mike Fell at Lima Senior High … team captain for both the football and basketball teams … 2015 first team all-state and district defensive player of the year … helped the Spartans finish 10-3 overall as a senior.

PERSONAL: Son of Carlton Thomas (father), Adrienne Thomas (mother) and Te’Queta Thomas (stepmother) … three sisters and three brothers … born Sept. 7, 1997 … full name is Jaylin Adron Thomas.