WEST PALM BEACH – Put some respect on his name.
Da’Quan Thomas is currently one of the best linemen in Palm Beach County. The 2019 standout may have only one scholarship offer right now from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but he feels that more will come his way.
“It’s about time,” Thomas said of his recent offer. “It’s something to start off with, but I feel like the man above got a bigger plan for me coming real soon. I know I deserve it. I work hard. I never ask for handouts.”
The 6-3, 300-pound lineman spoke candidly on why he feels as if he’s been overlooked by college football coaches and schools on the recruiting circuit.
“I feel like I’m the best offensive lineman in Palm Beach County, so I feel like when scouts come down to see offensive lineman, I should be the first choice,” said Thomas, who currently has a 3.3 GPA.
“I have excellent film,” he continued. “I’m not a kid who gets in trouble and I have a good GPA. I work hard. I’m a leader. I can play all three positions on the offensive line, and what ever a coach needs me to do on Friday night, I will get it done. I’m the definition of versatile.”
At this time Thomas has gained interest from the likes of Pittsburgh, Kansas, UAB, FAU, and Western Michigan. But at the same time, he’s realistic about how the college recruiting game will likely be for him.
“I feel that I’m not a small school kid,” Thomas said. “I’m not trying to sound cocky, but I feel that I can play at the big time schools. At the same time to be realistic I feel I am a MAC (Mid-American Conference) school player. I feel that I can play anywhere, but to the fact I’m 6-2, 6-3, I know that I’ll pay a toll for it.”
Thomas spoke on his ideal college football situation.
“I feel that I will be somewhere pretty soon and I will blow up pretty soon, but that’s not what I really want,” he said. “I just want one school to call home and make the best out of it. Whoever gets me will be getting a steal.”
With all that said, Thomas made a big decision for himself on the high school football level. He transferred from
Oxbridge Academy to Dwyer on June 13.
It’s quietly one of the biggest transfer moves in Palm Beach County, and it will have wide-ranging ramifications for a multitude of teams in the area.
“I just felt like the move needed to be made,” Thomas said. “I felt like I need to move to somewhere as great as Dwyer. Their guys are hungry, intercity kids that work their butts off. They are a talented group of guys. And with coach [Jack] Daniels leading the way, with what he has done in the past, I feel that we will be a monster of a team.”
Dwyer, which won a suddenly competitive District 13-7A battle land reached the Class 7A regional semifinals last season, will be favored to compete for the 7A state title this fall.
Can the Panthers win it all?
“We got it all. We can do it all,” Thomas said. “I feel that we are the best team in Palm Beach County. Coming from a winning program to another winning program, I can teach the younger guys what it feels like to be at states. I can do that because it’s something they have never done.”
