Buffaloes lead for Arizona lineman
While in Boulder attending the Buffaloes' spring game on April 9, Benjamin Thomas got a chance to sit down and meet with Mike MacIntyre. That talk with Colorado's head coach resulted in some good news for the three-star prospect.
“Coach MacIntyre offered me. That was definitely a huge offer because I have always wanted to play in the Pac-12," said Thomas, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Pinnacle. "Colorado is rising back to the powerhouse they used to be. It was just really special to get that offer.
"Boulder in general was just awesome. The backdrop with the mountains was beautiful. The family atmosphere between the players and coaches there stood out to me, as well. It was just different from what you see from other colleges. It was really cool.”
The interest from Colorado has been steady since his trip to Boulder. Thomas said he has been in contact with a number of different coaches, including tight ends coach Gary Bernardi, offensive line coach Klayton Adams, co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini and intern Chidera Uzo-Diribe.
“Colorado is definitely recruiting me the hardest right now. I get a lot of handwritten letters from their coaches. They are doing a good job of keeping me interested,” he said.
Air Force, Army, Columbia, Dartmouth, Navy and New Mexico have also offered Thomas, and he is drawing increased interest from some other power conference programs.
“I was talking to Arizona State on the phone and they said they really just want to see me practice and then they'll offer me,” he said. “Washington State is coming to see me this Thursday and we have talked about an offer. We'll see where things go with that. Oklahoma State, same thing, they are going to watch me during spring ball.”
Thomas has played both offensive guard and offensive tackle for Pinnacle. He expects to play either guard or center at the next level.
“These colleges all say they like my motor and how I get off the ball,” he said. “They like how I don't give up on plays and how I just play throughout the whole game. I do a good job of planting defenders into the ground.”
Thomas currently wants to make his college decision either right before his senior season begins or early on during his final prep season.
“So sometime around August or September, I'll pick,” he said. “My favorite is Colorado. Things are just going really well between me and them. Things may change because I think I will get a few more Pac-12 offers but right now my favorite is Colorado.”
