Cameron Thomas Season 2021

Final Bio

HONORS
* 2021 The Athletic All-American (first team)
* 2021 Sports Info Solutions (SIS) All-American (edge) (first team)
* 2021 Walter Camp All-American (second team)
* 2021 FWAA All-American (second team)
* 2021 Associated Press All-American (second team)
* 2021 Sporting News All-American (second team)
* 2021 USA Today All-American (second team)
* 2021 Phil Steele Magazine All-American (second team)
* 2021 Pro Football Focus All-American (third team)
* 2021 College Football Focus All-American (third team)
* 2021 Pro Football Network All-American (honorable mention)
* 2019 The Athletic Freshman Second-Team All-American
* 2021 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year
* Three-time First-Team All-Mountain West (2019-21)
* 2022 NFF Hampshire Honor Society
* Two-time Mountain West Fall All-Academic Team (2020-21)
* 2019 SDSU Defensive Lineman of the Year
* 2019 SDSU Co-Outstanding Freshman Award
* Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week
- Nov. 15, 2021 for game vs. Nevada

Athletic linemen with a ton of potential ... An excellent pass rusher ... Also a good run stopper ... A versatile defender ... Entered 2019 as the starting defensive tackle, despite not having yet played a snap on defense ... Made the move from defensive tackle to defensive end four games into the 2020 season ...  Along with DE Keshawn Banks, had the most starts among 2022 active Aztecs (34) ... Ranked third in program history in sacks (21.0) and 10th in tackles for loss (39.0) ... Over his final 17 games (three in 2020 and 14 in 2021), he totaled 98 tackles (48 solo), 28.0 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and 26 quarterback hurries.

JUNIOR SEASON (2021)
Was named an All-America selection by 11 publications, including a first-team pick by The Athletic and Sports Info Solutions (SIS) (edge), a second-team selection by Walter Camp, FWAA, Associated Press, Sporting News, USA Today and Phil Steele Magazine, and a third-team pick by Pro Football Focus and College Football Focus, and an honorable-mention pick by Pro Football Network ... Also was named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, which goes out to the outstanding defensive player of the year, the first Aztec to become a semifinalist ... Was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-MW pick by the league’s coaches and media ... Became the third San Diego State player to be named the MW Defensive Player of the Year, joining Kirk Morrison (2003-04) and Damontae Kazee (2015-16) ... Also made the all-MW first team for a third consecutive season and joined Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (1997-99) as the only Aztec defensive linemen in their Division I era (since 1969) to be named to three all-conference first teams ... Also was chosen as a second-team midseason All-America selection by The Athletic ... Has been named to the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Year at edge defender (first team) ... Tallied numerous preseason accolades, including being named to the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List (most outstanding defensive player) and the Bednarik Award Watch List (college defensive player of the year) ... Also has been named a preseason first-team all-Mountain West selection by the MW media, Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports, Lindy’s Sports and Pro Football Focus ... Was chosen as “SDSU’s second-best defensive player” by College Football News and a “SDSU player to watch” by Lindy’s Sports ... Started all 14 games, making 71 tackles (30 solo), including team highs of 20.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and 21 quarterback hurries ... His 11.5 sacks this year were sixth in SDSU single-season history, while his 20.5 tackles for loss were seventh ... Tied for the Mountain West record with 20.5 tackles for loss this season ... Led the Mountain West in sacks (11.5), and was second in tackles for loss (20.5), third in sacks per game (0.82), fourth in tackles for loss per game (1.46), fifth in tackle for loss yards (77) and seventh in sack yards (63) ... Had 71 tackles last year, which were the fifth most in the country among defensive linemen ... According to Pro Football Focus, had the seventh-highest defensive grade (89.4, min. 700 snaps) in the country last year ... Also had the second-most quarterback pressures (sacks/hits/hurries) (77) in FBS (according to Pro Football Focus), most hits (21), and the sixth-most hurries (44) ... Also led the team in tackles on rushing plays (51) ... Started for the 11th straight game and 21st time overall in the opener against New Mexico State on Sept. 4, coming up with six tackles (three solo), including a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback hurries in 60 snaps ... The 3.5 tackles for loss were tied for the 13th most in a game in program history ... Was SDSU’s highest graded defensive player (min. 20 snaps) at 86.3 according to Pro Football Focus and was named the team’s defensive player of the week ... Had another good game in 39 snaps in a start at Arizona on Sept. 11, making four solo tackles, including a 6-yard sack (and TFL), and two quarterback hurries ... Registered six tackles (one solo) with 0.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries in a start against Utah on Sept. 18 across 78 snaps ... Had three asssisted stops in a start at Towson on Sept. 25, adding a 7-yard sack (and tackle for loss) and two quarterback hurries in 45 snaps ... Pro Football Focus graded him out as the top defensive player in the game for the Aztecs (min. 40 snaps) ... Had four tackles (one solo), including two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries, in 44 snaps against New Mexico on Oct. 9 ... Recorded six tackles (three solo), including a sack and two tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry at San José State on Oct. 15 in 72 snaps (out of 81) ... Came up with five tackles (two solo), including a 2-yard sack (and TFL), in 52 defensive snaps at Air Force on Oct. 23 ... Was named one of SDSU’s defensive players of the game ... Led the Aztecs with eight tackles (four solo), including an 8-yard sack, in 69 snaps in a start against Fresno State on Oct. 30 ... Came up with five tackles (two solo), a sack, tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry at Hawai’i on Nov. 6 ... Now has 6.5 sacks this season and 13 tackles for loss, both which lead the team ... Was named the team’s defensive player of the game ... Was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 15 for his play against Nevada on Nov. 13, when he came up with a season-high 10 tackles, the second most of his career, along with 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks ... The 3.5 tackles for loss matched a career high, while the three sacks were a career high, tied for the fifth most in a game in program history and the most by an Aztec since Jay Henderson had three against Northern Illinois on Sept. 30, 2017 ... Also forced his second career fumble (first this season) on a strip sack ... Was named the team’s defensive player of the game ... Came up with three tackles (one solo), including a 5-yard sack and 1.5 tackles for loss in 45 snaps at UNLV on Nov. 19 ...Recorded six tackles (three solo), including a 9-yard sack and two tackles for loss, and four quarterback hurries against Boise State on Nov. 26 ... Now has at least one sack in seven straight games ... Tied for the team lead in tackles ... Now has 11.5 sacks for the year (sixth at SDSU) and 21 for his career (third at SDSU) ... Played 57 snaps overall ... Had two tackles (both assisted) and a pair of quarterback hurries in 58 defensive snaps in a start against Utah State on Dec. 4 ... Had his streak snapped at seven straight games with at least one sack ... Now has 20.5 tackles for loss on the season, which has tied a Mountain West record and is seventh in SDSU single-season history ... His 39 tackles for loss for his career is ranked 10th in program history ... Registered three tackles in his collegiate finale against UTSA in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 21.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2020)
Was named an all-Mountain West first-team selection by the league’s media and coaches, becoming just the second Aztec defensive lineman in program history to earn first-team all-MW honors multiple times (also Alex Barrett in 2015-16) ... Racked up a host of preseason accolades, including on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (defensive player of the year) and the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List (college defensive player of the year) ... Also was a preseason first-team all-Mountain West selection by the MW media, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele Magazine and College Football News ... CFN had him as the “second-rated player in the MW” and “SDSU’s best defensive player” ... ESPN labeled him as “One of SDSU’s five-best returning players” ... Totaled 35 tackles (21 solo) in eight starts, including 9.5 tackles for 48 yards of loss, four sacks for 34 yards and 14 quarterback hurries ... Ranked second in FBS in 2020 in quarterback pressures (37) among DI (defensive interiors) in just eight games according to Pro Football Focus, only two short of Alabama’s Christian Barmore’s 39 accomplished in 12 games ... Ranked in a tie for fourth in the Mountain West in both tackle for loss yards (48) and tackles for loss (9.5), and seventh in sack yards (34) ... Over his final three games, he totaled: 27 tackles (18 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks ... Earned the start vs. UNLV in the opener on Oct. 24, recording an assisted tackle, which went down as a 1/2 sack (and 1/2 TFL) ... Also added a QBH ... Had three assisted tackles in a start at Utah State on Oct. 31, including a tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry ... Did not record a tackle in a start vs. San José State on Nov. 6, but had a game-high-tying three quarterback hurries ... Started for the first time of his career at defensive end against Hawai’i on Nov. 14, making three tackles (two solo), 0.5 sacks (and 0.5 TFL) and a quarterback hurry ... Had one solo tackle and a game-high three quarterback hurries at Nevada on Nov. 21 ... Had a monster game at Colorado on Nov. 28 en route to making the Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week, making a career-high 14 tackles (11 solo), a 12-yard sack, a career-best three tackles for loss (of 19 yards) and four quarterback hurries ... Entered the game with eight tackles in his first five contests ... The 14 tackles were eight more than his previous high of six (accomplished three times) ... Led the team in tackles for the first time of his career ... Had another good game vs. Colorado State on Dec. 5, making eight tackles (three solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks ... Led the team in tackles for the second straight game (both times were the first of his career) ... Had another good game in the season finale at No. 14/16 Brigham Young, making five tackles (four solo), two tackles for 11 yards of loss and a 9-yard sack.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2019)
Earned second-team freshman All-America accolades from The Athletic ... Was named an all-Mountain West first-team selection as voted on by the league’s coaches ... Was the only freshmen on the all-MW first team ... With teammate Myles Cheatum, two San Diego State defensive linemen landed on an all-conference first team for the first time since 1974 when it was in the five-team Pacific Coast Athletic Association ... Also made the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Year (first team) and the Phil Steele all-MW first team ... Racked up two awards at the team’s postseason banquet, including the defensive lineman of the year and the co-outstanding freshman award with wide receiver Jesse Matthews ... Started 12 of the team’s 13 games at defensive tackle and played in all 13 ... Had 49 tackles, including 9.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups and 13 quarterback hurries ... Was named to the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Week four times this season ... Started the opener at defensive tackle against Weber State, playing 39 snaps and recording a pass breakup ... Had his first four tackles (two solo) and 0.5 tackles for loss in a start at UCLA, logging 39 snaps ... Had a big game in 49 snaps in a start at New Mexico State, making a career-high six tackles, and a career-best 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss ... The 1.5 sacks were the first of his career ... Made five tackles (two solo), including a 3-yard tackle for loss, with a quarterback hurry in a start and 56 snaps vs. Utah State ... Registered four tackles, including 0.5 sacks and 0.5 tackles for loss, in a start and 37 snaps at Colorado State, where he was named to the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Week ... Came up with six tackles (three solo) and two quarterback hurries in 51 of 54 snaps against Wyoming, being named to the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Week ... The six tackles tied a career high ... Registered four tackles (two solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries at San José State in 37 snaps, making the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Week for a third straight week ... Came up with two assisted tackles in 57 snaps at UNLV ... Registered six tackles (four solo), including a 7-yard sack (and tackle for loss), a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry in 47 snaps as a starter vs. Nevada, being named to the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Week ... The six tackles tied a career high ... Had three tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss in 40 snaps as a starter against Fresno State ... Came off the bench for the first time of the season at Hawai’i after battling concussion-like symptoms in practice earlier in the week ... Finished with three tackles (two solo) and a quarterback hurries in 48 snaps ... Had a pair of tackles (one solo) with 0.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries in a start and 62 snaps against Brigham Young ... Started once again vs. Central Michigan in the New Mexico Bowl, making four tackles with a 6-yard sack (and TFL) and two quarterback hurries.

REDSHIRT SEASON (2018)
Was on the travel squad for three games ... Played on special teams against Ohio in the DXL Frisco Bowl, still saving his redshirt season by playing in only one game.

HIGH SCHOOL
Played three years at local Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, Calif. ... According to MaxPreps, recorded 88 tackles the final two years to go along with five tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, a pass deflection and a fumble recovery ... On offense as a tight end had 22 receptions for 294 yards (13.4 avg.) and four touchdowns ... A three-star recruit by 247sports and a two-star recruit by Rivals.

PERSONAL
Cameron Thomas was born Jan. 7, 2000, in San Diego ... Son of Mike and Wendy Thomas ... Older brother, Zachary, is the starting right tackle ... Also received offers from Oregon State, Wyoming and Navy ... Is majoring in social science.

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 14 at Colorado (11/28/20)
Tackles For Loss: 3.5 vs. Nevada (11/13/21), vs. New Mexico State (9/4/21)
Sacks: 3.5 vs. Nevada (11/13/21)
Pass Breakups: 1 at Utah State (10/31/20), vs. Nevada (11/9/19), vs. Weber State (8/31/19)
Forced Fumbles: 1 vs. Nevada (11/14/21), vs. Fresno State (11/15/19)