Zachary Thomas Season 2021

Final Bio

HONORS
* 2021 First-Team All-Mountain West
* 2020 Second-Team All-Mountain West

A local lineman out of Carlsbad High School who was in the mix for playing time in 2018 after working as a reserve in 2017 ... Has solid technique ... Entered 2018 as the projected starting right tackle, but can also play guard ... Tore his ACL in the third game of the 2018 season (his second straight start) and missed all of the 2019 spring season ... Started 2019 as the backup left tackle, but became the starting right tackle five games into the season ... Has committed only three penalties over his final two seasons (1,444 snaps) ... Started 41 times on the offensive line for his career, including 17 at right tackle, 12 at left tackle and two at right guard.

*SENIOR SEASON* (2021)
Was named a first-team all-Mountain West selection by the league’s coaches and media ... Was named to the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Year (first team) ... Was named a team captain as voted on by his teammates ... Was named to the Outland Trophy Award Watch List (most outstanding interior lineman) and the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List ... Also was 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 ... Also was named “SDSU’s best offensive player” by College Football News ... Started the team’s first six games this season at left tackle (first six starts at LT) before missing the Air Force game with an injury and returning to play off the bench against Fresno State on Oct. 30 ... Started again the final six games ... According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just three sacks in 382 opportunities at left tackle on the season and just eight hurries ... Is graded as the 16th-ranked offensive lineman in FBS by Pro Football Focus (87.2, min. 600 snaps) (No. 3 in Mountain West) and No. 18 run blocker (87.2, min. 600 snaps) ... Earned his first career start at left tackle (20th overall) in the opener with New Mexico State on Sept. 4 and played all 65 offensive snaps, earning SDSU’s top offensive grade (94.5) from Pro Football Focus ... Played 72 of the 73 snaps at Arizona on Sept. 11, not allowing a pressure for the game ... Played all 67 snaps vs. Utah on Sept. 18, allowing just one pressure (a quarterback hurry) in 23 passing opportunities ... For his efforts was named to the Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week, while the entire Aztec offensive line was named the team’s offensive players of the week ... Started and played 66 of the team’s 76 snaps at left tackle against Towson on Sept. 25 ... Started and played 69 of the team’s 71 snaps against New Mexico on Oct. 9, allowing one hurry ... Started and played all 69 snaps at left tackle at San José State on Oct. 15, allowing just one hurry in 35 passing snaps ... Did not travel for the Air Force game on Oct. 23 because of an injury ... Played the final 63 snaps off the bench against Fresno State on Oct. 30 ... Started and played all 62 snaps at Hawai’i on Nov. 6 ... Recorded a penalty in the third quarter, his first since the 2019 New Mexico Bowl ... Started an played all 73 snaps against Nevada on Nov. 13 ... Gave up his first sack of the season at UNLV on Nov. 19, playing all 57 snaps ... Played all 75 snaps against Boise State on Nov. 26 ... Played 61 of the 71 snaps in a start against Utah State on Dec. 4 in the Mountain West Championship ... Logged all 80 snaps in a start against UTSA on Dec. 21 in the Frisco Bowl.

SENIOR SEASON (2020)
Garnered second-team all-Mountain West honors by the league’s media and coaches ... Earlier was a preseason all-Mountain West third team selection by Athlon Sports ... Started the team’s eight games at right tackle ... Part of a team that was named to the Joe Moore Midseason Honor Roll for the best offensive line (one of only two Mountain West teams (also Air Force)) ... Played 556 of the team’s 560 offensive snaps (99.3 pct.) at right tackle ... Allowed just two sacks in 220 passing plays (0.91 pct.) and four pressures (1.82 pct.) ... Did not have a penalty in 560 offensive snaps ... Started the opener against UNLV at right tackle for his 10th straight start ... Was one of two Aztecs to be named the team’s offensive player of the week ... Was named to the Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week for his play in a start at Utah State ... Also started vs. San José State, vs. Hawai’i, at Nevada, at Colorado, vs. Colorado State and at No. 14/16 Brigham Young.

JUNIOR SEASON (2019)
Was chosen as an honorable-mention selection for the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Year ... Played in 12 of the team’s 13 games, starting the final nine at right tackle ... Did not play in the opener vs. Weber State ... Played on special teams (PAT/FG) the next three games at UCLA, New Mexico State and vs. Utah State ... Earned his first start of the season, first at offensive tackle and third of his career at Colorado State ... Started again at right tackle vs. Wyoming and at San José State ... Started at UNLV, where he was named to the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Week ... Also started vs. Nevada and against Fresno State ... Was named to the Pro Football Focus Second-Team National Team of the Week and the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week for his play at Hawai’i ... Also started against Brigham Young and vs. Central Michigan in the New Mexico Bowl.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2018)
Played in the first three games of the season, starting twice at right guard ... Played in the opener at No. 13/13 Stanford in big package situations and on special teams ... Earned this first career start at right guard in the home opener vs. Sacramento State ... Also started at right guard vs. No. 23/25 Arizona State before exiting early with a knee injury ... Missed the rest of the season with the injury.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2017)
Played in all 13 games as a reserve ... Also came into block on PATs and field goals ... Logged 31 snaps on offense on the season, according to Pro Football Focus ... Played six snaps at Hawai’i, 23 at San José State and two against New Mexico.

REDSHIRT SEASON (2016)
Redshirted his first year behind an offensive line that started four seniors and a junior.  

HIGH SCHOOL
Two-year letter winner at Carlsbad (Calif.) High School ... Alongside fellow 2016 recruit Troy Cassidy, helped lead Carlsbad to an Avocado West League championship and perfect 4-0 mark in league play in 2015 ... All-CIF San Diego Section first team offense and Avocado West League first team honoree his senior season after recording 47 tackles (4.7 per game), 34 solo, and a team-high 11 tackles for loss, according to MaxPreps ... Made three sacks ... Five or more solo tackles in three contests ... Notched two tackles for loss in four of 10 games ... A two-star recruit by Rivals and Scout ... Played in the Alex Spanos All-Star Football Classic.  

PERSONAL
Zachary Robert Thomas was born May 26, 1998, in San Diego ... Son of Mike and Wendy Thomas ... Brother, Cameron, is a defensive lineman on the team ... Also received offers from Colorado State, Nevada, New Mexico and UNLV ... Is majoring in interdisciplinary studies.