Blue-chip linebacker sees opportunity at Purdue
More: Purdue 2020 offers
Purdue's shown in recent seasons it can compete for some of the best players in the country and that's exactly what it'll have to do in its pursuit of Ohio linebacker Jaheim Thomas, the Rivals.com four-star prospect who unofficially visited West Lafayette at the end of January.
Thomas, who was part of a star-studded group of football visitors for basketball's win over Michigan State that weekend, was making his first visit to Purdue.
"The facilities, the coaches were really cool, and the basketball game was great," Thomas said. "I really liked it."
Meanwhile, the Boilermaker coaching staff's message to the 6-foot-5, 220-pound outside linebacker was straight-forward.
"Basically, it could be my defense," Thomas said, "that I could play early."
That pitch may resonate with Thomas. And Purdue will need it to in order to maintain a place in Rivals.com's No. 152 player nationally's recruiting picture.
"I want to go to a school where I'm going to play early," Thomas said. "I'd rather not really have to wait. That puts them in the mix."
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Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Kentucky are others Thomas says he hears most from. The Buckeyes have yet to offer, but could be nearing such a move. Thomas visited Columbus the same weekend as Purdue.
"I want to go somewhere that fits me and my family, somewhere where if I get hurt, I don't just get pushed off to the side," Thomas said. "And somewhere that has a good (business) major."
Purdue talked with Thomas about potentially returning for another visit, perhaps a summer official visit, it being likely he'll take such visits as he plans to make an early college decision.
"I want to commit probably around the start of the football season," Thomas said.
Jeff Brohm and his staff are coming off a 2019 recruiting cycle in which they enjoyed significant recruiting success in Ohio, highlighted by the signings of Rivals.com four-star prospects Mershawn Rice and Steven Faucheux.
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