Keaton Thomas

• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List • Butkus Award Watch List • Preseason Fourth-Team All-America (Athlon, Phil Steele) • Preseason All-Big 12 (Big 12 Media) • Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Phil Steele) • Preseason First-Team All-Texas (DCTF) 2024 (Redshirt Sophomore): Had one of the best defensive seasons in Baylor history and was among the top defenders in college football … Started all 13 games at inside linebacker and was a clear vocal and physical leader … Played the majority of the season with a cast on … Finished with 114 tackles, seven for a loss, with 2.5 sacks, three QB hurries and an interception returned 35 yards for a TD … Had four games with 10+ tackles … Teamed with Matt Jones to both earn first-team All-Big 12 honors … The duo were the first at Baylor to each go over 100 tackles in a season since 2012 … Made seven tackles and returned a pick to the house in Baylor debut vs. Tarleton … Was named the PFF National Team of the Week in Week One … Had 12 tackles at Utah … Went for eight stops vs. Air Force … Made nine tackles, with two TFLs and a sack at Colorado … Had eight tackles and a TFL vs. BYU … Made eight stops at Iowa State … Had seven tackles at Texas Tech … Made seven tackles with a TFL vs. OSU … Had 12 tackles vs. TCU … Made 12 stops with a sack at WVU … Had a season-high 13 tackles with two TFLs, half a sack and one QB hurry at Houston … Had four stops and a QB hurry vs. Kansas … Made seven tackles with a QB hurry vs. LSU in the Texas Bowl … Named mid-season DCFT All-Texas … Named honorable mention Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Previous School: Star linebacker for Northeast Mississippi CC in Booneville, Miss. … First-Team NJCAA All-America selection … Totaled 107 tackles, 10 for a loss, and 1.5 sacks during the 2023 season, adding two interceptions and two pass break-ups … Averaged 11.9 tackles per game as a sophomore … Ranked second in the NJCAA in tackles … Ranked as a three-star prospect by 247Sports and as the third-ranked junior college linebacker … Redshirted the 2022 season while playing defensive back at West Virginia … While at WVU, was named Scout Team Defensive Champion for games vs. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and Special Teams Scout Team Champion for the week vs. Towson. High School: Prepped for Coach Verlon Dorminey at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Fla. … Was named All-First Coast First-Team … As a senior, led Trinity Christian to a 10-4 mark and the 2A State Championship … Had 60 tackles, two sacks, four pass break-ups and seven interceptions as a senior … Over his last three years, while also playing wide receiver, had 49 catches for 620 yards and six TDs … Was a three-star wide receiver prospect by Rivals out of high school.