Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

8/31/2010 at 9:01am

COFFEYVILLE, Kan. — Future Arkansas Razorback Robert Thomas, who redshirted last year at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, made his college debut for the Red Ravens on Saturday as they opened the 2010 season with a 27-10 victory over visiting Tyler (Texas) Junior College Saturday night in Veteran's Stadium.

The Red Ravens entered rated No. 18 nationally while Tyler was No. 14, but Coffeyville never trailed in the game. Thomas (6-foot-2, 330 pounds, 5.0 in the 40-yard dash) finished with a pair of sacks and five tackles while helping lead the Red Ravens defense to a dominating performance, with the exception of one long drive by Tyler late in the third quarter.

"I'm just glad we got it over with," Thomas said. "I kind of just had a feeling we were going to come out and just dominate. We should have, but we had a bunch of mental mistakes. It's the first game so we're going to get over that."

Thomas was a 3-star recruit out of Muskogee (Okla.) High School who signed with Arkansas in 2009, but failed to qualify academically. Thomas watched from the sidelines last year while redshirting thus allowing him to have three years to play three when he gets to Arkansas in January. Thomas said the year off made him hungrier for football and also taught him a valuable lesson about taking his academic work seriously. Thomas said Saturday night's performance was pretty much what he expected.

"Our defense always plays well," Thomas said. "Our offense will pick it up a little bit and we will be rolling. It was amazing to get back on this field. I loved every minute of it."

At one point in the fourth quarter, when Tyler was threatening the Red Ravens, a defensive coached yelled from the sidelines for the defense "to pick it up. Robert Thomas is the only one with a sack. Who else is going to get one?"

"I had a feeling I was going to get [some sacks]," Thomas said. "I was just waiting to see the passing game they came out with. I knew it was my time to open up."

Thomas said the speed of the game was different than in high school, but redshirting and watching from the sideline last year helped prepare him for what was awaiting him Saturday night. Some have speculated all five of Tyler's offensive linemen will sign with a college for next season.

"It's a lot faster," Thomas said of the speed of the game. "I never thought it would be this fast, but I think I've made the transformation and I'm ready to go. It was a lot different, but just as they've gotten bigger so have I since high school. I also have gotten a lot stronger so I matched up just fine. I was quicker than them."

With the win, Coffeyville is certain to move up in this week's national junior college poll. Thomas feels that Coffeyville was underrated entering the season and anyone watching Saturday night's domination of Tyler would have a hard time arguing his point.

"I think we have a chance to be really good," Thomas said. "We've got to get some mental mistakes fixed and then we're going to take it all."

Thomas will be helping his team take on Dodge City (Kan.) Community College Saturday night in Coffeyville, but said he will also be checking after the game to see how his future team, the Razorbacks, did against Tennessee Tech.

"Most definitely," Thomas said. "I watched a little bit of their spring game so I know Arkansas is ready."

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Coffeyville's James Lott serves as defensive coordinator after having the same position at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College last season. Lott feels he inherited a great player in Thomas and feels he has a bright future on the gridiron.

"He's coming along well," Lott said of Thomas. "With our big guys in there, we're kind of built to stop the run. I felt like tonight he had a pretty good game. He's definitely someone Arkansas should look forward to getting on their campus."

Lott agreed with Thomas that his quickness was a huge asset on Saturday night against a very large Tyler offensive line that only had one player under 300 pounds - and that player was 290.

"He's quick for that big of a guy," Lott said. "He's very explosive, but he's only going to get better and better. We're putting in a new scheme defensively and guys are kind of just now getting their hand on what we're doing. When he gets to where he knows the defense a little better he will only get better and better."

Lott didn't feel Thomas' year off from games - he still practiced - last year is a factor, due to Thomas' work ethic.

"I think he just picked up where he left off [in high school]," Lott said. "Any time you have a kid that talented they are fine. He's a hard worker, he's a kid who gets out there and busts his butt. I don't think he has missed a beat."

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One of Coffeyville's key offensive players is sophomore wide receiver Duron Carter (6-5, 210, 4.45), who started his career at Ohio State.

On Saturday night, Carter caught 3 passes for 52 yards and 1 touchdown. Carter is the son of ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL great Cris Carter, who was in attendance Saturday night. Carter's touchdown was a 2-yard pass when Tyler's defense got crossed up and failed to line up a defender on him. Carter got his quarterback's attention and was wide open when the ball came to him in the end zone.

"I'm glad he noticed me," Carter said. "They didn't put anybody on me in the slot. He threw it up there and we executed."

Carter, like Thomas, is glad to be playing football again and is hoping to make the most of his year at Coffeyville.

"It felt good," Carter said. "This is my first game since Nov. 22 and it felt great to be out there. I've got my teammates and we're a big family who is about to win a national championship. We can definitely get better. We missed out on some key opportunities. Throughout the season, we will work the kinks out and be a great offense."

As of right now, Carter said he's looking hardest at Oregon, Oklahoma and Ohio State when he returns to a major college.

Another standout for the Red Ravens and former SEC recruit is sophomore cornerback Nu'Keese Richardson (5-10, 180, 4.4). Richardson started his career at Tennessee after being a highly recruited standout out of Pahokee (Fla.), but got into some trouble off the field and ended up at Coffeyville. Richardson played some offense in addition to cornerback and also returned punts. Many felt he was the best player on the field Saturday night.

Tagged: Otis Kirk, Robert Thomas, Coffeyville Community College Red Ravens, Cris Carter, Duron Carter, Nu'Keese Richardson, James Lott