Yes, there is a buzz building around Cam Thomas, and not just on this blog thanks to our friends from New Jersey.
The defensive tackle from North Carolina has been a monster out here in Senior Bowl practice this week and could be a nice consolation prize for the Miami Dolphins in the middle rounds as they seek a long-term solution at nose tackle.
Can Thomas play the nose in the NFL?
"Yeah, straight nose," Thomas told me this week. "Let's go, baby."
What would he bring in that role?
"Power," he said. "A guy that can anchor. That's what they want. That's what the nose is, an anchor guy, and that's what I would bring."
Thomas officially measured at 6-3 and 331 pounds.
"That's what they had me at," he said. "But I think I'm 6-4."
His hands are "10 [inches] and some change," he says, and he plays the game with an obvious enthusiasm. Even in blocking drills, Thomas will emit a primal scream as he blows by interior linemen.
"My favorite guy is [Albert] Haynesworth," he said. "He's an animal. That's a MAN!"
And his outgoing practice demeanor? He credits that to his college program, where he played for former University of Miami and NFL coach Butch Davis and former NFL assistant John Blake was his position coach.
"You've got to have fun," Thomas said. "At North Carolina, you come with our D, you got to have fun. If anybody came out to our practice, that’s what they’d
see us doing: being loud, having fun, running, chasing the ball. That’s all we
know. Our coaching staff, that’s what they want."
Talking to Thomas, I couldn't help but think back to a young Jason Ferguson, whom I covered when he played at Georgia and I was working in Augusta. Maybe it's the No. 95 Thomas is wearing out here this week. Maybe it's the quick wit and the outgoing personality. Maybe it's the quickness off the ball and the ability to make plays on the nose.
Maybe it's the country upbringing; Thomas is from Eagle Springs, N.C., while Ferguson is from Nettleton, Miss.
But the similarity is striking. At least it is to me.
UPDATE 6:22 P.M.: Just got off a conference call with ESPN draft guru Todd McShay, and, well, maybe I got a little excited there on ol' Cam Thomas. I asked McShay about him as a possible nose tackle sleeper, especially considering the great shortage of those who can play the position, and he was sorta lukewarm.
"He flashed on and off, he showed some ability," McShay said. "Certainly he has the size to play that spot, but I think you're talking more of a backup. I just don't think he has great physical tools."
Ouch.
Then again, Big Ferg went in the seventh round, 229th overall out of Georgia, 13 years ago. That was Bill Parcells' first draft with the Jets, and they're still going strong as an NFL tandem.
http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports...am-thomas.html