Fresh start, new position

Whenever a new coach comes into a college football program, there is generally a clean slate or a fresh start and when Andrew Rolin took over as the head football coach at Montana State University-Northern, a fresh start is exactly what he gave his players.

One player who took advantage of that fresh start is Caymus Thomas, a rising sophomore who was one of the Lights' leading receivers a season ago. As a freshman from Lakeside High School in Washington, the 5-10, 165-pounder put together a productive season under former head coach Aaron Christensen and interim head coach Jake Eldridge, finishing second on the team with 25 receptions and fourth in receiving yards with 242. He also hauled in two touchdown receptions.

But this winter, after his new head coach arrived, Thomas wasn't necessarily interested in how he could improve as a wide receiver, in fact, he wanted a chance to play defense and Rolin, true to his word of a fresh start, obliged.

"I always thought right out of high school that I would be recruited as a defensive player," Thomas said. "I brought it up to coach Christensen and he wasn't too interested, but I brought it up with coach Rolin and he has embraced it and has given me a chance. He said it was a fresh start and I have just tried to take that chance and run with it because I really do appreciate the opportunity he is giving me."

Through the first few weeks of spring camp, Thomas has definitely made the most of his opportunity. Over the years, the Lights' defense has struggled defending the pass and last season, MSU-N was third-worst in the Frontier after allowing 264 yards per game through the air. Certainly, there is a long way to go before the depth chart will be finalized in the secondary this fall, but so far, Thomas is making a favorable impression.

"He has shown up at corner," Rolin said. "I tell you what. He is a talent and he has made some big plays for us."

While Thomas doesn't have tremendous size, he makes up for it with quickness, tenacity and a knack for playing the ball in the air that he says comes from being a wide receiver.

"Playing receiver helps a lot," Thomas said. "Like understanding route concepts for example. Like with a smash route, just knowing that someone else might be coming or seeing their feet and honestly right off the snap if I can see where they are looking, I can know what kind of route they are running. It helps so much and also being confident in catching. I see a lot of DB's that don't have confidence playing the ball, but I am just used to it. When it's in the air, I just track it."

Thomas isn't the biggest defensive back in the world, but his size doesn't discourage him from playing a physical brand of football. Throughout spring practice, he has been one of the most physical players on the defensive side of the ball, even at times getting warnings from the coaching staff for hitting too much in thud tackling drills.

"He's just a natural," Rolin said. "Some guys just have that in them."

For his part, Thomas said as a wide receiver, he missed the physical part of the game and now looks forward to taking part in those encounters.

"That was a big thing that I missed on Saturdays," Thomas said. "I would get to the games and realize that I wasn't hitting anybody. I was maybe making a catch or two, but it didn't feel like football to me and I wanted to be out there playing football. And like I said, I thought I would get recruited to be a defender, so that's really where I wanted to play."

Up to this point, the switch has been a success. Thomas is getting snaps with the No. 1 defense and should be in contention for a starting job this fall. And because of all the hard work he has put in, he was also the first defensive player awarded the effort jersey, given to the player recognized as working the hardest that week in practice by the coaching staff.

"When (coach Rolin) presented that to me in front of the defense, I had to hold back a tear," Thomas said. "I will remember that moment and that whole thing for the rest of my life. It's something I can share with my child someday."

Even though the transition to defense is still fairly new for Thomas, he didn't balk when asked if he would enjoy a chance to play both ways. It seems unlikely, but with his effort and his ability to make plays, you never know where he might end up.

"I would be so happy, I couldn't even put that into words," Thomas said. "But that's all up to coach Rolin. I am just trying to do what I can to help the team."