2022 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: Oklahoma vs. Baylor

Oct 16, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Nik Bonitto (11) in action during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Nik Bonitto (11) in action during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas (95) reacts during the game against the Baylor Bears at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas (95) reacts during the game against the Baylor Bears at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma DL Isaiah Thomas

Joining Nik Bonitto on the Big 12 sacks leaderboard is defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas. The 6’5” 266-pound senior from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is tied for 8th in the Big 12 with 4.5 sacks. Thomas has stuffed the stat sheet as well as a defensive lineman can this year as he has eight tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two passes defended and a fumble recovery. Throughout his career he’s played both inside at defensive tackle and outside at defensive end.

He might seem undersized for an interior defensive lineman, but in the film I watched of Oklahoma’s game with Oklahoma State last year, Thomas made his presence felt on nearly every play despite recording only one sack and one pass defended. He was especially devastating lining up inside, either in the A gap next to the center or head up on the guard. His quickness and athleticism really popped, as Isaiah Thomas was quick to get off the line and Oklahoma State’s interior linemen had a really difficult time blocking him.

Multiple times the Sooners would line up Isaiah Thomas and Nik Bonitto next to each other on the same side of the defense and basically try to overwhelm that side of the Cowboys’ offensive line, and it worked brilliantly. A similar setup at the NFL level might be a way to maximize the skills of Isaiah Thomas. 2022 NFL Draft evaluators will be looking at his versatility, as he’s shown he can play inside and his first step, quickness, and ability to use his hands effectively would likely suit him well as a bigger edge rusher.

Although people have been high on Oklahoma defenders Nik Bonitto and Perrion Winfrey, it’s about time that Isaiah Thomas was given legitimate consideration as a potential day two 2022 NFL Draft pick.