3-Star Texas DB flips from Cowboys to Sun Devils

Three-star Lubbock-Cooper safety Ty Thomas announced on Thursday night that he has changed his commitment from Oklahoma State to Arizona State.

Thomas said that his visit to Tempe a few weeks ago played a major role in him making the call to play for Arizona State. The Sun Devils coaching staff offered him at the end of this past May.

“I think systematically, I am just a better fit in their program,” Thomas said. “They run a defense that better matches my style of play.”

Thomas said that he was intrigued by the ‘bandit’ role in ASU’s secondary. He said the tentative plan is to have him step in at that position and take on added responsibilities in run defense and in blitz packages.

Head coach Todd Graham also got a little help from a fellow Texas commit nudging Thomas along to make the switch. Mansfield, Texas, three-star inside linebacker Loren Mondy wasted no time messaging Thomas after his offer came through.

“He was trying to pull me over for a while,” Thomas said. “He followed me on twitter after I was offered and we had been talking off-and-on since then.”

Thomas said that naturally, the Oklahoma State coaches were disappointed to get the news, but understood his decision. Now he is just focused on finishing strong during these next few months with football and school so that he stays on schedule to enroll early.

With his commitment, Thomas became Arizona State’s seventh commitment for 2017 and its third from Texas. Earlier this week, three-star Cypress Ridge running back Trelon Smith also committed to the Sun Devils.

“I’m excited, I’ve had a real good relationship with Coach Graham and (defensive backs) Coach (T.J.) Rushing,” he said. “Coach Graham is a defensive-minded guy and Coach Rushing is really cool and down to earth.”