Sooners join Thomas offer list

Detroit (Mich.) Renaissance linebacker Lawrence Thomas picked up an offer from the Oklahoma Sooners on Tuesday. The 2011 prospect has been busy since September 1st, picking up offers from Michigan State, Alabama, Colorado, and more.

"The Oklahoma offer kind of came out of nowhere," Thomas said. "It is a really good school. I was not expecting it. The offer is a real exciting thing for me. They have a good football program. I wouldn't mind being an Oklahoma Sooner."

Though Thomas said he was surprised by the offer, he had been in some contact with the Oklahoma staff.

"I was talking to Coach [Bobby Jack] Wright recently. He said he liked my speed and my size as a linebacker. I was supposed to talk to him today, but I could not get in contact with him"

Several other schools that have yet to offer scholarships have been in contact with Thomas.

"I have heard from Ohio State, USC, Oregon, North Carolina, Syracuse, and Notre Dame. There have been a lot of schools."

That is not all. Thomas said UCLA and Penn State have already said they plan on offering. He expects those offers to come in writing very soon.

"I talked to Penn State at the beginning of the school year. They said they liked my film. They verbally offered me and told me they would keep in contact. I have not had a chance to visit yet, because I am busy with school and keeping my grades up. That is going well. But I would like to visit Penn State over Christmas break. UCLA has been talking to my coaches and my parents about officially offering soon."

Thomas is a very productive linebacker with plenty of room to grow. His coaches at Renaissance High School point out that Lawrence is still in the beginning stages of learning how to train in the weight room and be a football player year round.

"I have a lot of room to grow," Thomas said. "I am not even in college yet. Once I hit the weight room harder, which I am doing now, I will continue to get bigger, and I am going to really progress at the next level. I will be something to deal with."

Detroit Renaissance has a strong connection with Michigan State. Class of 2009 studs Chris Norman and Dana Dixon are playing in East Lansing. Current senior Mylan Hicks is committed to Michigan State. Thomas has said he is comfortable with the Spartans' program, but he wants to keep an open mind.

"I am keeping it open," Thomas said. "I don't have any top schools right now. I have all my options open. I am still a junior and things can change. I am going to keep weighing my options for awhile. I can't really lean on one particular school right now."

(Note: The video above is Thomas in action last Friday versus Detroit Henry Ford.)