Corey Thomas Jr.
AT VIRGINIA
2024 – Sealed 24-19 win at No. 23 Pittsburgh (11/9) with an interception on Pitt’s final drive … Interception was his first of the season and first since his freshman year (2019) at Akron … Started at strong safety at No. 10 Clemson (10/19) … Forced one fumble in UVA debut against Richmond (8/31).
PRIOR TO VIRGINIA (AKRON)
HONORS
Three-time Academic All-MAC selection (2020-22).
CAREER
Appeared in 40 games over the course of five seasons at Akron … Credited with 105 career tackles (62 solo), six pass break ups, three fumble recoveries, one interception and one sack.
2023 – Appeared in all 12 possible games with 11 starts … Started the final nine games of the season … Finished with a season-high eight tackles, including five solo, at Eastern Michigan (11/14) … Broke up two passes against Buffalo (9/30). 2022 – Appeared in 10 games for Akron, including one start … Registered 12 tackles, including nine solo stops and three assisted tackles … Added two quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery … Recorded a season-high five tackles, including four solo stops, at Northern Illinois … Pulled in a fumble recovery against Central Michigan. 2021 – Appeared in 11 games for the Zips, including four starts … Made 29 tackles (15 solo and 14 assisted tackles), while ranking second on the squad in tackles for a loss (2.5) and pass breakups (2) and fourth in sacks (1) … Recorded two or more tackles in nine games for the Zips, including a season-best four-tackles versus Ohio (10/2), Miami (10/19), Ball State (11/2) and Toledo (11/27) … Made four tackles, including three solo stops, while corralling a sack en route to 1.5 tackles for a loss against Ball State (11/2) … Garnered pass breakups in a win at Bowling Green (10/9) and at Toledo (11/27)…tallied a season-high four solo tackles at Miami (10/16). 2020 – Appeared in five games for the Zips, including four starts … Registered 11 tackles, including nine solo stops, while adding a fumble recovery on the campaign … Posted a season-best six-tackle performance at Buffalo (Dec. 12) … Tallied three tackles and a fumble recovery in Akron’s win over Bowling Green (12/5). 2019 – Played in three games with one start at safety and retained ability to redshirt … One of only seven true freshmen to earn a starting nod … Had two tackles and an interception.
PREP
Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com…the No. 19 overall player in Pennsylvania … No. 8 ranked Akron recruit all-time by 247Sports.com … Three-year letterwinner for coach Jon LeDonne at Penn Hills HS … Played safety, wide receiver, cornerback, and linebacker … Three-time All-5A Northern Conference selection … Team went 16-0 in 2018 en route to the WPIAL and state championship and also won the 2016 WPIAL.
PERSONAL
National Honor Society member … Son of Corey Sr. and Bobbi Thomas … Graduate student in the School of Education.