[jwinslow]

Tampa Bay paper

<headline>Versatility Personified</headline>

<b><byline>By IZZY GOULD</byline></b> <creditline>igould@tampatrib.com</creditline>
Published:<storydate> May 18, 2005</storydate>

<bod> ZEPHYRHILLS - Bryan Thomas seems destined to stand before thousands as they cheer and chant for him. </bod> National recruiting boards list his name, though sometimes it's spelled Brian. They list his height and weight, and display his mug shot.

They list his positions (you name it), accomplishments (1,027 total yards, 10 touchdowns, 93 tackles in 2004) and colleges that have expressed interest (Miami, Florida, Auburn, Florida State, Iowa, Duke).

One Web site offers video clips of him in action.

Peering through the bars bolted into his football helmet, Thomas might recall days like Monday at Zephyrhills, where the path to such moments began.

The sun felt as though it would boil Zephyrhills into a stew.

But Thomas, arguably Pasco County's most versatile football player, knows the tedious drills are necessary even in this harsh environment.

This is what he has to go through if he hopes the NFL shield stitched onto his gloves will earn him a paycheck. At this point, Thomas seems to have plenty to offer when you ask him to list his positions.

``Wide receiver, punter, outside linebacker, cornerback and running back,'' he said.

Anything else?

``Wherever Coach [Tom Fisher] wants me,'' he said.

Thomas said Fisher would like the senior-to-be to stick primarily with receiver and defensive back in 2005, because colleges are recruiting him at those positions.

But that plan will depend heavily on the development of Thomas' teammates.

Fisher wants to help Thomas reach the ideal school. But both want to win enough games to compete for a postseason berth after missing the playoffs with a 4-5 mark last season.

That goal could require Thomas to line up in the backfield, or play linebacker. He might even punt.

One thing is certain.

``He'll touch the ball as much as possible,'' Fisher said. ``I'm sure everyone's going to be keying in on him. We're going to have to move him around a lot. Last year, I tried to put him in the best position to be successful as possible. If he's successful, the team's successful.''

Assessing Thomas was difficult Monday; he sat out the end of practice with what he called a sprained neck. Last week, he tweaked a muscle during a scrimmage.

But before trading his helmet for a bag of ice, Thomas followed Fisher's directions to run one tackling drill at full speed.

Thomas flew at his opponent and drove him backward into the ground like a tackling pillow.

That was his last play.

Junior quarterback Sederrik Cunningham has seen plenty during the first three weeks of spring practice. One thing he notes is Thomas' apparent gains in speed and strength.

``He's the motor and we're the car,'' Cunningham said. ``We can't move without him. He's gotten way faster than he was last season. You saw it in track. And his tenacity is much higher. This is his senior year. He's trying to come out and make a name for himself.''



Reporter Izzy Gould can be reached at (813) 948-4203.

<headline></headline>