The State · Mar 21, 2017
Thomas’ freshman 25 boon for Gamecocks defensive line
Lance Thompson needed Keir Thomas to play the interior defensive line last year, which meant Thompson needed Thomas to eat.
“I got to 250 pounds and Coach Lance came to me, like, ‘A couple more cheeseburgers and you’ll be with me,’ ” said Thomas, a three-star prospect from Miami who enrolled at South Carolina last January in time to participate in spring practice.
When Thomas enrolled, he weighed 235 pounds, but the Gamecocks were desperate for depth on the defensive line so they asked him to start packing on pounds. He obliged with what he acknowledges was a mix of good and bad weight.
At 255 pounds, Thomas was heavy enough to be a defensive end, but Thompson needed defensive tackles.