Former Dothan player leads Stillman College defense

By: Jon Johnson | Dothan Eagle
Published: September 28, 2011

Former Dothan High standout Jarell Thomas is hungry to finish his college career with a bang.

He figures the team he plays for – Stillman College - is primed for some big things as well.

“We have players that really want it and we have a coach (new head coach Teddy Keaton) we don’t mind fighting for,” Thomas said. “We are determined and don’t want to accept failure. We’re very hungry.”

Thomas, a senior linebacker, leads Stillman College with 44 tackles (18 solo, 26 assists) through the first four games of the season.

Stillman, which is located in Tuscaloosa and competes in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) on the Division II level, is off to a strong start at 3-1, 2-0 in conference play, after a win at Tuskegee last Saturday.

It was the first victory for Stillman against Tuskegee in seven tries and a big change from a Stillman team which lost to Tuskegee a year ago 41-15 en route to a 3-8 record.

“After the game, it was so much emotion,” Thomas said of beating Tuskegee last week. “You had people crying. We played hard and deserved that.”

Thomas led Stillman in tackles against Tuskegee with nine. After the team’s opening-season win over Shaw, Thomas was named the SIAC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 11 tackles, intercepting a pass and forcing a fumble.

Edgar Walker, a first-year linebackers coach at Stillman who is also a former Dothan High and University of Alabama defensive end (1995-97), says Thomas is a true leader on the field.

“He’s very vocal,” Walker said. “He just has a high motor and plays sideline to sideline. What he’s been doing pushes the other linebackers to do better.”

Thomas likes taking on a leadership role.

“I let everybody know their assignments,” Thomas said. “I’m not saying this as being cocky, but I want to make every tackle.”

Walker, who also serves as recruiting coordinator, said he developed a quick bond with Thomas after joining the staff in January.

“Actually, I didn’t know him when I first got here,” Walker said. “Now that’s (being from Dothan) a big thing with us.

“I know he can play. Everybody who comes from Dothan can play football. I think when I talk to him, he listens. I tell him, ‘Jarell, I walked the same halls as you walked.’’’

Thomas has enjoyed getting to know Walker as a coach, and as a fellow Dothan High graduate.

“It’s been really fun,” Thomas said. “I was the only person up here from Dothan. To have someone else up here helps a lot.”

Stillman hopes to keep rolling as it hosts Lane College at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

“Honestly and truthfully, having a big season means a lot,” Thomas said. “The last two or three years has been hard.

“This season has been good so far. We’re going to keep trucking.”