Ambry Thomas comments on his leaders
A few hours after participating in a joint celebration of the Detroit Public School League’s two state championship football teams in downtown Detroit, Detroit King cornerback recruit Ambry Thomas made a guest appearance Rico Beard’s “Spartan Beat” radio show.
Thomas, ranked the No. 2 player in Michigan and the No. 178 player in the country by Rivals.com, commented on his three finalists: Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State.
Thomas took his first official visit to Penn State during Thanksgiving weekend, after his Detroit King team won the Division 2 state championship with an 18-0 victory over Walled Lake Western on Nov. 25. On Nov. 26, Detroit Cass Tech defeated Novi Catholic Central for the Division 1 state championship, leading to Monday's celebration in Detroit.
The celebration consisted of a parade down Woodward Ave., culminating in a rally in front of the Spirit of Detroit statue.
Now, Thomas is turning his attention to recruiting, with Penn State a new addition to his lead pack.
“The Penn State visit was real nice,” Thomas told Beard, who is a SpartanMag.com recruiting correspondent. “The atmosphere at Penn State was just amazing to me. It was real crazy. I like it a lot.”
Beard asked him what he likes about Penn State.
“Their coaching staff,” Thomas said. “They really made me feel like family. And the players. It was great up there.”
Thomas on Michigan: “I see opportunity up there with five DBs leaving. I know if I come in and compete and just do what I’m supposed to do, be coachable, I can see myself there.”
Beard asked Thomas about his former Detroit King teammate Lavert Hill, who was a back-up cornerback for the Wolverines this season.
“He told me, ‘Only come here if I’m ready to work,’” Thomas said in reference to Hill. “I know how Lavert is. Once he told me that, I’m like wow. Coming out of Vert’s mouth? Vert’s a real silly dude. He gave me some great advice.”
Michigan State was the first major conference school to offer Thomas a scholarship, extending one during the 2015 Green-White Game. Thomas told SpartanMag.com the following week that the Michigan State offer was his dream offer. But Michigan, and now Penn State, have closed serious ground in the meantime, to the point that this recruitment became a dead heat several months ago.
Thomas took an unofficial visit to Michigan State for the Michigan game on Oct. 29.
“It’s really all love up there,” Thomas said of Michigan State, when Beard asked him about the Spartans on Monday. “It’s really all love. I really feel like that’s my family up there.”
Former high school teammate Donnie Corley has worked on behalf of Michigan State to try to get a commitment from him.
“He told me, knowing how their DBs are, I’m going to start,” Thomas said. ‘He told me I’m going to start. I love that opportunity.
“The coaches aren’t telling me that I’m going to start, but they’re telling me, ‘You’re playing, no doubt.’ So that’s just wonderful just to know that.”
Thomas is reportedly considering an official visit to Michigan this weekend. When asked on Monday afternoon if he has plans to make more visits to Michigan or Michigan State, Thomas said: “I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t think I’m going to do that. I don’t know if I am, but we’re going to see how the dice roll. I might pop up somewhere.”
Thomas gave no indication on when he will make a decision. He said he plans to announce his decision with a video, on a date to be determined.