Oklahoma Sooners defender dominates after controversial call sidelined him against Auburn Tigers, vaulting him back into top NFL Draft conversation
R Mason Thomas’s performance against Auburn after missing the first half from targeting was one for the history books
In their blowout victory over the Temple Owls last week, the Oklahoma Sooners were dealt a massive blow by a penalty call. Defensive end R Mason Thomas was called for a targeting penalty in the second half after a hit on quarterback Evan Simon. Thomas was dominating the game up until that point, and it left the Sooners without their best defensive player for the first half of their crucial matchup against the Auburn Tigers.
While sitting on the sideline in the first half, Thomas sat on the exercise bike, warming up and keeping a laser focus on the game. Sideline reporters reported that Thomas looked agitated and amped up all throughout the first half, fighting the urge to jump in and play every single snap. When the Sooners got into halftime with the game tied 10-10, it was time for Thomas to step up.
And boy did he. In his first two snaps back from suspension, Thomas broke up a pass and then forced a crucial sack on Jackson Arnold to force a punt. His presence immediately shifted Auburn’s protection schemes, opening up lanes and gaps for the rest of the defensive line, who shut down the Tigers’ offense for virtually the entire second half.
R Mason Thomas Delivers the Sooners’ Win
John Mateer certainly deserves all the credit for leading Oklahoma’s game-winning touchdown drive. However, it was R Mason Thomas who delivered the win for the Sooners against the Tigers, sealing it with one of the most impressive plays from a Sooner I have ever seen.
Thomas bowls over a double team from the right tackle and running back before throwing Arnold to the ground in the end zone for a sack, capping off a record-setting performance by Oklahoma’s defense and putting an emphatic stamp on the end of the game.
Despite playing in just a half of football, Thomas posted two sacks and led the Sooners in quarterback pressures, harassing Arnold all throughout the second half.
It was obvious throughout the week that Oklahoma and Thomas were frustrated after their appeal of the targeting call was denied. The Sooners deserve credit for replacing Thomas well with Marvin Jones Jr., Taylor Wein, and PJ Adebawore all making quality plays in his absence, but it was Thomas who stole the show from the get-go.
The potential first-round pick had been rather quiet in Oklahoma’s first three games as Oklahoma shifted their fronts and asked him to move around a bit more than he usually did last season. However, this game against Auburn feels like a breakout performance from him, and he has a bevy of poor offensive lines on the remainder of the schedule.
I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch, but if Thomas continues this level of play, it will be hard to deny his NFL Draft stock and potential for some awards at the end of the college football season.
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