Scouting Profile: Azareye'h Thomas - CB - Florida State
Sales Pitch: Long physical press man corner. Aggression will lead to some flags at the next level but has the tools to be a high level outside coverage player.
*Gold Numbers Indicate NCAA T-25 for 2024*
Scouting Report
Azareye’h Thomas is a former 4-Star recruit from the state of Florida. He didn’t get full time starting duties until 2024, where he was an All-ACC corner, but logged significant time in all three of his seasons with the Seminoles.
Thomas is a long rangy corner with surprising quickness for a player of his size. He is at his best as a press man coverage corner where he can dictate reps with his physicality. Thomas has long arms and big powerful hands to strike and disrupt route timings at the line of scrimmage. He does an excellent job varying his punch timings and knows how to use pair his leverage with his help coverage over the top. Despite being a bigger corner at over 6’ 1”, Thomas has the foot quickness to match release angles from both press and off coverage. He shows the movement skills to stay attached to receivers at all three levels of the field. While Thomas isn’t a burner, he has long strides and fluid hips that allow him to open up and run vertically with his target. As a zone coverage defender he is at his best when underneath, where he can use his wingspan to disrupt routes and throwing lanes. Thomas has logged 5+ PBUs in back to back seasons. He has long arms that come down with proper timing to chop the ball away from receivers. While not an overly active run defender ,Thomas does his job well. He is quick to read run/pass and leave his man to attack the ball carrier. He plays with proper leverage, taking on blocks in order to spill runners back towards his help.
Thomas makes his name as a man coverage defender, but zone coverage is still a work in progress. He is far less comfortable operating in deeper zones and allows too many easy completions on routes in front of him. He is easily turned around by nuanced route runners that can attack his blind spot. Thomas’ inconsistencies as a zone defender are the likely reason for his interception numbers - 2 in his career - lagging behind his PBU numbers. Thomas has a physical play style, but will have to be careful with the amount of contact he uses at the next level where the league is more flag happy. He will also need to improve as a tackler. His tall skinny frame lacks stopping power and redirect ability in space. He has a bad habit of ducking his head and lunging at ball carriers which results in whiffs.
Thomas profiles as an outside corner in a press man scheme. At only 20 years old with his size, quickness and man coverage ability he is tailored made to play on the perimeter at the next level. Thomas projects as Top-50 pick, who could sneak into the middle half of the 1st if a team falls in love with his tools.