2021 Football Roster
Roster
Shai Thomas
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 271
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Anderson, S.C.
- High School:
- T.L. Hanna HS
First name is pronounced “SHY” ... Big, athletic outside linebacker … Returning starter at the BANDIT position … Will challenge for All-Big South honors in 2019 … One of the largest linebackers in the conference again this season … Has good length and mobility … Was a pleasant surprise at the position during his first year as a starter … Poised for a breakout year.
2018 at Gardner-Webb: Started 10 games and played in all 11 at the BANDIT linebacker spot … Finished with 68 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss (minus-33 yards) and 1.5 sacks … Added two defensive touchdowns, one fumble recovery and an interception … Named Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week following the season opener vs. Limestone (9/1) … Recorded six total tackles (three solo), recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown and returned an interception 41 yards for another score in that win … Added 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback pressure … Had a season-high 12 stops and a tackle for loss vs. Western Carolina (9/14) … Made nine tackles and had two tackles for loss vs. Kennesaw State (10/13) … Made seven stops (five solo) and had two tackles for loss at Charleston Southern (11/10) … Had six tackles and a sack at Campbell (10/27) … Had seven tackles and a half sack at ETSU (10/6). 2017 at Gardner-Webb: Played in 10 games, earning a start in the season finale at Presbyterian (11/18) … Finished the season with 19 total tackles (11 solo) and one tackle for loss … Had a 36-yard interception return vs. Charleston Southern (11/4) to thwart at red zone scoring chance … Had a season-high five total stops off the bench vs. No. 25 North Carolina A&T (9/2) … Had four total tackles (three solo) at Presbyterian (11/18).
High School: Played at T.L. Hanna (S.C.) High under Coach Bruce Ollis … A two-time All-Region I-AAAAA selection … A second-team All-Area selection by the Anderson Independent-Mail in 2016 … Finished senior season with 46 total tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, three sacks, two quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles … Had 101 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and two forced fumbles as a junior … Also recruited by Georgia State, Troy and The Citadel.
