Johnell Thomas Class: RS Senior Hometown: Orlando, Fla. High School: Boone Height / Weight: 6-0 / 250 Position: DE

Honors
• 2012-13 Mr. Commodore Award Recipient

• 2012 SEC Academic Honor Roll

• 2011 SEC Academic Honor Roll

2012
Thomas started every game at defensive end as team-oriented defensive co-captain... Finished the year setting new single-season career highs with 20 solo tackles and 36 total tackles... Also had four tackles for loss... Contributed career-high of four solo tackles in late-season victory at Wake Forest... Also registered four total tackles in team's Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl victory over N.C. State... After the season, received Mr. Commodore Award at annual Black & Gold Banquet in recognition of Vanderbilt's top male student-athlete.

2011
High energy defensive lineman saw action in all 13 games... Started five games at defensive end opposite senior Tim Fugger... Concluded season with career highs in solo tackles (13), total tackles (26) and quarterback sacks (2)... Also matched previous high with four tackles for loss.. Single-game career high for tackles (6) came in win over Army... Also had multiple tackles in five other games... Contributed sacks in victories over Elon and Connecticut... Registered three tackles vs. Cincinnati in AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

2010
Thomas put together his most productive season for the Commodore defense... Played in every game at defensive end, earning first and only career starting assignment against Florida... Ended year with career highs in virtually every statistical category, including solo tackles (12), total tackles (22), tackles for loss (4) and QB sacks (1.5)... Posted at least one tackle in every game... Registered four tackles, a career high, at Kentucky... Effort against LSU in early-season conference game earned team's Defensive Player of the Week honor... Had a sack and two solo tackles to aid victory over Eastern Michigan.

2009
Played in six games as redshirt freshman... Contributed as reserve defensive end and on special teams... Concluded season with six total tackles, including four solo stops... Set career highs in solo tackles (3) and total tackles (4) at Army.

2008
Worked hard on defensive practice teams as a true freshman redshirt... Earned the unit's Defensive Scout of the Week honor after South Carolina and Florida games.

High School
Senior captain... Became starter at DT as sophomore... As senior, helped Boone to finest campaign in history, going undefeated until loss to nation's No. 1 team in 6A state title game... Contributed 115 total tackles, 87 solo stops, five QB sacks and three forced fumbles in 2007... Named as Florida's all-classification second team All-State DT, All-Central Florida and All-Region... As junior, posted 76 total tackles... Finished seventh in shot put at state... Also earned letters in weightlifting.

Personal
Johnell Thomas... Son of John Thomas and Shonda Glover... Legal guardians are Boone assistant coach, Peter Kearney, and his wife Lisa... Born on Dec. 12, 1989... Has a brother and two sisters... Completed a degree in Human and Organizational Development in December 2012.

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