Nolan Catholic star was close to quitting. Now he and others in Fort Worth sign their NLI
If Devin Thomas was told he would be an all-state football player and continue his career at a Division 1 program, he may not have believed it.
That’s what he accomplished during his senior year at Nolan Catholic. He signed his national letter of intent with Lamar University on Wednesday.
Hard to imagine just two years ago when he was on the verge of quitting.
Thomas was playing football at Young Men’s Leadership Academy in Fort Worth as the program was making history. YMLA made the Class 5A playoffs in 2017, despite the enrollment size of a 2A school.
But when YMLA decided to fold up the football program after the UIL reclassified it in 6A during the 2018-20 realignment, Thomas was left wondering what was next.
Then Thomas and a few of his teammates found Nolan Catholic.
“I wanted to quit,” Thomas said. “But I found Nolan and it’s like family ever since. I love this school and it’s prepared me to be a better man each and every day.”
“He was trying to figure things out. His grades and socially too,” Nolan head football coach David Beaudin added.
Thomas was on Nolan’s JV as a junior.
“I had a bad attitude and my junior year was rough,” Thomas said. “I didn’t really like coach Beaudin at first. He was always hard on me, but now I understand why he did it.”
Through hard work and perseverance, Thomas turned things around.
“His head wasn’t in the right spot, but he’s matured. We butted heads at the start, but now I love that kid,” Beaudin said. “I couldn’t be more proud. I teared up a bit when he signed.
“It’s just a testament to his work ethic, drive and desire. It’s inspiring not only to myself, but the young guys. The light bulb may go off late, but anything is attainable when you believe.”
Thomas made the TAPPS all-state team last season as the Vikings went 11-1. He was committed to Southwest Baptist, but the coaches knew he had the potential for more.
“The moment I saw him, I knew he had the ability to play at the D1 level, but he didn’t believe it,” Nolan defensive coordinator Jordan Hampton said. “He was very athletic, but would do his own thing. The change in the past 12 months was incredible. We saw Devin grow as a leader on and off the field.”
Then the Lamar staff came the day before the recruiting period had ended and offered Thomas.
“It was the perfect marriage. We still had a guy and they were still looking for a guy,” Beaudin said. “It worked out well. He was an easy guy to sell.”
“It was surprising. But they made me feel at home. They treated me right and told me I was a good player with potential,” Thomas added. “Looking back on it, I pushed myself harder and harder. Coach Beaudin, coach Hampton and Nolan, they mean everything. They believed in me.”
Fort Worth ISD
FWISD celebrated 17 student-athletes across six schools at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center on Wednesday.
Arlington Heights signed four, including softball players Jalee McDonald (Texas Woman’s) and Emily Andress (UT-Permian Basin), both of whom helped the program to its first state tournament in 2018.
Heights’ golfer Brandon Massey signed to TCU. Massey is ranked as the No. 85 golfer in the country, 11th in the state and finished 10th in last year’s 5A state tournament.
FWISD had six football players sign: Eastern Hills’ Malik Darden (Navarro) and Elyja Harper (Cisco), Heights’ Ismail Nasir (Texas Wesleyan), Southwest’s C’ing Blanton (Texas Southern), Paschal’s Isaac Garcia (Texas Southern) and Trimble Tech’s Trejian Morgan (Lyon College).
Benbrook had three volleyball players sign: Mallory Gossett (Central Baptist College), Camryn McGriff (Shepherd University) and Emily Fowlkes (Western Texas College). The three seniors helped the Bobcats to 74 wins and three playoff appearances during the past three seasons.
Benbrook track star Abigail Bramlett signed with Hardin-Simmons.
Southwest’s Adreanna Waddle (Tarleton State) and Tech’s Bre’ana Smith (Houston-Tillotson) signed to play college basketball. Waddle is averaging 10.6 points and 13.2 rebounds this season while Smith is averaging 15.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.7 blocks.
Southwest volleyball player Zekiah Price-Taylor signed with Jarvis Christian College.
Paschal distance runner Whit Dennis signed to run at Ole Miss. Dennis is among the top runners in the nation and has reached multiple UIL state meets in track and cross country.
Trinity Valley School
Thor Truelson was recruited to play football as far west as California to Massachusetts, but the 6-foot-5 defensive lineman from Trinity Valley narrowed it to two schools.
Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh and MIT. In the end, Truelson signed with CMU on Wednesday.
“Carnegie Mellon’s motto is ‘My heart is in the work’ and that truly describes how I dedicate myself both on the football field and in the classroom,” said Truelson, who owns a 4.2 GPA.
Last season, Truelson led the team with 14 tackles for loss. He was second with 70 tackles overall and added three sacks, 10 hurries and two forced fumbles.
He was voted team MVP and Defensive Lineman of the Year, and was a team captain. Truelson was voted to the All-Southwest Preparatory Conference team and was a member of the 2017 SPC state championship team.
This story was originally published February 7, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
