PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said there’s no Razorback he enjoys being around more than defensive tackle Robert Thomas.
“He’s got an engaging personality and he’s a tremendous leader,” Bielema said. “If I’ve got any issues on the football team with a player - whether it’s class, social, whatever it is - Robert will go get that player, bring him to my office and sit him down with me so the three of us can talk. He’s helped out so many kids.”
Thomas, a senior captain from Muskogee, Okla., said being an intermediary for his teammates with Arkansas’ new coach is part of his responsibility.
“I started doing it when Coach first got here,” Thomas said. “I feel like I’ve been through everything, so anyway I can help another teammate, I’m going to do it.”
Senior linebacker Jarrett Lake said Thomas is like a protective big brother to all the Razorbacks.
“It just shows what kind of character Robert has,” Lake said. “He’s not just worried about himself, he’s worried about everybody on our team and the way we handle our locker room.”
Thomas’ personality makes him a natural team leader who doesn’t have to try too hard to make others want to follow him, according to sophomore safety Rohan Gaines.
“People listen to him,” Gaines said. “He’s one of those guys that doesn’t mind putting things on his back.
“He leads by example, too.He doesn’t just talk about it. His performance in the games, how he works at practice, makes him a great leader.”
Thomas is playing the best of his career going into today’s Arkansas-Rutgers game, though he said he can play a lot better.
“That’s big Rob, he’s always going to stay hard on himself,” said defensive end Chris Smith, who is also a senior captain. “He’s playing real well, but if he says he’s going to play better, you’ll see it on Saturday.”
Thomas has been a force in the middle of Arkansas’ defensive line with 12 tackles in the first 3 games, including 4 for losses totaling 13 yards.
“I’m so excited about the way he’s approached everything since I’ve walked in the door,” defensive line coach Charlie Partridge said. “You’re starting to see all that show up in a game situation.
“He’s stepping well, his hands are on target. All those things we work on every day that lead to being a good football player.”
Bielema said Thomas may have benefited from having a new position coach more than any other player.
“Charlie Partridge is a detail guy,” Bielema said.
Thomas played in 24 games for the Razorbacks the previous two seasons after transferring from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and had 41 tackles, including 7½ for losses totaling 31 yards.
“I think I’ve made a big jump,” Thomas said. “Not as big as it will be, but from then to now, it’s like night and day. I feel good about it.
“I’m just staying in my gap and playing sound. I used to have a problem with that. I was a guy that wanted to rush the passer, but now I’m playing more straight, sound football.”
Thomas said his fundamentals weren’t bad before, but they’ve gotten better with Partridge’s coaching.
“We just started from scratch,” Thomas said. “It’s been fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. And it’s working for me, so anything he tells me, I’m doing it.
“Coach Partridge is one of those guys that stresses it and stresses it. He’s a perfectionist.”
Partridge said Thomas’ improvement is something he could feel coming on going back to the foundation he built in spring practice.
“I think he’s just done a great job of reading his keys, doing his job and playing hard with great fundamentals,” Partridge said. “You get off a block, it puts you in good position to make a play.
“That’s great for me, because I can point all that out on film and let the other kids learn if they do it that way, they’ve got a chance to make those kind of plays, too.”
Thomas said he appreciates teammates such as Lake and Gaines praising his leadership skills.
“I guess the team understands me and feels the same way I do about things, so they go with it,” Thomas said. “It’s a team-effort thing.
“It’s not just me, but I know it’s my time to step up, so I’m going to do it. This is it for me, so I have to make it happen.”
Sports, Pages 25 on 09/21/2013