Players who traverse the path from high school to junior college to Division I athletics almost always have an interesting story of perseverance, determination and patience to tell. It’s the price of taking the small-school detour to big-time college athletics.
Even by those standards, Iowa State defensive end Jhaustin Thomas has had one interesting ride.
“It’s a lot of work,” Thomas said at the team’s media day Thursday. “I had to really get focused and really do my schoolwork. I’m just glad I got the opportunity to come here. I’m just glad coach Rhoads and them believed in me.