COVINGTON, Ga. — One of the top rushers in the Newton County area from 2018 has made his college selection sure.
Newton tailback, Adarius Thomas took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon to share his plans to commit to Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas.
The Real Grind Starts Now !!!!💯✅ pic.twitter.com/ASKAjGjTzX
— ✨Adarius Thomas✨ Fox 5🖐🏾 (@SOS_adt) January 23, 2019
Thomas was a first-team All-Covington News selection and an All-Region 8-AAAAAA performer at running back, after rushing for 844 yards and five scores along with 25 receptions for 155 receiving yards and three touchdown catches.
Although Thomas had some other options, including visits to Shorter College and Reinhardt over the last two weekends, it was the family atmosphere at Butler and solid football tradition as a junior college — Butler has one six NJCAA nation championships in football, stretching from 1981 to 2008 — that made it stand out for him.
“They really welcomed me to the family, and they stayed checking up on me,” Thomas said. “And I believe in myself to be able to produce on the field there.”
Thomas has carved out for himself a reputation as a diverse tailback, particularly in his junior season when he ran for 504 yards and had 382 receiving yards and four touchdowns apiece, rushing and receiving.
Newton defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator, Josh Skelton he believes the JUCO route was optimal for Thomas because it’ll give him opportunities for more exposure.
“He earned over seven offers from great schools including Butler,” Skelton said. “But I think (Butler) will benefit him by having the opportunity to get recruited by bigger universities that he sees himself fitting into.”
Skelton said he’s wholeheartedly convinced that two years on the JUCO level will give other schools a chance to see what Skelton says is a huge upside for Thomas.
“I’ve always believed that DD is an elite football player,” Skelton said. “He has been our best overall football player for many years here. He gets more excited about the off-season process than anything, because it’s an opportunity for him to get better. He’ll be successful at Butler without a doubt.”
