Florida Commit Focused on Future

Larry Thomas is more than a football player. He is a young man with a vision.

"In what ever I do, I want to be a champion," the 6-foot-1, 265-pound defensive tackle from Miami, Killian High told us. "Whether that is on the field or in my future professional career."

Normally, you might think that Thomas is talking about a career in the NFL. You would be mistaken.

"The major reason that I decided to come to Iowa was because of their medical program," Thomas said. "I have been reading up on Iowa for a long time, before they had interest in me. Their medical program is always in the top 10 and after touring their medical facilities, I knew that was where I belonged."

Thomas' mother is a nurse, but he made his decision to pursue medicine before his mother entered the profession.

"I think I have wanted to be a doctor since I was four or five years old," Thomas recalled. "I just have always enjoyed science and helping people. I want to be a heart surgeon."

Oh yeah, the kid can play football, too, and will do that on the defensive side of the ball. Some analysts recently told me Thomas is an inch or two short from being highly coveted by the major Florida universities.

If you remember, height was one of the reasons defensive tackle Derrick Pickens was overlooked by several college programs. All he did was turn into an all-league selection for the Hawkeyes.

When asked about this so-called 'short coming', Thomas showed no concern.

"That is what some people have told me, that I need to be taller," Thomas said. "But not Iowa. They have recruited me since this spring and they really made me feel like a priority."

Thomas is the latest in a long line of Sunshine State preps to make the journey northward and he says there are simple reasons for this trend.

"Down here in Florida, if you would say hello to someone you didn't know, they look at you funny," said Thomas, who was a Dade-Broward county all-star. "When some of us Florida kids go to Iowa, and see how people treat you differently there and are supportive of you and will help you, even though they don't know who you are, that makes a difference."

"Selecting a college is a big decision, but you want it to be a pleasant decision, too. That is why I feel comfortable with Iowa."

Thomas has a drive and intensity that wills him to win. That was one of the reasons he chose to transfer from Braddock to Killian High last summer.

"I wanted to win, but I also wanted to be dealt with fairly," Thomas said. "I got the same feeling when I came up to Iowa as I did when I came to Killian." Thomas got his chance to play on winning team this past season, as Killian went 9-3.

Though his parents will miss him when he comes to Iowa, he said both of them are very supportive of his decision.

"My father met Coach (Bret) Bielema and really liked him," Thomas said. "They are somewhat sad that I will move so far away, but they are also pleased and proud that I am going to be branching out and broadening my horizons."

As he follows those horizons northward, Thomas is excited and confident about the next phase of his life.

"From the moment I walked into the weight room and the football facilities, I saw the hunger and the intensity in the eyes of the players and coaches," Thomas said. "I like the goals these guys have set for the future."

"I plan to come up there to Iowa and add my intensity to the defensive line."

I don't think you will find many doubters, doc.