2026 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Clayton Thomas Jr, LS, Austin Peay State University

• Name: Clayton Thomas Jr
• Position: LS
• College: Austin Peay State University
• Height: 6′ 2″
• Weight: 220 lbs.
• X: @_claytonjr1
• Instagram: @clavtton

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

Five or six years old and in Jacksonville,Florida I played for the Argyle Spartans I remember one time I specifically made a play on the defensive line or whatever the case may be and then just moving another person against their own will like it spiked something in me so since then I’ve been in love with football.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

Leading back to high school we played against a really good Carol City team, and we ended up beating them at home. That’s one of my significant memories. When I got into college I started at Eastern Kentucky, and I was a linebacker, and things didn’t go as planned and covid hit and then I got into the portal and transferred. And then I met some impactful people like Coach Sims and Coach Lewis, these coaches had an impact on my life at Bethune Cookman. Things took the biggest turn when I became a long snapper and obviously nobody wants to become a long snapper but it’s where I truly found myself but if it wasn’t for coach DJ McCarthy, who is right now at FAU he was our TEs and Special Teams coach when I was at Bethune Cookman he made me believe in myself when it comes to long snapping and then at the end of that year I got all conference awards and I ended up getting that award back to back years and then I decided this is something I can take seriously. Then I transferred to Austin Peay with Coach Faris and Coach Reed, and these coaches are probably the most genuine coaches I’ve been around. And all those coaches believed in me and those were some of the most impactful moments in my career.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

Obviously, I want to connect and build relationships with different people. I think I’ve done that this far and want that to continue. Also I want to become one of the best long snappers in the NFL and that’s a dream of mine and something that I want to do. I say that because a lot of long snappers aren’t built like me and they’re not as athletic as me and I want to change the position of long snapper where it’s a position people want to say they want to go and long snap in the NFL. Guys like Luke Rhodes he’s doing something I like and it’s probably like a dream for him and he’s revolutionizing the game of long snapping and I want to add or create something like that for myself. I don’t know if people know Luke Rhodes’ story but he got signed as a linebacker and now he’s one of the best long snappers in the NFL and that’s something that I would love to do in the NFL to revolutionize the position and give the long snapping position more value to the NFL.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?

I would say DeAndre Hopkins for me when I was in 10th or 11th grade I was in the city streets program that helps kids get into college and we went to Clemson and coach Rodney Blunt had DeAndre Hopkins mom come and spoke with us and she has an incredible story and DeAndre Hopkins seems like a guy that would be cool to talk to. And very famous football players are just humans at the end of the day. So it would be cool just to hang out with DeAndre Hopkins because he had an impact on me from 16 years old to now and I would definitely want to spend a day with him.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

My dad and my cousin. My dad because he inspires me because from day one, he’s always believed in me. He actually pushed me to play football when I probably didn’t even want to, but he inspired me because of his work ethic and still to this day at his age he’s still working to get with the will and determination to get what he wants accomplished and he desires. And second is my cousin Jedrick Wills who went 11th overall to the Browns. He’s currently unsigned right now. But the reason he was pretty influential to me is because he made the NFL seem realistic to me and made it seem not so far even though only 1 percent make it to the NFL but he’s helped me see the NFL in a different light. And it is a true fact that only 1 percent make it in the NFL but seeing someone from your family make it mentally it makes it seem like I can do it because my cousin did it and makes it seem attainable to me.

What is your typical training routine?

I would say in season workouts and practicing with the team I would lift two or three times a week. And then once I became a long snapper I would make sure that I’m right mentally going into games. When I became a long snapper and I still do this to this day, I made it a thing to get extra snaps after practice because people who snapped in high school have a lot more reps on me and so I can get caught up with everyone in terms of the number of snaps. Because I do believe long snapper is a repetition thing the more you make your muscle memory the more consistent in your technique you will be and in my head that helps me. Then in the offseason I try to snap two or three times a week and work out like 5 days in the week. I usually don’t lift 5 days a week in the season to keep me fresh for games.

What should we know about Clayton Thomas Jr the person?

He’s a very chill guy. And when he wants to do something he almost becomes obsessed with it. Like just recently I became interested in fishing and my girlfriend was like fishing has taken over your life and I’m like nah I just want to be the best at it. So when I become obsessed with something I want to be the best at it. Then Clayton Thomas as a person he loves his family and family is a big thing. As far as football Clayton Thomas is a competitor who hates losing whether it’s in camp or it’s basketball or it’s ping pong I want to win. And I believe that’s a good trait for an athlete. I’ve a very supportive teammate as well. The last couple years I’ve learned how to lead my teammates in the right direction as far as mentally believing in themselves and how to stomach defeat and not kill your want to play football. Kill their doubt in their minds.

What stands out about your film the most?

My athletic ability and my ability to cover downfield if you put on my film from Bethune Cookman and Austin Peay. The amount of fair catches I’ve caused has been pretty impressive. But my athletic ability for sure will really stand out on film from defeating blocks to outrunning defenders to the ball and even the tackles I made throughout my career as a long snapper I would say that’s one thing that’s undeniable is my athletic ability. I have the things you need as a long snapper too like snap accuracy and snap velocity. Those are also in my film but the one thing that will set me apart is my athletic ability and my size as well.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

Off the field I wanted to be consistent in school and not become complacent and be good in school and that was challenging like everybody comes to school to play football. It’s obviously something we have to do but that shows my willingness to sacrifice different things to play football. Another thing off the field would be injuries. I always found a way to continue to stay in shape and I’ve had shoulder surgeries in the past and have the willingness to keep going to fight the doubt because of injuries. Those things would be examples of how I get through challenges. I’m a determined football player and now I’m hoping to be an NFL player. But mentally becoming a long snapper and not settling and taking long snapping in a positive light and becoming the best I can that was one of the challenges I’ve faced and the willingness and discipline to get better every day and grown to be a good at long snapping on the field with some more room to grow.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

I love the camaraderie, and I love a group of men coming together and fighting towards one common goal and football has given me relationships I couldn’t replace if I went and did anything else and the relationships, I built that’s a big part of why I love the game of football. Obviously, the competitor in me makes it hard for me not to love the game of football and it amplifies my love for the game.