Matthew Thomas finishes up high school career, looking ahead to Rutgers

The high school football season wrapped up with a playoff run for Rutgers commit Matthew Thomas of Midwood High in Brooklyn. The senior defensive end had a big year on the field and is now ready to take his talents to Piscataway.

“I am really excited. It is a big step forward and I can’t wait to play at the next level,” Thomas said. “I am really excited to get up there.”

Thomas has not settled on an official visit date to Rutgers, although it will likely take place on the weekend of Dec 8th.

He has plenty of opportunities to finalize that date as he is in constant contact with the RU coaching staff.

“Coach [Bill] Busch is a great guy. Me and him always have conversations on a daily basis,” Thomas said. “We always had a good relationship. I also have a good relationship with Coach [Chris] Ash. I talk to him all the time and I talk to Coach [Shane] Burnham a lot too. It feels like home.”

Thomas also mentioned where those coaches see him lining up when he arrives at Rutgers.

“They want me at the Jack position. It is like an outside linebacker/defensive end. I will be pass rushing and dropping back into coverage.”

Thomas’ final game came against some future Rutgers players as Midwood bowed out of the playoffs after losing to Erasmus Hall, which features RU commits Kessawn Abraham and Christian Izien.

“I actually knew Chris since my sophomore year. Coming into the game, there was a lot of trash talking between us,” Thomas said.

Now that high school football is finished, Thomas reflected on that experience.

“I will never forget the experience I had here. I love all the guys and the coaches. It’s like I am leaving one of my families and going to another one of my families."

Thomas said he is now a little over 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 245 pounds. He will also not be in enrolling early for the spring semester.