Mississippi State receiver Zavion Thomas looks to build on last week's performance
For much of his early career at Mississippi State, sophomore Zavion Thomas has been known more for his electric returns on special teams. But last Saturday at Auburn he proved he can also be a weapon at wide receiver.
The Louisiana product was one of the few bright spots for State’s offense last weekend at Auburn. He hauled in a career-best nine catches for 112 yards and had the team’s lone touchdown of the day.
Earlier this week after practice, Thomas recapped that performance among other topics:
Q: Kevin Barbay said you had a really good week of practice last week. Did you feel that coming on and if so, can you replicate it this week?
Thomas: Yeah, just Coach Bump (Chad Bumphis) preaching practice makes perfect. Just going out there and practicing and doing everything I got to do set me up for a good performance.
Q: Early in the game against Auburn, did you see something that you could exploit with their secondary?
Thomas: Yeah, I saw everything that Coach Bump and Coach Barbay told us throughout the week. Every time I got the ball, I was just taking advantage of every time I got the ball and that’s all I could do.
Q: You had some tough catches, too. Were you just on last Saturday?
Thomas: Just me trusting my ability. When the ball goes in the air, understanding it’s got to be mine. It can’t be the DBs (defensive backs), it’s got to be mine. Just having that mentality makes everything go.
Q: What are your early impressions of Kentucky?
Thomas: They’re a good team. It’s going to be a great matchup.
Q: It seems like you haven’t had as many opportunities in the return game this year. How do you keep yourself locked in there on returns?
Thomas: It’s gonna come. It’s gonna come soon. Just going back there with the same mentality as last year. Coach (Eric) Mele has been telling me it is gonna come soon. Whenever that opportunity comes I am going to show what I can do.
Q: Also with kickoff returns, teams are trying to keep it away from both you and Tulu Griffin. Same focus there?
Thomas: I mean, I am beside one of the best kick returners in the nation. So it’s really not that much pressure on me because I am beside (Griffin). So it’s easy.
Q: What can they receivers do to try to help quarterback Mike Wright?
Thomas: We just have to focus on our job. Mike is going to do his job.
Q: When the scramble drill happens, does it turn into 7 on 7 at that point?
Thomas: It’s not even 7 on 7. We work on scramble drills in practice and stuff like that. Coach Barbay teaches us scramble drills. He teaches us where to be whatever side he rolls to. So we know what to do when the scramble drill comes.
Q: I am sure you would have traded your stats for a win. But what does a game like that do for you confidence-wise?
Thomas: It means a lot, just having the quarterback trusting me and stuff like that and showing my teammates that I can make plays.
