JUCO Defensive Back Zeke Thomas Commits to UCLA Football

With spring camp about to begin, the Bruins have added another defensive back to their roster.

Cabrillo College product Zeke Thomas has committed to UCLA football, he announced Saturday on Twitter. Thomas, who played the last two seasons with the Seahawks at the community college level, came to campus back on Jan. 24 and earned an offer the next day.

Thomas' other offers were from Ottawa University, Missouri Valley College, South Dakota School of Mines and Lincoln University.

The defensive back from Soquel, California, has two years of eligibility remaining.

As a freshman in 2021, Thomas racked up 45 tackles, four interceptions and 13 pass breakups. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound safety made the California Community College Football Coaches Association First Team Defense in Region II in 2022 after recording 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and nine pass breakups.

Thomas became the first defensive back to earn an offer from the Bruins after they officially introduced cornerbacks coach Kodi Whitfield in late January.

Whitfield is taking over as cornerbacks coach, a position that did not exist on UCLA's staff over the past few seasons. Brian Norwood, who had been defensive backs coach over the previous three seasons, was moved to safeties coach on Feb. 27.

Since Thomas got his offer, the Bruins have also replaced defensive coordinator Bill McGovern with Baltimore Ravens safeties coach D’Anton Lynn.

Based on his size, Thomas will likely slide in at safety, where the Bruins are losing both of their super senior starters – Stephan Blaylock and Mo Osling III. Kenny Churchwell III, Alex Johnson, William Nimmo Jr. and Bowling Green transfer Jordan Anderson are the veterans who will likely take on most of the load this season, but they are all set to run out of eligibility at the end of 2023.

Rising sophomores Kamari Ramsey and Clint Stephens, as well as class of 2023 signee RJ Jones, appear to make up UCLA's young core at the position for the time being.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ZEKE THOMAS/TWITTER