With his recruitment now in the rearview, Warren Central running back Keyon Thomas can focus on having a big senior season.
Thomas, a 6-foot, 205-pound senior-to-be, announced his commitment to Iowa on Wednesday, picking the Hawkeyes over Illinois and UConn. Thomas took official visits to those three schools and also had offers from several other Power Four programs.
Thomas, rated as three-star prospect and the No. 65 running back in the country by 247sports, rushed for 1,337 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. He also caught 18 passes for 184 yard and one TD. Thomas said recently that he was fully recovered from a high ankle sprain that slowed him in the Class 6A semistate against Brownsburg and ready for his senior season.
His goal is a 2,000-yard rushing year.
“I’m back to 100 percent,” he said. “I’m feeling shifty.”
Warren Central coach J.T. Whitaker said Thomas is “one of the two or three strongest guys on the team.” He squats 600 pounds, power cleans 330 pounds and bench presses 330 pounds.
Coming off last year’s breakout season, Thomas has high hopes for himself and Warren Central.
“Last season it was almost a whole new unit,” Thomas said. “This year we have a lot of returning starters coming back. Our seasoned offensive line is back, our receivers, our quarterback. I think this season will be whatever we want it to be.”
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.Get IndyStar's high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Warren Central running back Keyon Thomas commits to Big Ten program