UTAH: Four-year starting nickel back also saw time at corner … played in 50 games with 32 starts. 2016–Played in 13 games with 10 starts at nickel back … 35 tackles (3.5 TFL, 1.0 sack), four pass breakups and a forced fumble … season-high five tackles and forced a fumble against Oregon State with a pass breakup … four tackles against BYU and Arizona State … four tackles and a pass breakup against USC … four tackles vs. Colorado … three tackles with 1.5 TFL and a pass breakup vs. Oregon. 2015–Played in all 13 games with 10 starts at nickel back … 48 tackles (1.0 TFL) … three interceptions tied for seventh in the Pac-12 … tied for eighth in the league in picks per game (0.23) … nine passes defended (3 interceptions, 6 pass breakups) … named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week against Michigan for his 55-yard interception return for a touchdown and four tackles … season-high six tackles against Washington and BYU … also had two pass breakups vs. BYU … five tackles and an interception against California … five tackles against USC and Oregon State (also had a pass breakup) … three pass breakups vs. Arizona State. 2014–Played in 12 games with eight starts … 37 tackles included 3.0 TFL and a sack … seven pass breakups was third on team … season-high six tackles (2.0 TFL) and two pass breakups vs. Washington State … 7-yard fumble return vs. Arizona … broke up two passes against both Arizona State and Oregon … had a sack against UCLA. 2013–Played in 12 games with four starts (2 at nickel, 2 at corner) … 25 tackles with three TFL … two pass breakups … season-high seven tackles against Washington State … also broke up a pass vs. WSU … four tackles vs. Oregon included 1.5 TFL … four tackles (one TFL) against Arizona State. 2012–Redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL: First-team all-district in 2010 … Rivals.com four-star cornerback did not play in 2011 because he was older than the University Interscholastic League’s maximum age requirement … District “Newcomer of the Year” as a sophomore … ran for West Orange-Stark High’s (Texas) three-time 3A state track championship team (2009-11) … 2011 state 200-meter champion … 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams set state 3A record … 2011 MVP Super Gold in track.
PERSONAL: Son of Larnell Jr. and Valerie Thomas … both parents went to Lamar University where his father ran track … one brother and one sister … bachelor’s degree in sociology … full name is Justin Tremaine Thomas … nickname is J.T. … born Sept 15, 1991.