Now, the afterthought—the once nameless replacement of an Ivy football icon—has tallied 75 tackles and eight sacks, team-leading statistics in both categories.

Thomas sits tied for second in the league in sacks, four behind Dartmouth’s Anthony Gargiulo, and he has terrorized offensive lines all season long.

“When an offensive lineman comes to block him and he puts him on his back,” says senior defensive back Ricky Williamson, “it becomes very demoralizing to realize that no matter what [they] do, [they] can’t block this kid.”

You’d think that by now, opponents would recognize No. 40—or at least fear him. But 2003 All-Ivy linebacker Bobby Everett is the one who generates a lot of interest from opposing offenses, giving Thomas more incentive and freedom to roam the field for smaller running backs.

“If they’re going to focus their game plan on [Everett], he knows that they’re forgetting about me,” Thomas says. “And he knows that I’ll be able to step up and make the play.”

From play-charter to play-maker, Thomas has emerged as one of the top linebackers in the league. After a 12-tackle, two-sack performance in Harvard’s 39-14 demolition of Princeton, Thomas was named Ivy defensive player of the week. His impressive junior season has propelled Harvard’s forgotten defense to second in the Ivies in scoring defense. That same unit has forced 21 turnovers, good for first in the league. And since surrendering 24 points to Cornell, the Crimson defense has allowed an average of 10 points per game over the last five contests.

But that’s all in a week’s work for Thomas, who starts on Monday with a critical analysis of the upcoming weekend’s victim.

Numbers memorized, he’s ready to make a painful introduction.