Jemea Thomas named ACC DB of week
Georgia Tech defensive back Jemea Thomas was named the ACC defensive back of the week Monday for his leading role in the Yellow Jackets’ 31-17 win over Clemson Saturday.
Thomas had two interceptions, both in the fourth quarter, one in the Tech end zone and the other to end the Tigers’ final drive. He also broke up two passes, made five tackles (one for loss) and forced a fumble.
Thomas, who made his first career start, recorded the first two interceptions of his career en route to arguably Georgia Tech’s top individual defensive performance of the season. Thomas had five tackles, a tackle for loss, forced a fumble, broke up two passes and was the first Tech player in more than a year to pick off two passes in a game. Both of his INTs came in the fourth quarter – the first one in the end zone that foiled Clemson’s chance to pull within a touchdown.
He also played an integral role on special teams.
“I got winded a little bit, but I knew I had to come through for my team,” Thomas said after the game. “I’m willing to do whatever. What they want me to do, I’m down for my team.”
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100 comments Add your comment
GTJason
October 31st, 2011
2:00 pm
This just in, he’s also a beast
Teddy Roosevelt
October 31st, 2011
2:07 pm
At a boy!
Luke
October 31st, 2011
2:10 pm
Guy is actually a really quality kid. Very humble and very personable. He’s kind of goofy when you actually get him talking.
Yazoo
October 31st, 2011
2:11 pm
Hell of a game by JT. Made me proud to be a Jacket seeing that effort Sat night. Let’s keep it rolling and stay undefeated at home. He more than deserves the honor. Go Jackets!!!!!
JLight
October 31st, 2011
2:12 pm
Great! Kid was all over the place Saturday night and had big hits all season. Needs to start the rest of the games.
tp jones
October 31st, 2011
2:14 pm
Need to start him every game. Would love to see him play at a back some.
George Stein
October 31st, 2011
2:20 pm
The pass breakup in the third quarter on the bomb to Watkins where he was one on one was unreal. It was, in my opinion, the play that saved the game. If they hit that (and it was a perfect pass), it’s 31-17 with plenty of time left.
Well done, Jemea.
GIVE ME A BREAK
October 31st, 2011
2:21 pm
Tech’s defense played like a #1 against a #5 offense. Lights out & shut down. ” ROCK & ROLL YELLOW JACKETS “
Hayseed Dixie
October 31st, 2011
2:24 pm
Best kind of win:
You beat a high ranked opponent handily- you didn’t squeak one out.
A great player has a coming out party.
Still buzzing over the atmosphere at BDS Saturday nite. Wow.
Hayseed Dixie
October 31st, 2011
2:28 pm
Oh, and let’s not forget TJ Barnes pimp-slapping Clemson’s pass pocket.
Another thing to get excited about as we head to the VaTech game.
Ken,
We need a catchier nickname for the Polytech/Tech game, “The Battle of the Techs” just sounds flat. I believe you’ll be the best arbiter of this as the AJC correspondent.
shorter passes (as short as necessary!)
October 31st, 2011
2:29 pm
Well deserved!
George Stein
October 31st, 2011
2:32 pm
TJ Barnes went nuts, too, Hayseed. I was happy for him.
I hope the lesson they take away is that when you work hard for something and then come out and play with energy, good results follow.
Sports Fan
October 31st, 2011
2:36 pm
Just wait till next year when this secondary get Fred Holton back. Young, Sweeting, Thomas, Johnson, Holton…etc.
ramblingbuzz
October 31st, 2011
2:41 pm
Totally impressed with Jemea and the rest of the D backs. What a game for the entire D!!! Let’s keep it going.
Hayseed Dixie
October 31st, 2011
2:46 pm
Yeah, George, I was happy for him too- it’s not fun to switch positions after being recruited and I can’t imagine the last couple of seasons have been easy for him.
Here’s hoping we can get Kallon on that line firing at all cylinders ASAP. This’ll be a nasty, nasty defense if we can get some more pressure.
juvenal
October 31st, 2011
2:47 pm
still a young team…….”BUZZ VS. BUZZARDS”!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
2:54 pm
hayseed, I can think of a name for the game that would be catchy and hilarious, but it would be used disparagingly by the mutts. So I won’t even type it here. I’m sure it would meet some resistance at first, but what’s wrong with sometimes making fun of yourselves?
juvenal
October 31st, 2011
2:57 pm
the turkey buzzsaw massacre…….
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
2:58 pm
juvenal, that doesn’t include the TRUE Tech’s name though, nor any reference to us
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
2:59 pm
but then the name I thought of doesn’t include either school’s name, so what do I know? lol
Jacket Backer
October 31st, 2011
3:00 pm
This kid is a terrific player. He does not need to come off the field. It was evident last season that he was special. Glad CAG figured this out.
Go Jackets!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:03 pm
Jacket Backer, Groh is looking better and better as DC each week, isn’t he? A couple more defensive games like that will shut up all his detractors. Of course, any reasonable fan should have seen this coming from the week to week improvement in the D throughout this season.
juvenal
October 31st, 2011
3:06 pm
buzz isn’t a Tech reference?
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:12 pm
juvenal, yeah, I guess it is, but I didn’t pick up on it. too subtle???
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:13 pm
however, juvenal, I think some kind of name that would be used from year to year just to describe the meeting of the two Tech’s would be more appropriate and attract more attention.
Glenn
October 31st, 2011
3:20 pm
Someone said Jemea was selling Cokes and popcorn at halftime, too.
NOVAJacket
October 31st, 2011
3:27 pm
JFT an instant classic!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:31 pm
LOL@ Glenn
Purple Pride
October 31st, 2011
3:31 pm
Way to go you former Fitzgerald High Purple Hurricane!
juvenal
October 31st, 2011
3:37 pm
i guess can’t use the word massacre, not insensitive, just old & forgetful……aren’t all their players sociology & criminology majors, engineering only a fraction of what they do, like Clmson,FSU,AU…..ok, “Tech it to the limit”…
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:40 pm
I think it needs to be referred to as some kind of bowl
GTJason
October 31st, 2011
3:45 pm
Yeah finally 6′7″ ~350lb nose tackle TJ Barnes gets to play… How has that not been a no brainier all season? The goal of a nose tackle is to be disruptive and take down more than 1 lineman in the 3-4. He can do that by falling forward (which will also measure on the Richter scale.) I understand a hair on Groh’s head has more defensive knowledge than I do, but he’s the only NT that’s even the right size especially when we can’t stop the run, he’s gotta play.
juvenal
October 31st, 2011
3:46 pm
too worn out to get that high saturday, just hit my cell thursday week…
Ga Tech Old Timer
October 31st, 2011
3:49 pm
THAT”S WHAT I”M TALKING ABOUT!!! Jemea Thomas has played his ass off EVERY game – and leaves it all on the field. There’s no quit in this kid. He’s a RSO and hopefully will be one of our team leaders for a couple more years. While everyone stepped up their game Saturday PM – JT plays and leads by example. We need more players like JT that Coach Johnson can say the same thing about -”We need to find a way to get him on the field more often…”. He has become one of the leaders on a team that just last year lacked players with leadership qualities and the desire of JT to “Do what it takes to help the team”. Congradulations JT – you make us all proud!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:50 pm
juvenal was your 3:46 post to me? Do I even have your cell?
juvenal
October 31st, 2011
3:59 pm
Super, check your yahoo…..don’t really like the buzzards enough to care if we have a cute name…..
wreckbuzz
October 31st, 2011
4:01 pm
Well deserved. He’s a playmaker. It seems like he makes every special teams tackle too. I like having him as punt returner, maybe something awesome will happen on that unit with him involved.
Rduck
October 31st, 2011
4:02 pm
“Techmo Bowl” for all you out there over 40 like myself…
GT Dude
October 31st, 2011
4:02 pm
Well deserved recognition!!!
Saw Jamea in the first or second home game and knew he was something special, since then he has been “my main Man” A real head hunter
Stay Thirsty My Friends
Rduck
October 31st, 2011
4:05 pm
this secondary really has a chanc to be a very special unit for Tech in the years to come. they are hard-nosed and very skilled at a young age. could be the best Tech has fielded in a very long time. possibly ever….
Jamea is a great talent and a great overall team player. the kid just does his job and excels evry game. he also did a great job fielding punts.
Spyro
October 31st, 2011
4:05 pm
This is very well deserved. Guy is all over the place. Well done, Jemea!
wreckbuzz
October 31st, 2011
4:07 pm
I think we can call the VT-GT game the “Coastal Division Finals”.
Rduck
October 31st, 2011
4:07 pm
might as well call it the Coastal Division Championship becuse it always seems to come down to this game every year. no disrespect to UVA but i just can’t see them running the table…
Rduck
October 31st, 2011
4:08 pm
beat me to it wreckbuzz
T3
October 31st, 2011
4:17 pm
JT is a baller. GT Secondary is a real hit squad.
A name for the upcoming GT-VT game: A Turkey Shoot.
juvenal
October 31st, 2011
4:20 pm
T3, got to be careful with shooting references…..
Ben Hill
October 31st, 2011
4:28 pm
Wonder if he will help the graduation rates……..
Nate
October 31st, 2011
4:28 pm
I’ve been impressed by Sweeting #6 as well. Mario Butler got beat all last year.
Nate
October 31st, 2011
4:34 pm
I think as a whole UVA is getting alot better as well. Not just because they beat Tech. They shouldn’t win out though.
The only problem T3...
October 31st, 2011
4:34 pm
…is which team is the turkey?
Vulture
October 31st, 2011
4:39 pm
The HokieBird
The bird is a “HokieBird” which has evolved from a turkey. Virginia Tech teams were once called the “gobblers”!
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 31st, 2011
4:53 pm
Way to go JT!!!
Didn’t really know who #14 was going into the game, but I sure do now.
Sweeting is awesome too. We got to have both of them on the field at all times. Too bad they play the same position.
Golden White
October 31st, 2011
5:52 pm
I will say it once again . I want a # 14 jersey . Jemea Thomas is for real and has a big play in every game he has played in this year . Someone please tell me where I can buy a # 14
[ current GT game ] jersey . It will make a good Christmas gift for myself .
19
October 31st, 2011
6:10 pm
Golden White, possibly a sporting goods store. I agree with you and CPJ that Jemea needs to be in the game more.
Congratulations to Jemea Thomas and the whole team for a great Victory!
Go Jackets!!!
yeller bug
October 31st, 2011
6:20 pm
THough we’re supposed to drink our whiskey clear–a viable and legal substitute might make a good name:
Wild Turkey Buzz
pw12
October 31st, 2011
6:23 pm
Cause up in till now tj Barnes has been lazy
19
October 31st, 2011
6:26 pm
“whiskey clear” refers more to “with nothing added” like water, ice, etc.
Go Jackets!!!
59jacket
October 31st, 2011
6:26 pm
Now you see why, after the third game, I questioned Jemea not starting. I wondered why he was red-shirted last year. Another player who should be recognized is Burnett, the linebacker. Last year he started the season third-string, but worked himself into a starting role and led the team in tackles. Our defensive coaches are just now getting to know their players. The players know who can and will play and maybe the lack of enthusiasm we witnessed earlier was caused by not letting the Burnetts and Thomas’s play and lead. But that is history. Maybe we will play out the rest of the season with the enthusiasm we had in the Clemson game. But this is all speculation. Maybe this young team is just now learning to play together and will continue to improve the next couple of years and great things will happen. Champions almost always have a great defense and run the pigskin and Tech just might have both in a year or two.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
6:45 pm
Golden White, I was told, and I don’t know if this is gospel or not, that the only “official” merchandise you can buy only has the number of a senior on it. You can’t even get an official one with 13 on it, much less any of the other members of the team whose number hasn’t been handpicked by Russell and Tech
pw12
October 31st, 2011
6:47 pm
Let jt replace sylvester at olb.he is tough enough
Ol'JacketFan
October 31st, 2011
6:56 pm
It’s nice to see the young men on this team be recognized for their efforts. Jamea Thomas is player and fits in with what I see as the most athletic and talented secondary I ever remember on the Flats. CAG is showing why he has been highly regarded as a DC, his mixing up of coverage, line stunts and blitzes had Taj Boyd not knowing where to go with the ball or when a change up was coming. It also looks like TJ Barnes may have had a coming out party of his own as well, it’s great to see the kind of push from him that a 3-4 needs from its NT. As I said before, the future looks bright and I am enjoying this season as well as the effort from this TEAM!
Go Jackets!!!!!!!!!!!!
yeller bug
October 31st, 2011
7:15 pm
Supersize, that shouldn’t be right as many had Dwyer’s number (21) even though he didn’t stick around for his senior year. 19: Is that right? I always thought it meant moonshine. Dang, I’ve been drinking the wrong stuff all these years! I may need counseling.
ccrider
October 31st, 2011
7:17 pm
Looking Forward to next Thursday’s ” TECH WAR”!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
7:26 pm
yeller bug, I stand corrected then, but that IS what somebody told me this fall.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
7:27 pm
Tech War or Tech Wars (like Star Wars) would be a good name.
yeller bug
October 31st, 2011
7:40 pm
Back to the point of Ken’s article—JT is a player and it’s great to see him get more playing time. He laid a hit early in the WCU game that made me wince in sympathy for the poor receiver. He’s Thor’s hammer out there—flying around and making huge hits. Maybe someone can assemble a video by the end of the season of some of his plays/big hits and play it to “Hammer Time”
Vidalia man
October 31st, 2011
7:49 pm
Watched him in high school,
Watched him in high school, Fitzgerald. Been keeping up with him, at the Tech games, making big hits when he gets a chance. Glad Coaches finally put him in. He can be a game changer. He is a helluva athlete. Watch him become all-ACC!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
7:54 pm
Vidalia man, I used to sit next to a family from Vidalia. Haven’t seen them at all this year though. I remember their little boy crying after a Tech loss one year back in the 70s, and then he ended up going to UGA…..the traitor. LOL
Vidalia man
October 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
several of us Vidalia people still attend. I would die if I had young-un go to Ga. Tailgate in front of Peters Parking on the right far side of Peters parking lot. Come see us.
Golden White
October 31st, 2011
8:25 pm
Supersize.. Lord I hope that is not the case . I have some phone calls to make to see if I can make it happen .
Bill A
October 31st, 2011
8:48 pm
Wish I could be at the games but I live in Central Florida. I did go the Miami game but we didn’t do so well there. You guys enjoy the games in Atltanta. Hopefully Tech can keep it up. If special teams can just not make huge mistakes we will have a good chance. I still haven’t figured out why we could run so much better against Clemson than we could against Miami.
VT F___KS SHEEP
October 31st, 2011
9:00 pm
JEMEA THOMAS IS THE MAN!!!!!!!!!
fuzzybee78
October 31st, 2011
9:31 pm
CAG generally likes bigger taller players, recruited that way at UVA. Jemea Thomas and Julian Burnett break the rule because they have IT whatever IT is, football savy knowhow, some just have IT.
They both make me proud to be a Yellow Jacket!
On GT vs VT——- how bout— Ramblin Wreck vs Turkey Neck!
cewbee
October 31st, 2011
9:31 pm
“Tech it to the limit?” Isn’t that L’Hopital’s rule? Let’s bring the calculus back into the foray!
cewbee
October 31st, 2011
9:35 pm
(After Ma Tech beats you into submission you can’t help yourself…) #1 son 3rd gen techie – dressed as a banana at game (tosh.0 for those not clued) the fact that these kids can cheer after having the crap beat outta them all week is awesome. Did I mention all the MT Jim Beam bottles under the bleachers that could be observed as one made their way to the field?
sports
October 31st, 2011
10:05 pm
academic fraud,drugs,weapons=georgia tech
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
10:09 pm
meaningless exams (3 point basket, anyone?), murderous professors, stolen wheel locks, flunked out running back, DUI after DUI, driving without a license, failure to appear in court, etc, etc, = University (sic) of Georgia,
5150 UOAD
October 31st, 2011
10:09 pm
http://www.ajc.com/news/forsyth/forsyth-raises-big-buzz-1214005.html
Fans please read this and send the DUMB ARSE a note that BEEs are GREAT for the local neighborhood.
I have kept bees off and on for years. UGA’s Keith Delaplane is a great asset to the Ga. beekeeper society. and I respect that DAWG a lot. Please send a note that you don’t mind bees in your neighborhood. They are there already and a person keeping them is an asset to the Food and plant production in your neighborhood.
GT-UT
October 31st, 2011
10:23 pm
Glad to see the usual suspects on here. Makes feel at “home” when away from home.
Way to go Jamea!! You sure made a lot of Jackets proud…not only proud of the team, but proud of you to have played your role, got your start, played your heart out, made big plays when it was your turn; all backed by strong preparation. You did it the right way. Hard work…ready to capitalize…and it paid off. That’s the Jacket way…doing it the right way!! Congrats!!
5150 UOAD
October 31st, 2011
11:02 pm
Halloween is just like my Sex life. The Spookier the more entertaining. I just don’t know how long I will survive afterwards. Boooooooo Boooooooo. I love it with a Ghoul. LOL be safe and have fun.
The Truth
October 31st, 2011
11:04 pm
“Engineers vs. posers”
The Truth
October 31st, 2011
11:12 pm
“tobacca spitters vs. City Slickers”
VT F___KS SHEEP
October 31st, 2011
11:36 pm
Jemea Thomas is the MAN!
Al Groh is the older MAN! lol
Paul Johnson is so the COACH!
Ok, I suppose I'll join in, too.
October 31st, 2011
11:52 pm
@teller bug
You had a 21 jersey when Dwyer was an underclassman because it’s not a Dwyer jersey. You bought yourself a Calvin Johnson jersey.
I love Dwyer, but 21 on the Flats will always be Megatron.
Y’alls game names are pretty funny, “Techmo Bowl” is pretty clever. We could only dream of Madden back then.
ToeMeetsLeather
November 1st, 2011
7:45 am
Thomas even cooked me a hotdog at halftime!
Great game Jemea!
Too Funny
November 1st, 2011
9:07 am
If there was ever a better example of a Nerd than the post from 5150 @ 11:02 then it would be news. What a joke. Is this person the Dragon Con guy in trouble with the law?
Ted
November 1st, 2011
9:10 am
Way to go Jemea! Proud to have you representing the Yellow Jackets!
GT Girl
November 1st, 2011
9:17 am
Congratulations Jemea! Why does he NOT start every game? What a great player! Lots of heart too.
Supersize, I like the ‘Tech Wars’ for the title of our game with VT.
Go Jackets!
Ga Tech Old Timer
November 1st, 2011
9:42 am
To Bill A @8:48PM – Not to harp on the topic of getting to the games BUT – I live in central Florida as well and have had season tickets for Tech football for years – Driving up and back for each home game is what you do when you REALLY want to be involved with the program and show your spirit and support for our team. What’s it going to take to get you fired up enough to spend the time and put in the effort to watch the team play in Atlanta after they’ve put in the time and effort to put a quality product on the field? Get your butt out of your easy chair and head for Atlanta. Just don’t use the fact that you live in central Florida as an excuse not to show up at Grant Field on game day – you and I both know better.
Clempson tied of Alabama
November 1st, 2011
9:49 am
Yellow Jackets do the Hokey Pokey
Georgia Tech makes Beamer ball.
Clempson: “Big fat farm boys should’ve brought the varsity.”
Clempson tied of Alabama
November 1st, 2011
9:55 am
Forgot: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are the Hokey Pokers.
Robert Barron
November 1st, 2011
10:50 am
Well duh concerning the award.
Watching Jamea develop is worth the price of a season ticket.
Unusual for one player to make so many game saving plays.
Especially as a freshman.
RocketCityJacket
November 1st, 2011
11:35 am
I really like the “Tech Wars” moniker for the game.
It is “Simple”, “recognizable”, “catchy” and “rememberable”.
The schools just need to come up with a trophy representing the game, like maybe a slide rule; or maybe something from Star Wars like a Jedi Sword; or how about a combo with crossed swords one a slide rule and the other a Jedi sword; or ……..
Just Ramblin now and I’m a Wreck.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 1st, 2011
11:48 am
Don’t the hokies have crossed-swords in their official logo? That wouldn’t work
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
November 1st, 2011
11:49 am
Love all the posts here (save for a few trolls). Great support and passion. Love that feeling of pride! Thank you #14 and congrats, well deserved! Not to whine or second guess but many of us saw his potential early on so I’m not sure why he hasn’t been starting all along. It’s good to have everyone involved but to win games you need your best players in the game.
Some good creative game slogans already. Not sure that this will stick but I think it’s got a cute ring to it, it is “The Birds and the Bees” and it’s ok for the kids to watch this bump and grind affair! LOL!
4th and Long Gone
November 1st, 2011
12:31 pm
I think one item might be overlooked in the defense’s improvement … in the first few games when the defense looked so bad, they were on the field all day. Everyone always talks about how hard ‘3 and out’s are on the defense. Heck, we were ‘1 and done’ all the time in the first games. The defense never got a break. In the Clemson game, the offense scored a lot, but most were extended drives, giving the defense a breather before having to come back on the field. Obviously, scoring quickly isn’t bad, but you have to give the defense a little slack if that happens. At any rate, great job Jackets!
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
November 1st, 2011
12:38 pm
Make that “The Clash of the Birds and the Bees”. The game plan should include plenty dive plays (TO) and also go deep often (play action pass). LMAO!!
JM
November 1st, 2011
3:53 pm
Congratulations Mr Thomas! Keep working hard and getting better.
19
November 1st, 2011
6:48 pm
Thanks Jemea, can’t wait to see more!
Go Jackets!!!
Grandmother
November 2nd, 2011
10:54 am
To Jemea and the Gatech JACKETS, keep DOING WHAT YOU DO, it takes a TEAM to win, Im pride of each of you because you played as a team, to get the job done. Jemea, keep DOING WHAT YOU DO, God bless each of you is my prayer, LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! Go Jackets