Image courtesy of Sherry Backus Saccolitti

Ryon Thomas was used to playing for a smaller school after his days as an Old Rochester Regional Bulldog.

Attention and recognition were earned every step of the way over in Mattapoisett.

So, when he went to Fairleigh Dickinson University in Florham, New Jersey four years ago – not the D1 version, but the D3 school – Thomas was fully prepared for the less-than-ideal attention and recognition he’d get playing for the Devils.

In the end, ball was ball.

“I really wanted to challenge myself and I knew that New Jersey, Pennsylvania football would be a great challenge for me coming from a smaller school in Massachusetts,” Thomas said in a recent interview. “Recruiting was a challenge because of COVID so I just sent my film out to as many schools as I could and when I was asked to come for a visit at FDU I really liked the coaches, the Confernece they played in and the campus. It felt like the right fit.”

Most players in Thomas’ shoes would play with a chip on their shoulder.

He didn’t.

In his final season, Thomas went 224-314 for 2616 yards with 19 touchdowns this year. He also had 151 carries for 645 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns and one tackle in a game on November 16. He also collected multiple accolades:

-Hansen Ratings All-Region 1 Offensive MVP
-Hansen Ratings All-Region 1 (First Team)
-FCS National Bowl Game Offensive MVP (National Team)
-Second Team All-MAC (Quarterback)
-MAC Offensive Player of the Week (September 16 & 30, November 4)

Those were on top of a 2023 All-MAC Honorable Mention (Quarterback) selection and a 2022 All-MAC First Team selection (Punter). In 2022, D3football.com also had him on their Team of the Week (10/8) and he won MAC Offensive Player of the Week as well. Oh, FDU also won the MAC Centennial Bowl for the first time ever. During his four years, Thomas played in three bowl games (2 ECAC, 1 MAC) and won two.

“I didn’t have a chip on my shoulder. I was grateful to have the opportunity to play college ball. I knew I had a lot of hard work to put in to become QB1, so I hit the ground running,” he said. “I was fortunate to get in as QB my freshman year and was able to have some success I think that set me up for the opportunity to take the reigns my sophomore year and I didn’t look back. I wanted to win games, championships, bowl games and to also hold records. I worked hard. We missed a Confrenece championship, but we were able to have three bowl games and two bowl rings and I left FDU with my name in the record books.

Now, after earning an invite to the FCS National Bowl Game in Daytona, Florida following one hell of a senior season, Thomas finds himself on the NFL radar as preparation begins for Pro Day and combine season.

The FCS National Bowl has been around since 2014 and is a one-stop-shop for NFL, CFL, Arena Football and UFL scouts looking to find that undiscovered hidden gem from one of the smaller schools around the country. Thomas being named as one of the game’s Most Valuable Players was the perfect way to end this chapter of the journey.

“I was lucky to have been Invited to Daytona to complete in the FCS Bowl Game. That opened a lot of doors for me and gave me exposure to NFL, CFL, UFL , arena and overseas scouts,” Thomas said. “After Friday evening’s practice, a scout for the Green Bay Packers reached out to me. I was asked to take the Wonderlic test for them. I walked away from that weekend having learned so much. That weekend opened a lot of doors for me and helped me to get my film out there. Being invited to that bowl game officially entered me in the draft.

“I’m now training with Test Academy in their NFL prep program. I’m also so grateful to now be working under QB Coach Tony Racioppi. He is helping me obviously clean up what needs to be cleaned up on the field side, but also in the classroom learning nfl offenses and defenses and really breaking everything down.”

Thomas’ story is quite an inspirational one for those players who continue to worry about playing for smaller programs in both high school and college.

The dream can still survive if you’re willing to work for it.

“I had the honor of hearing Jerry Hardaway speak at the agent/scout conference when I was in Daytona. He’s an NFL scout Hall of Famer and he said to us, “You could play dead in a coffin. If you’re good we will find you.” He also said if you are coming from a smaller school you have to have dominated at that level in order to get to the pros,” added Thomas.

“So, if you do end up at a smaller school, make sure you commit to the work and dominate. Keep working hard, get good film and focus on being the best player, teammate you can be.

“They will find you.”