Thomas entered the transfer portal Dec. 17, 2025 electing to leave San Jose State University, and committed to the Cougs Jan. 4, 2026. The three star defensive back had 59 total tackles 47 of them coming from solo tackles, six pass deflections and two fumble recoveries.
WSU will be entering a new era of athletics with the revamped PAC-12. However, the conference has big names like WSU and Boise State and players still see it as a competitive conference.
“I wanted more competition and obviously more of a winning team. So WSU was definitely on my mind,” JT said. “The new teams vs the old teams do not matter to me, as a kid growing up I always wanted to play in a competitive conference and I knew coming into the Pac-12, that was going to be the case.”
WSU and head coach Kirby Moore created a reunion between JT and his former coach at SJSU Greg Burns. While he did not commit to the Cougs because of Burns solely, he was a big reason.
“[Burns] ended up landing here who got fired from my old school. So that was a big bonus on how that connection worked but yeah,” JT said.
Without Burns coming to WSU it is unknown whether JT would have been a Coug.
“I just knew he was more of a coach that kept it real, I kind of like coaches who are just honest and create a plan as opposed to what he wants to see. He gave me a chance as a younger corner in our group last year,” JT said. “So me being able to progress through that position just allowed me to trust him more and realize what kind of guy he is and what kind of coach he brings to the team.”
From the outside looking in, WSU has had two different head coaches in two seasons. Believing in the new regime is not easy especially in today’s college football landscape.
“It’s a whole new coaching staff who came in and it was fortunate enough my old coach had gotten hired here. I kind of got more research on the team, started hearing names and then as soon as I did my research on [Moore],” JT said. “I knew it was a good hire. So far it’s been great. I mean he is a guy I want to play for.”
With NIL and the transfer portal, coming to a new team is tough. Even more so in football where you need to have a relationship with your teammates to be able to flourish, team bonding is pivotal. While the Cougs did not have 50+ new players like they did with Jimmy Rogers last season they still have some new players like JT.
“We bond pretty easily, especially being around each other every day and competing for the same goal. When you see your teammates working, it pushes you to step your game up. Going through the same experiences helps build stronger bonds,” JT said.
With how NIL has impacted college athletics in both football and basketball, schools have been teetering the gray line with players coming back for another year after they have been enrolled in college for over five years.
“I think the whole NIL thing is kind of a great opportunity. I just think because some guys are also in a position where they need to help their family,” JT said. “It does get a little obnoxious sometimes when people are, you know, staying back because they are making more than they would at a higher level.”
JT will be playing safety for the Cougs this Fall and not corner like he did at SJSU. He is also changing his number from 29 when he was a corner to 3 like he was in high school at safety. The change however will not be much of an adjustment for him. JT played safety before but after red-shirting his freshman year he was moved to corner but that will be changing after Burns was hired as the safety coach.
Every football player models their game off of someone, for JT he tries to emulate some of the best ever. Ed Reed because of his physicality and the IQ he played with. Jalen Ramsey because he played corner and safety just like JT. Lastly, Troy Polamalu who he says has always been the “GOAT” in his mind, JT grew up a Steelers fan and Polamalu was a star player on the team so it’s a no brainer.
Outside of football JT enjoys being outdoors in nature. He enjoys golfing and sometimes will randomly go golfing with his friends. Coming from SJSU to Pullman is a big change weather and landscape wise. While it has not snowed much in Pullman, the cold is not something JT is fond of.
