BLACK & GOLD TRIBUNE: ONE VISION, ONE PURPOSE

Career: Two-year captain appeared in 56 career games and made 30 starts (27 straight to close career) … Signed with the Buffalo Bills following the 2020 NFL Draft ... App State went 54-12 in his five seasons, as he was part of just the fifth class in college football history to win five bowl games and four conference championships, joining five-year classes from Nebraska (1969-73), Alabama (1975-79), Florida State (1991-95) and Marshall (1988-2002). Was only member of that five-man group to use a season of eligibility as a true freshman in 2015, as he officially redshirted the 2017 season due to injury … According to PFF College, first-team All-Sun Belt as a senior and second-team as a junior … Posted 163 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 14 passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in his career … Scored his first career touchdown in his final home game, returning an interception 16 yards for a score in the Sun Belt Championship Game to help App State go 27-4 at home in his five seasons … Had interceptions in three of App State’s four postseason wins in 2018 and 2019.
 
2019: First-team All-Sun Belt according to PFF College with a coverage grade that was No. 2 among all Group of Five safeties during the regular season … One of three permanent team captains, started all 14 games at strong safety and finished the season with a career-high 72 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, one fumble return for 37 yards and one interception return for a 16-yard touchdown … Career-high 10 tackles (nine solo) and one tackle for loss in 20-15 win at South Carolina … Pick-six score in final home game gave App State a 42-17 lead against Louisiana in the Sun Belt Championship Game … Fumble recovery and 37-yard return set up score in 52-7 win against ULM … Had at least seven tackles in five games … Jim Thorpe Award watch list.

2018: Of four team captains, one of two juniors in that role … Second-team All-Sun Belt from PFF College … Started all 13 games at free safety … Totaled 43 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions, including one apiece in the Sun Belt Championship Game and R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl … Made a career-high eight tackles (all solo) in the 45-13 bowl win and intercepted a pass at the App State 15 with Middle Tennessee looking to add on to a 3-0 lead … Intercepted a pass in the second quarter of App State’s 30-19 win against Louisiana in the Sun Belt title game … Also had picks at Arkansas State and at Coastal Carolina, two of three opponents that didn’t score an offensive touchdown against the Mountaineers … In the opening minutes at Texas State, forced a fumble at the App State 34 to help swing momentum in a 38-7 victory … Key part of stingy defense that set a Sun Belt record by allowing only 20 defensive touchdowns, and the eight touchdown passes allowed tied for the national lead. Appalachian was No. 3 nationally with only eight passes of 30-plus yards allowed and No. 4 with one pass of 50-plus yards allowed.

2017: Started the first three games at free safety and played in the first four games but missed the last three months of the season due to injury and received a medical hardship … Finished the season with 13 tackles, including one tackle for loss … Recorded seven tackles, including one for loss, in a 20-13 win over Texas State in the league opener.

2016: Made 12 appearances during his sophomore campaign at defensive back and on special teams … Recorded 28 total tackles, including 2.0 tackles for a loss … Hauled in his first career interception against Idaho with a 26-yard return … Intercepted a pass in the end zone at New Mexico State … Finished the season with two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry.

2015: Saw action in 13 games as a true freshman … Collected seven tackles (4 solo) … Totaled two tackles in wins at ULM and at South Alabama.

High School: Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports ... Two-time first-team Alabama 3A all-state honoree as a quarterback ... Accounted for 9,414 yards (5,190 passing, 4,224 rushing) and 97 touchdowns (35 passing, 62 rushing) as a four-year starter at quarterback ... also tallied 27 receiving yards, 470 punt-return yards and 20 kick-return yards during stellar prep career ... Passed for at least 902 yards in each of his four seasons (1,403 as a freshman, 902 as a sophomore, 1,398 as a junior, 1,487 as a senior) ... Rushed for at least 638 yards each season (716 as a freshman, 638 as a sophomore, 1,540 as a junior and 1,330 as a senior) ... Averaged 17.0 yards per completion and 6.8 yards per rush for his career ... Helped lead Montgomery Academy to a 23-3 record and two state playoff appearances over his final two seasons ... Coached by Anthony McCall. 

Personal: Full name is Joshua Terrell Thomas ... Born Nov. 19, 1996  ... Son of Felicia Friendly ... Oldest of three siblings.