Ohio State's Michael Thomas Anxious For Potential One-on-One Opportunities Against Virginia Tech's Kendall Fuller

By Eric Seger on September 1, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Michael Thomas had success last year against Virginia Tech. He's anxious for another shot this year.
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Michael Thomas is about as prototypical a wide receiver as they come.

He's big, fast, extremely talented, has great hands and never short on confidence.

"It's a lot of hype that goes into it, a lot of 'he said, she said.' Everyone forms their opinion," Ohio State's No. 1 wide receiver said Monday when asked about the excitement that surrounds a Buckeye game. "But at the end of the day we're both going to line up against each other and that's how we'll solve it, so."

He also was alluding to the fact that he'll likely get matched up Week 1 against one of the best defensive backs in the country, Virginia Tech's Kendall Fuller, quite often Labor Day Night in Blacksburg, Va. Fuller earned All-American honors after leading the Hokie defense in 2014 and snagging a pair of interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

"He has a great bloodline, comes from a great family of DBs, with his brothers," Thomas said. "He's just an athlete. I love competition so I can't wait to go against him on Monday."

Fuller is the fourth Hokie in his family — his brothers Vincent, Corey and Kyle all played for Tech in the last 13 years — and is looking to become the next in line to leave Virginia Tech and become an NFL Draft pick.

Thomas lined up opposite of Fuller a few times last year, finishing the game with six catches for 98 yards and a 53-yard touchdown reception. He was the lone Buckeye with multiple catches against the Hokies, who shut down Ohio State's offense.

"They have a very good defense in general, and he's one of their high level players," offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said of Fuller. "They have many good players, high level players."

Here's a refresher on what Thomas' night looked like last year against Virginia Tech:

Essentially, Barrett — and by extension, Ohio State — knew Thomas gave the Buckeyes the best chance in the passing game even against Virginia Tech's best defensive player (Fuller went down with an injury late in the game, too).

A similar situation could present itself Monday, with Corey Smith, Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall suspended for the bout against the Hokies and Noah Brown out for the season with a broken leg. Braxton Miller's entered the fold at H-back, but we're unsure how Urban Meyer and Warinner plan to use him in the passing game.

“We aren't worried about Mike Thomas and him playing a great game and being productive although we know the quality of player that, if that's the guy that covers him, we know how good he is too. That's one of those big time matchups.”– Ed Warinner

"We just have to be smart and prudent about what we do," Warinner said. "They get to decide where they put (Fuller). We can't know for sure where he's going to be, who he's going to cover in each formation, where he's going to be. Some of that has to be as the game progresses."

It could be a lot of Thomas-Fuller back and forth once again.

"I love man coverage. I love when someone plays over the top and there's no one to help him," Thomas said. "It's just me versus him. Kind of like one-on-one basketball. I love competition and I love when teams play man."

Thomas credited the top secondaries the Buckeyes faced last season, but gave Fuller the best grade among the individual players he took on en route to 54 catches for 799 yards and nine touchdowns.

"I played against a lot of great corners last year. Trae Waynes, the guys at Michigan State, Virginia Tech they were great corners. Everyone. I give credit to all those DBs I played against. The guys from Alabama, everyone," Thomas said. "(Fuller's) definitely at the top."

Thomas doesn't have much of a filter on Twitter, using the social media outlet to send out motivational declarations and support for both himself and his team. He's confident, as a wide receiver should be — it's in his blood. After all, his Twitter handle is @Cantguardmike and he is the nephew of former Pro Bowl wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.

"We aren't worried about Mike Thomas and him playing a great game and being productive although we know the quality of player that, if that's the guy that covers him, we know how good he is too," Warinner said. "That's one of those big-time matchups."

But after his teammates struggled to get open at times for Barrett last year, Thomas knows there's still plenty to prove against the Hokies.

"A lot of motivation. We've been preparing well and getting ready, sticking to the game plan," Thomas said. "We know a lot of guys are going to have to go out there and step up."

And he can't wait — especially if he gets the chance to go toe-to-toe with Fuller once again.

"We'll see," he said.

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