Van’s Aphonso Thomas Picks Up Offer From Texas State

Van’s Aphonso Thomas Picks Up Offer From Texas State

Van running back Aphonso Thomas picked up an offer from Texas State on Tuesday. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Make it three offers for Aphonso Thomas.

Texas State joined Colorado State and Kansas as a potential landing spot for the rising senior running back from Van with a college football scholarship opportunity Tuesday.

Thomas announced the news through his personal Twitter account.

The Bobcats, based in San Marcos and coached by Dennis Franchione, posted a 7-5 overall last season, including a 5-3 mark in Sun Belt Conference play.

Texas State now has three standing offers out for uncommitted East Texas football prospects in the Class of 2016. Jasper tight end Cody Mitchell and Lufkin defensive end Bronson Massie are the other targets.

Mineola twin offensive tackles Austin Anderson and Riley Anderson also hold invitations to join the Bobcats, but both players are committed to Texas A&M.

Franchione is in his fifth consecutive year with the Texas State program. He previously coached at the school, then called Southwest Texas State, from 1990 through the 1991 season.

The head coach spent the intermediate time chronologically serving as the head coach for New Mexico, TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M.

Franchione's second stint with the Bobcats coincided with the program's transition from the FCS level of competition to the FBS. He has a 36-34 record with the 2014 campaign being his most successful.

Texas State has been bowl eligible in two of its first three seasons as an FBS school, 2013 and 2014, but it is still seeking its first bowl game invitation.

Thomas rushed for 934 yards and 12 touchdowns on 106 carries last season and is Van's top returning offensive skill player. Fellow running back Matt Savis -- a Southeastern Oklahoma State signee -- and a very good passing game unit have been lost to graduation.

The new Texas State target will participate in the ETSN.fm + APEC Football Recruiting Combine this Sunday in Tyler. The event, presented by Azalea Orthopedics, has more than 100 confirmed participants from the East Texas area.

Rising junior defensive back Cooper Bledsoe will join Thomas as a representative from Van.

 

2016 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

  • Austin Anderson, OL, Mineola, 6-4, 289 – committed to Texas A&M; additional offers from Arizona State, Arkansas State, Auburn, California, Cincinnati, Houston, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, North Texas, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, SMU, Southern Miss, TCU, Texas, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Vanderbilt (27)
  • Riley Anderson, OL, Mineola, 6-5, 287 – committed to Texas A&M; additional offers from Arizona State, Arkansas State, Auburn, California, Cincinnati, Houston, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, North Texas, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Vanderbilt (27)
  • Demarco Boyd, RB/LB, Gilmer, 6-0, 215 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Baylor, Florida State, Texas A&M (4)
  • Zach Hall, ATH, Tyler Lee, 5-11, 170 – offers from Baylor, Texas Tech (2)
  • Travon Fuller, CB, Athens, 6-0, 160 — committed to Texas A&M (1)
  • La’Darius Hamilton, LB, Corrigan-Camden, 6-1, 220 — offer from ULL (1)
  • Keenen Johnson, ATH, Alto, 6-1, 190 – offers from SMU, ULL (2)
  • Brandon Jones, S, Nacogdoches, 6-0, 190 — offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Boise State, California, Florida State, Georgia, Houston, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, SMU, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulsa, UCLA, USC, Washington State (38)
  • Braylon Jones, DT, John Tyler, 6-3, 285 – offers from Air Force, Army, Houston, Navy (4)
  • Bronson Massie, DE/LB, Lufkin 6-3, 202 – offers from California, Colorado State, Louisiana Tech, Texas State (4)
  • Cody Mitchell, TE, Jasper, 6-5, 225 — offers from Missouri, Texas State (2)
  • Kendrick Rogers, WR, Frankston, 6-6, 207 — offers from Cincinnati, Houston, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, Mississippi State, North Texas, SMU, ULL, ULM (9)
  • Aphonso Thomas, RB, Van, 6-0, 190 — offers from Colorado State, Kansas, Texas State (3)
  • Andre Wiley Jr., OLB/S, Liberty-Eylau, 5-10, 170 – committed to Arkansas State; additional offer from Louisiana Tech (2)

 

Filed Under: Van
Categories: Class 4A, Football, News, Recruiting

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