Name: Benner Thomas
School: Truman State University 
Position: CB/DB
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180

Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?

One of the main goals I set for myself this season was to receive All Conference again. I think reproving yourself every year keeps you hungry. I also set a goal to break the career interceptions record for the school. I ended up finishing 2nd all time with 14 career INT.

Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?

Relentless. A fighter. My coaches have told me that my grit and ability to fight each and every game made me stand out since my freshman year. Coaches have also always said that I am one of the most competitive people on the field every single week. I strive for perfection, so even small mistakes are important to learn from for me. I am also dual trained at corner and safety so the versatility I bring is different than others.

Q: When you are studying film, what are the things you focus on to improve your game?

When I turn on the film for a new opponent, the first things that I go and look at are tendencies. We called these “Bird & Rabbit” at my school. Based on the offensive personnel, formations, wide receiver splits and alignments you can get an idea for what is about to happen. This makes you a fast decision maker, and you can play more confidently. After tendencies, it’s all wideout breakdown. This is where I’m looking for how he releases in press, where his break points are in route concepts, is he a physical or “finesse” WR. Lastly, I look for their ‘go to’ guy. When the game is on the line, who do they want to go to because I want to be covering him when it comes down to it.

Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?

I think what separates me from other aspects is my physical play style. When I got the start my freshman year, my coach told me that my ability to tackle everything to the ground got me on the field. I’ve always played boundary corner, so being able to fit the box and get involved in the run game is a big part of the spot. My physicality also shows in my coverage. I like to play an aggressive catch man and get hands on receivers in order to challenge all throws in man coverage.

Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?

My off season plan is to accept and play in a senior bowl to get more exposure, especially coming from a smaller school. In terms of my training, I will be doing some of my workouts with a PT in order to maximize my skill set. I am also open to any other opportunities that may present themselves to me. I’ve always been a worker, so I don’t need additional motivation to get things done.

Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?

One of my biggest strengths I bring to a team is leadership. I’m not afraid to set out first and lead by example for my teammates. This goes for off the field as well. I was one of the highest pound for pound lifters on the team so I can only hope my work ethic makes others want to go harder. My ability to play different positions also makes me stand out. I’ve played on all special teams, and I think that proving yourself there first can show what kind of player you are. I trained and understood all of the defensive back positions. I came into college as a WR before they switched me to DB, and I even played both ways while in college.

Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL and any other pro leagues?

My final pitch to any professional team would be work always wins. I was underrecruited out of highschool, and I remember thinking if I keep working someone will notice. All I needed was one team, one coach to give me a chance and they wouldn’t regret it. Four years later, I finished my collegiate career as the most productive CB all-time at Truman State. It’s been my childhood dream to play football at the professional level, and all I can do is work until someone gives me a chance to reprove myself again.