THE FLATS – For the second time in four games, Georgia Tech Jr. Juanyeh Thomas (Niceville, Fla./Niceville) has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Back of the Week, the ACC announced on Monday.
Thomas’ latest honor comes on the heels of a historic performance on Saturday at Miami (Fla.), in which he tallied nine tackles, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble (which was returned for a Georgia Tech touchdown) and scored two points for the Yellow Jackets on a 100-plus-yard interception return of a Miami two-point-conversion attempt.
In the process, Thomas became the first NCAA Division I FBS player since 2015 and the first ACC player since 2008 to record at least nine tackles, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble while also scoring points in a single game. He is the first FBS player to accomplish the feat since New Mexico’s Lee Crosby versus New Mexico State on Oct. 3, 2015 and the first ACC player to post the gaudy numbers since Miami’s Glenn Cook against Texas A&M on Sept. 20, 2008.
Thomas’ forced fumble – his first of the season and fourth of his career – popped straight into the arms of DB Jaylon King, who returned it 40 yards for a touchdown that gave the Yellow Jackets their first lead of the game at 21-17 midway through the second quarter. Three lead changes later, Thomas picked off Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke on a two-point conversion attempt and weaved his way 100-plus yards for a rare defensive two-point conversion that cut the Yellow Jackets’ deficit to 33-30 in the fourth quarter. The defensive two-point conversion was Georgia Tech’s first since Tech legend Ken Swilling became the first ACC player to score a defensive two-point conversion on a 99-yard interception return against Duke on Oct. 28, 1989.
The ACC Defensive Back of the Week award is Thomas’ second in less than a month. He previously won the award after tallying 11 tackles and making the game-sealing interception in Georgia Tech’s 31-28 win at Duke on Oct. 9.
Thomas and the Yellow Jackets return home on Saturday when they face Boston College in their final ACC game of the season. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online by clicking HERE.
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