Anthony Thomas
By Tony Pauline of TFYDraftPreview.com

The Big 10 is known as a "slow" conference, one that prefers power over quickness, brute force over finesse and a league that would rather plow opponents into the ground instead of run around them. They are known for their massive linemen and on occasion, a good running back. No program represents this more than Michigan.

For all the great linemen the Wolverines have offered the NFL (Jon Runyan, Jumbo Elliott to name a few) it has also offered more than a few running backs that never lived up to the expectations put on them (Tyrone Wheatley and Tim Biakabutuka most recently). Is it coincidence or trend?

The question could be just as muddled this season and it involves the "A-train," running back Anthony Thomas.

Thomas originally considered leaving Ann Arbor last April for the draft but made the correct choice when he returned for his senior campaign. After the first three games of the 2000 season he has totaled 421 yards, which leads the conference, averaging more than 140 yards per contest. A fourth year senior, he was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year back in '97 and has led the Wolverines ground attack the past two seasons. But with all this, how good of a pro-prospect is he and will he have any impact in next year's NFL Draft?

Consider this; he runs behind one of the best offensive lines in college football and possibly the most lethal combination in the country on the left side. Tackle Jeff Backus and guard Steve Hutchinson are two of the better line prospects available next April and both should be off the board before the middle of round two. Add into the mix right tackle Maurice Williams, an incredibly gifted prospect whose best football lies ahead of him and possibly the player with the greatest upside potential this entire group. Along with steady center David Brandt and a host of talented underclassmen manning the other guard position, this bunch opens holes the size of moon craters for whoever is taking hand-offs.

Thomas, a big interior runner with excellent power, runs with good vision following his blocks and finding the hole. With a bit of a burst he drives forward breaking several tackles in a single carry and picking up the extra difficult yardage at the end of the run. Thomas uses an effective straight arm and keeps his feet moving forwards while also being a solid receiver out of the backfield. He does run a bit tall and is not a fluid or elusive back. He lacks the quick change of direction and is not going to make defenders miss; another words Thomas does not create much when he runs and needs the holes to be available to him.

So what gives? Will Thomas be another first round disappointment that is a product of an outstanding offensive line? The answer is simply no... he won't be a first round disappointment because he probably won't be drafted until the third frame begins.

At the next level Thomas will be a nice complimentary player for a team that has a speedier back who has trouble staying healthy, say the Jacksonville Jaguars, in this role he should be quite productive. The highlights of the UM program are the aforementioned offensive linemen and a spectacular receiver we will visit later in the season, David Terrell.

Tony Pauline is president of TFYDraftPreview.com, a web-site and publication solely dedicated to the NFL Draft. Visit the site for Saturday's "Game of the Week." This week: Florida State versus Miami