How Ambry Thomas Came Up Big in the Opener After Battling Colitis
9/1/2019 11:00:00 AM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Ambry Thomas has a tattoo on the outside of his right bicep that played into his desire to play in the University of Michigan's season-opening game.
Inked onto the arm of junior cornerback are these words in cursive flowing from a pocket watch:
"Time Waits For No Man."
Thomas made a pivotal interception, recovered a big fumble and quickly snuffed out another drive with a tackle for a three-yard loss on first down. And he did all of that on three successive Middle Tennessee State drives in the second quarter of Saturday night's (Aug. 31) 40-21 win.
Not bad for a guy who was suffering with colitis -- a digestive disease that causes abdominal pain -- during most of preseason training camp and didn't return fully to practice until game week.
There's a cliché used in sports whenever an athlete can't play: "Next man up." However, Thomas said he didn't want to relinquish the job he'd waited for behind David Long, now in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams, with his illness.
He was determined to play.
"That is something I set myself to do -- get on that field and play," said Thomas. "What I went through and no matter what you go through, it's what you've got to do. It all ties into my trust in God to keep persevering."
Thomas said he got the tattoo just prior to the beginning of preseason camp in 2018, when he burst onto the scene in the opener by returning a kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown at Notre Dame.
And the tattoo tied so well into the narrative of a player who wasn't going to allow himself to let an opportunity to start at cornerback get away. Sophomore cornerback Vincent Gray from Rochester (Michigan) Adams has been playing in an outstanding manner in camp and had four tackles, including one for negative yardage, against the Blue Raiders.
"I thought Vincent did a hell of a job," said Thomas. "He stepped in. His number was called. He knew he was going to play. Since spring ball, I knew that he was a baller. All the coaches had to do was give him a chance, and they did. And he showcased his ability."
So, that next man up is there. But Thomas also showed that he can be a real impact player.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh shook his head and smiled when discussing the storybook finish to a challenging time that Thomas had endured.
Hutchinson
"It just felt good," said Harbaugh. "It felt good for all of us -- everybody on the team to see him have that success with the interception and then to pounce on the fumble, and had some really good plays in coverage. He made some tackles. It's good to see him out there playing and having fun.
"That was the best part of it, to see the smile on his face."
Harbaugh said Thomas (6-foot, 182 pounds) was cleared to play just a little over a week ago, adding that he was able to continue "physical activity" while reaching "the different milestones the doctors had put in place for him to be able to return to play" and stayed in shape.
"There was very little drop-off in his football play when he did come back," said Harbaugh. "The strength coach, doctors and trainers did a great job, and he returned to play and football practice, and looked real good."
When did Thomas know he would play?
"I knew I was going to go on Monday when they started getting me back into the rotation," he said. "I was getting my reps back to where I needed to be to get ready for the game.
"I just put all my trust in God with the adversity I fought through. That's all it was. It felt real good. The pick and the fumble recovery built my confidence. My confidence wasn't there just through practice. I mean, I really didn't get enough camp in me. But I hadn't had full-go practices until Monday, and it felt so good to get my confidence there with my brothers."
Thomas jumped a route to pick off quarterback Asher O'Hara after Middle Tennessee had gained 36 yards on a drive to reach Michigan's 39-yard line, trailing by 10 points early in the second quarter.
"With the pick," said Thomas, "they ran the play a couple plays before and I knew that if they'd do it to my (right) side, I was going to pick it. They threw the ball and I did."
O'Hara completed a third-and-10 pass to Terelle West that went for seven yards on their next possession. However, Wolverine linebacker Josh Uche knocked the ball loose and Thomas recovered it.
Thomas put the Blue Raiders in the hole immediately on their next drive by dropping DJ England-Chisolm for a three-yard loss after his first-down reception.
Middle Tennessee scored first in the game, but couldn't build the momentum required to make it close and tease with an upset because those three successive second-quarter drives were snuffed out. And Thomas had a big hand in ending all three.
However, he wasn't alone in making impact plays for the Wolverines.
Linebacker Jordan Glasgow had two big sacks on third downs, exhibiting a real nose for the ball and great closing speed.
Defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson had a tackle for lost yardage on third down and a quarterback hurry that was a near safety in the end zone. He also could've had his first sack, but there were offsetting penalties that nullified the play.
Thomas said, "We needed some of those big plays because we were kind of struggling at first. Nobody was settled down, and that was something we try to emphasize -- start fast, start the game fast. That's still something we need to work on, but everyone made plays and it felt good to be out there."
Glasgow
Thomas was an Academic All-Big Ten selection last season as a special teams player who got into defense in eight games and offense in two games. He made nine tackles with one fumble recovery and one interception.
And keep in mind that Thomas, a consensus four-star recruit who played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, had 34 catches for 903 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior at Detroit King, where fellow starting cornerback Lavert Hill also played.
He has big-time abilities. He also showed an immense heart to play so quickly after hurting so badly and doing so well. His teammates loved seeing Thomas' perseverance rewarded.
"That was awesome," said Hutchinson. "I saw the interception, and I'm really proud of him battling colitis the entire fall camp. And he came back and I'm just really happy for him."
Glasgow said, "I mean, Ambry is one of the hardest workers on the team. I was worried about him going into the game week. He's a great corner, obviously, you can see from his play. When I saw him put the pads on in practice, I knew we'd gained what I feel is one of the best corners in the country in a lot of respects.
"But he had a lot less preparation than a lot of our opponents or us as a team. So, to see him come out and make the plays that he did was just great to see. He's a great player and person, and you love to see a good person make the great plays."
Ambry Thomas knew that time waits for no man, and wasn't about to let the opportunity to start go right through his hands, no less than he was going to let those two turnovers get away.
