Zhakius Thomas brings JUCO pass-rush juice to NMSU
In the 2026 season, Zhakius Thomas arrived at New Mexico State as a 6-foot-2, 250-pound junior DE/edge with real production behind him, including 54 tackles, 7 sacks, and a fumble recovery at Trinity Valley CC in 2025; he’s the kind of defender you care about if you want a physical, disruptive edge who can chase plays and finish in the backfield. Recruiting evaluations also tagged him as a three-star JUCO prospect, and his early NMSU stat line shows he’s already active in the rotation, which suggests a ready-made work rate and instant-impact profile rather than a long-term project.
