Flathead High School football: Faces: Tyler Thomas

While other high school seniors are spending their last year reflecting on the past three years, for Flathead High School’s Tyler Thomas, it’s all about the future.

“I do like to think forward a little bit so I’m that much more ready when that time comes,” said Thomas.

Last month Thomas, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound lineman, made a verbal commitment to play football for Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore., making his dream of playing Pac-10 football a reality.

“It takes a little of the pressure off,” said Thomas. “You’re not always worrying about how college will be paid for.”

Thomas, who is considering studying nuclear engineering or medicine, said he is gearing up for a higher level of football.

“It (college football) is so much faster and a lot more intense,” said Thomas.

By having “a good game on both sides of the ball,” making big plays when he gets the opportunity and “having a motor and keep going and going until the whistle blows the play dead,” Thomas believes he’ll not only be prepping for the Pac-10 this year, but getting his team wins at the same time.

Thomas will have a busy year on both offense and defense and won’t be expected to spend much time on the bench. Even with college football on the horizon, he said helping his team win games remains his top priority.