Owasso uncommitted 2024 WR J'Kharri Thomas making his share of big plays

Thomas getting interest from several Division I and Division II schools

OWASSO, OKLAHOMA - J’Kharri Thomas is making his share of big plays as Owasso’s top receiver so far this season as his team has embarked on a 3-2 start and 1-1 in District 6AI-2. 

Teammates are not hesitant to yell, “Best receiver in the state,” when passing by.

“I’m a pretty quick guy,” Thomas said. “I’m a short touch, I can take it to a long touch. I’m speedy, great at route running and all that.”

One decision Thomas has not made yet is where he will play football at the next level after he graduates next spring.

But the senior Ram hopes to plan visits soon at both NCAA Division I and Division II schools.

“Pitt (Pittsburg) State was here (last Friday, as Owasso posted a 54-3 win against Mustang), so was UNLV, and I think TCU was here (last Friday), too,” said Thomas, who added he has received interest from Kansas State.

Pittsburg State is in Kansas and is a DII program. Needless to say, the other three Thomas mentioned are DI.

“I haven’t taken any trips yet," Thomas said. "I’m still looking for some more programs that really fit me, that really love me. I should be finding some soon.”

Thomas admits the recruiting can be stressful, especially for a high school kid, but he's "prepared" for the moment. 

"I’ve been waiting for this all my life and when it came, I’ve been taking advantage of it," Thomas said. "I feel like recruiting is falling in love with the process, not with the results. So, I’m just waiting on my time."

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Thomas was not used as much in the Rams’ win against Mustang in District 6AI-2 action at home Friday night, but he excelled when needed and that satisfied him. He feels great about the rest of the season.

“I feel like with the west side (teams) left (on Owasso’s schedule), we can dominate," Thomas said. "You got to have weapons, get in the playoffs and get hot.”

The Broncos took the initial 3-0 lead on their first drove on the scrambling of quarterback Trajan Williamson and Ram penalties.

But Owasso dominated the rest of the way. It blocked a punt to begin possession at the Mustang 34-yard line to start its first TD drive, capped by a 22-yarder from Knox Dyson to tight end Mason Hendricks, for a 6-3 lead.

Owasso later surged with three second-quarter TDs while the defense sacked Williamson often for losses while applying tight coverage, forcing incompletions.

The Ram TDs in the second quarter were scored by Hendricks on a 6-yard reception, a 3-yard run by Jayson Moll and a 13-yard catch by Drew Hogan with 12 seconds before the half, making it 27-3.

‘I feel like it was a great team win,” Thomas said. “I feel like we got the ball to everybody.

"Everybody got a lot of touches. Everybody had fun. We just came out strong and made plays.”

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Thomas added the Rams wanted to come out and dominate after their 55-22 loss the previous week at Tulsa Union.

The Rams also wanted to avenge a two-game skid to the Broncos, including a 27-17 loss a year ago, which preceded their eight-game winning streak headed into their surprise berth into the Class 6AI final.

“We lost to them two years in a row," Thomas said. "Coming into this game, our (Owasso) coach (Bill Blankenship) said, ‘Their Super Bowl is this (game).'

"They're a good team and all, but their Super Bowl is trying to beat us. So we had to come out with our mindset and dominate, and we did exactly that.”

And exactly that the Rams continued their onsalught in the second half. The defense kept shutting out Mustang, while the offense doubled its first-half point total.

Chris Zaferes scored on a 5-yard run, then Dyson hit a wide open Noah Hill to open the fourth quarter, and Cecil Garrett added TD runs of 58 and 16.

Owasso is not the only team Mustang sees as its "Super Bowl," Thomas noted. It also sees Union, Jenks, or another Tulsa-area team in Class 6A in the same circumstance.

“Anytime a west side team comes to the east side, they’re trying to get a win,” Thomas said.

Photo of Owasso receiver J'Kharri Thomas (with ball) by Mike Simons, Tulsa World

-- Mike Moguin | @SBLiveOK