Jakobe Thomas’ pick six (2 INTs overall) ignites Miami’s smothering defense
Jakobe Thomas’ approach has never changed.
The only difference is the results are finally coming in bunches.
And they’re paying off big time for a Miami Hurricanes defense, which has needed it as it continues to dominate despite injuries to several key players.
Playing without two of their injured defensive backs in Keionte Scott and OJ Frederique, Thomas made a major impact for the second consecutive week during a dominant defensive performance by the Hurricanes, which fueled a 41-7 victory over NC State.
Thomas’ 60-yard pick six in the first quarter ignited the onslaught, which he followed up with another interception on the Wolfpack’s ensuing possession.
Thomas has four total turnovers over the past two games as he also had a fumble recovery and an interception against Syracuse last week.
“He’s had the ball hawk nature all season, but now we’re finally seeing it,” starting defensive end Akheem Mesidor said about Thomas. “Everybody on the team knows what he’s capable of. He’s just showing it now.”
Thomas said after the game it was the first time he had ever recorded two interceptions in one quarter of a game.
It brought his team-high total to four for the season.
With 3:36 left in the first quarter, Thomas jumped the route on a pass to the far sideline by NC State quarterback CJ Bailey. No one touched Thomas on the way to the end zone as he gave Miami a 10-0 lead.
“It felt great. The right play, the right call and that ball just fell in my hands,” Thomas said. “I saw three verticals and read his eyes and when I caught it, I knew I was in stride so I knew I was getting in one way or another.”
Thomas’ second interception with 1:15 left in the first, which came as Ahmad Moten bore down on Bailey, didn’t lead to points, but continued to keep the momentum on defense for Miami, which had a shutout going and held the Wolfpack under 100 total yards until late in the fourth quarter.
“We talk about playing complementary football all the time,” Thomas said. “It feels good to make a play like that and be of use to the team.”
Thomas’ second interception of the game made him the first Hurricanes player with multiple interceptions in a game since Te’cory Couch on Sept. 23, 2023 at Temple. He’s the first to do so in an ACC game since Kam Kinchens on Nov. 12, 2022 at Georgia Tech, and first at home since Michael Jackson on Oct. 21, 2017 against Syracuse.
Since 2000, Thomas is the sixth Hurricanes player with multiple interceptions, and a pick-six in a game, joining Kinchens (Nov. 12, 2022 at Georgia Tech), Sean Taylor (Oct. 11, 2003 at FSU), Maurice Sikes (Sept. 7, 2002 at Florida), Phillip Buchanon (Nov. 11, 2000 vs. Pitt) and Ed Reed (Nov. 4, 2000 vs. Virginia Tech).
It was the first time the Hurricanes had pick-sixes in consecutive games since Nov. 11 and 18, 2017 when they did so against Notre Dame and Virginia. Scott, who Miami head coach Mario Cristobal hinted after Saturday’s game could be dealing with a serious injury, had the pick-six against Syracuse last week.
“(Thomas) does a little bit of everything,” Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said earlier this week. “I think he fits that role really well. He plays very fast. He loves the game of football. He’s very talented. We can do a lot of different things with him, coverage wise and blitz wise. He affects the game with how fast he plays and how confident he is right now within the defense and within the scheme. ... The more he plays in that role I think he’s getting more and more confident every week and showing up on film.”
This story was originally published November 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM.
