Chaminade’s ‘speedy’ leader of its talented receiving corps out to win one more title
There’s no shortage of speed on the Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna football team, particularly among its wide receivers.
So it’s not a shock that the fastest among the group is nicknamed “Speedy.”
It’s not who you might think, though.
It’s not five-star junior recruits Jojo Trader or Jeremiah Smith. And it’s not versatile three-star senior Edwin Joseph either.
That would be Duane Thomas, whom both Trader and Smith are hesitant to challenge in a foot race.
“Nah, nah, I don’t wanna race him,” Trader said with a laugh. “Just in case.”
Thomas, a 5-10, 175-pound senior, is the one “who brings it all together” in Chaminade’s talented wide receiver room according to Lions coach Dameon Jones.
And his versatility as a receiver, running back and kick returner is a major reason Chaminade is playing in its state record-tying seventh consecutive state championship game Thursday night.
“He’s been tremendous for us,” Jones said. “He keeps everyone in the receiver room together. He’s the player-coach, and he brings that intensity we need to get the job done.”
Look for Thomas to make an impact all over the field once again when the Lions (12-0) take on Clearwater Central Catholic in the Class 1M final at 7 p.m. at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee. Chaminade has won 23 games in a row and is seeking its second consecutive state title, its fifth in the past six years and seventh overall. The Lions, who are ranked in the top five in multiple national polls, are also chasing a national championship.
Thomas was vital in re-igniting Chaminade’s dynasty last season after transferring from Miami Carol City and helping the Lions rebound from a loss in the 2020 state final which snapped a three-year title run.
During the past two seasons, Thomas has caught a combined 84 passes for 1,260 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has also formed a potent one-two punch with Chaminade featured back Davion Gause, rushing for a combined 839 yards and six touchdowns during the past two seasons.
Thomas, who transferred in the spring of his sophomore year, clicked immediately with his teammates on the Lions and says he benefited from working daily with such a talented roster in practice.
“It’s a real family, and you feel like you have to play for somebody,” Thomas said. “It’s been a winning program for a long time, and I feel like we’ve built a strong family here.”
Besides winning a state title together for the first time with Trader in his first season at Chaminade, he and Smith’s other goal is to get Thomas recruited by an FBS program. While both juniors have dozens of offers from Power 5 schools, it hasn’t been nearly as much for Thomas, who could be a hidden gem for a program that signs him.
“He’s one of those kids that you might see go to a (Mid-American Conference) school and you’ll turn on the TV and see him playing on Tuesday nights and be like, ‘wait, this kid was at Chaminade?’” said Elite Scouting Services recruiting analyst Charles Fishbein. “He’s not just a fast kid, but he’s one of the toughest kids I’ve seen out there. He’s playing at a high level, and he’s flown under the radar. You’ll see him lighting up that scoreboard.”
Thomas has been catching the attention of coaches since he earned his nickname playing for the Boys and Girls Club in Opa-Locka at age 9.
“I raced one time against other kids in practice and I just beat everybody on the team,” Thomas said. “That’s when one of the coaches started calling me ‘Speedy,’ and ever since it just stuck.”
Thomas, who is the first member of his family to play high school football, has been aiming high ever since when it comes to becoming one of the top players in South Florida.
One day, he might aim for the stars — literally.
Thomas said he’s interested in studying to become part of the space program when he gets to college in addition to his football career.
“I’m planning on taking classes for that,” Thomas said. “It can go many different ways for me right now, but I think I want to become a mechanical engineer. I went to UCF on a visit in the ninth grade and they were talking about it and I really fell in love with it.”
Thomas, who grew up admiring Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs and said he watched plenty of highlights of Arizona Cardinals receiver Rondale Moore when he was in college at Purdue, has developed similar quick moves and has bursts of speed like his idols on the football field.
But it isn’t just his physical gifts that have proven valuable to Chaminade during his two-year run with the team.
“It’s his peacefulness and humbleness,” Jones said. “He’s calm all the time, and you don’t always see that with kids his age. He’s not the rah-rah guy. He just goes out and makes plays. He gives us a good mix with him, Jeremiah and Jojo. When the other ones maybe get too excited, Duane’s the one that will get everyone under control. He brings it all together for us.”
