ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 06: Daylen Everette #6 and Jacorey Thomas #20 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrate after a defensive stop against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the fourth quarter in the 2025 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Getty
The West Virginia Mountaineers have officially added former Georgia defensive back JaCorey Thomas to their roster, and fans now have an early projection of how much he could contribute.
Thomas will wear No. 30 and is listed at nickel/sam, giving defensive coordinator Zac Alley another experienced option ahead of Saturday night's matchup against Oklahoma State . However, his potential workload could be considerably larger than some fans might expect.
Thomas recently received clearance to play after being included in an Indiana court injunction involving players seeking an additional year of eligibility. The former Georgia starter missed West Virginia 's first three games, making his immediate role one of the biggest questions surrounding his arrival. With the Mountaineers entering Big 12 play undefeated, Thomas could be joining the defensive rotation at an important moment.
Schuyler Callihan of West Virginia On SI offered an intriguing projection for Thomas, suggesting the veteran defensive back could see meaningful playing time relatively quickly. His estimate begins with a manageable workload but leaves open the possibility of a substantially larger role if Thomas impresses the coaching staff.
"If Thomas can pick things up quickly, I think you're looking at somewhere between 15 and 25 snaps per game early," Callihan said. "The deeper we get into the season, I expect that number to increase."
Callihan added that Thomas could potentially receive twice his projected workload if the coaching staff becomes comfortable with his understanding of the defense. That would represent a significant opportunity for someone joining a program after the regular season has already begun. Nevertheless, those figures remain Callihan's projection rather than an official playing-time plan from West Virginia.
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 06: Daylen Everette #6 and Jacorey Thomas #20 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrate after a defensive stop against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the fourth quarter in the 2025 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Thomas brings legitimate experience after appearing in all 14 games for Georgia last season, including eight starts. He recorded 45 tackles and played against some of college football's toughest competition. That background could help accelerate his transition into Alley's defensive system.
Thomas' versatility creates an interesting situation for West Virginia, particularly with Geimere Latimer already handling significant responsibilities at nickel/sam. Another experienced defensive back would give Alley additional flexibility with his personnel and potentially reduce the pressure on younger players. The challenge will be getting Thomas comfortable with his assignments without rushing his development.
Saturday's Oklahoma State matchup presents an opportunity to see whether Thomas is ready for immediate action, although his participation has not been confirmed. The Cowboys ' passing attack will test a Mountaineers defense that has already experienced some difficult moments in coverage this season.
For WVU fans, seeing No. 30 officially appear on the roster is an encouraging development. How quickly Thomas earns his first snaps could determine whether this late addition becomes an immediate defensive asset or a more significant contributor later in the season.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
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