Greased Lightning: Thomas Builds Game on Speed

This story appeared in the Sept. 6 Michigan game program. Click here to purchase a souvenir copy.

T he shoes attracted considerable attention. All-white Air Force 1's featuring a red-outlined Nike swoosh, interlocking OU on the toe, the number "32" on the side and the logo of the movie "Grease" on the outside heel.

The person sporting those kicks was a menacing, if a little undersized, defensive end. An NFL prospect known to use his speed to create havoc in opposing offensive backfields, and a reputation for doing so late in games.

The shoes provided the finishing touch to a stylish custom-fitted double-breasted gray windowpane suit with crimson buttons worn over a classic white shirt and a crimson tie. R Mason Thomas' entire SEC Media Days outfit was filmed for the SEC Network's "fit check" segment, but the single piece that garnered the most questions was the "Grease" logo on the sneakers.

There was little obvious connection for someone born in the 21st century to give a nod to a nearly 50-year-old movie, but Thomas was introduced at a young age by his mother. He embraces its timeless energy, something that makes his love for it stand out even more among fans.

"The music, the T-Birds, the Pink Ladies, how it's set in California," Thomas said. "That style is different, but they made it so iconic.

"That's one of my favorite movies, and at the time, I was rewatching it for probably the 20th time. Somebody was customizing some shoes for me, and I said, throw the 'Grease' on there with the 3-2 and some OU on it, and I wore them."

On Saturdays, Thomas channels his own version of the movie's hit song, "Greased Lightning." He has to, in order to beat the best offensive tackles in the nation every week.

The senior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., doesn't fit the mold of the power rusher, but he has overcome what some might consider a disadvantage with his greatest strength: speed.

"For me, it's playing fast and physical all the time," Thomas said. "I'm 250. I'm not a 270-, 280-pounder. I don't generate force quickly and easily like that. There's some science behind it – the force equation: mass times acceleration. So, I have to play fast all the time."

R Mason Thomas goes from a tackle against Alabama's Jalen Milroe

R Mason Thomas goes from a tackle against Alabama's Jalen Milroe

R Mason Thomas sacks Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe during Oklahoma's 24-3 win over the Crimson Tide last season in Norman.

T  homas sees football as a science as much as it is a sport. Heavier defensive ends naturally generate more force, but when Thomas maximizes his acceleration, the equation balances out. The faster he accelerates off the line of scrimmage, the tougher it is for offensive linemen to stay in front of him and the more force he's able to deliver when he strikes. His elite burst allows him to offset his lighter frame.

That mentality has fueled Thomas since before he ever put on crimson and cream. He was a late bloomer coming out of Fort Lauderdale's Cardinal Gibbons High School. He initially committed to Iowa State, but after Oklahoma extended an offer, he felt called to Norman.

"I just knew God wanted me to be in Oklahoma," Thomas said.

The path wasn't instant success. Thomas missed seven games over his first two seasons due to injuries, but was able to lean into his preparation, understanding that building strong routines would eventually translate to accomplishment.

"The more I got on the field, it was like practice. It kind of slowed down," Thomas said. "Taking my film process to another level. And taking my treatment, nutrition and hydration process to another level. It all made more sense, building those good habits."

After totaling just 16 career tackles, 3.5 career tackles for loss and 1.5 career sacks in his first two seasons, Thomas' persistence led to a breakout 2024 campaign. Across 13 games last season, he recorded 23 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 11 QB hurries and became one of the SEC's most disruptive pass rushers. His 9.0 sacks ranked fourth in the conference and 17th nationally.

As the game slowed around him, Thomas only seemed to speed up. He doesn't just move fast, he processes fast too. "You would think slowing down helps you process, but the faster I move, the faster I can process things," Thomas said. "When you see a little, you see a lot. So, I move fast and read my key. I don't have to read everything, I'm not a safety. I can't see everything in every way, so I read my key, and my key tells me where everything is and where to go, where blockers might be coming from. My game is based off of speed."

Thomas thrives in the fourth quarter. Last season, he earned the nickname "The Closer" for his late-game heroics. Against Tulane, he exploded for three sacks, a forced fumble that he recovered himself and even batted down a pass – all in the span of four game minutes.

A few weeks later at Auburn, Thomas delivered again, recording two sacks on a pivotal late-game drive to help seal the road win. While pressuring the quarterback is his calling card, his mindset doesn't change regardless of the down and distance.

"It's the same – get off the rock," Thomas said. "It's either you want a tackle for loss or a sack."

After earning All-SEC Second Team honors last season, Thomas weighed the NFL. But after careful reflection, he ultimately decided to return to OU for his senior season.

"I was talking to God, to my family, to coaches, and going through the film," Thomas said. "I wanted to come back, get my degree here, finish my last year and get some hardware with my guys. I want to play for those guys."

His choice not only reflected commitment to his personal growth, but also to the collective goals of the defense and the entire program as the team prepared for the 2025 season.

"As the team goes, we want to be the number one defense in the country," Thomas said. "That's been our goal from the beginning. Number one D-line in the SEC and the nation, number one in sacks, tackles for loss, yards per carry. We have goals in mind, and what it takes to get there is not easy."

Thomas recognizes that achieving those goals requires a collective effort. He now embraces the responsibility of being a senior leader in Oklahoma's defensive line room. It's a role that carries more weight than just producing on game days. It means raising the bar in the weight room and on the practice field, where younger players look up to more experienced ones to build a consistent culture.

"My thing is to lead by example," Thomas said. "It's hard every day, for someone to look up to you. And I still fail, but to have that vulnerability and have that courage to say something, I think that's where I took my leadership to the next level."

Thomas is determined to build on his big 2024 campaign, and for him, it all comes back to what makes him unique. Just like his love for "Grease," a movie from another era that he's made his own, Thomas leans into the things that set him apart – his speed, his size, his relentless mindset – and turns them into a competitive advantage. Every snap, every rush and every practice are his own personal take on "Greased Lightning."

"I know when I play slow, I'm a little softer," he said. "So, I move fast. That's when I'm at my best."