FW*Telegram, healthy Thomas could shift offense to

[OldTimer]

NORTH TEXAS FOOTBALL NOTESA healthy Thomas could shift offense to high gear

By TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

STAR-TELEGRAM/SHARON M. STEINMAN

A hamstring injury slowed Jamario Thomas last season. After scoring 17 touchdowns in 2004, Thomas was shut out in 2005.DENTON -- From the time he arrived at North Texas, Jamario Thomas had "featured back" stamped all over him.

He stepped out of the shadows to run for 247 yards against Colorado in his college debut in 2004 in place of injured starter Patrick Cobbs. He was UNT's obvious difference-maker.

Even with Cobbs stepping off more than 1,200 yards last season, UNT missed that clear edge in the running game. Cobbs scored only six touchdowns.

Thomas, who had 17 the year before to go with an NCAA-best 1,800-plus yards, didn't score.

Now Cobbs is in camp with the New England Patriots, and Thomas' role at UNT is better defined. His old zip has returned in two UNT fall camp workouts this week, and he expects again to be the Sun Belt Conference's rushing standard. Last season's nagging hamstring injury is healed.

"I was getting better every game [in 2005], but I was injured," he said.

"This season is going to feel so much better than it was, sitting on the sideline, knowing you should be out there, but there's nothing you can do about it."

Without Thomas, UNT lacked its knack for close victories.

On late drives that could have won games, Thomas was absent or ineffective.

"Jamario is a special player," receiver Johnny Quinn said. "We are truly thankful to have him at this university.

"Get our star player the ball, because he's going to make plays."

Fully converted

Former Burleson quarterback Steve Warren's days on offense are long behind him, enough that he'll be a strong candidate for All-Sun Belt Conference honors this season.

UNT signed Warren as a quarterback/athlete in 2005, but the "athlete" part has had more of a workout in college.

This will be his first full season to start at free safety. Warren's play off the bench against Kansas State (six tackles) earned him the starting job at midseason last year.

He played safety in high school until his senior year, when he accounted for 14 passing or rushing touchdowns at quarterback.

"I came to play quarterback, but they moved me after about two weeks," Warren said.

Returning to safety he will team with junior Aaron Weathers to form one of UNT's better defensive units.

Young cornerbacks

The Mean Green's top four cornerbacks are currently a sophomore (Dominique Green), two redshirt freshmen (Desmon Chatman and Antoine Bush) and a junior-college transfer (Roy Loren).

"They'll probably have to get their diapers changed a few times every game," UNT coach Darrell Dickey said.

"They're very young, but very confident, which is good. They might not be smart enough to know what they're getting into. That's a good thing."

The UNT pass defense yielded a conference-high 215.7 yards per game last season.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Troy Phillips, 817-390-7760 tphillips@star-telegram.com