SANTA CLARA – Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas admits his lofty draft position weighed on him a year ago.
After arriving with the 49ers as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, the Stanford product said he felt an obligation to immediately live up to the expectations as a rookie.
Did he feel the pressure?
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“You know, I did last year,” Thomas said on the 49ers Insider Podcast. “I tried to brush it by, but sometimes my mind would just get ahold of it and I’d be frantic out there. I wouldn’t be myself -- just thinking too much.
“I’m an over-thinker. That’s what I do sometimes. But I’ve taken a couple of breaths this year and calmed down and started taking it bit by bit, step by step, and attacked it, and just gone out there and played ball, and go be a beast. So that’s what I’m here to do. That’s what I’m going to do. “
Thomas appeared in 14 games last season, missing two games with a knee sprain. He recorded 34 tackles and three sacks. This season, he will play “Leo,” a pass-rush end position, and move inside to rush the passer in nickel situations from defensive tackle.
Shortly after the season, Thomas, 22, experienced tragedy with the suicide death of Ella Thomas, his older sister and best friend. As he becomes an advocate for suicide prevention, Thomas said he is even more inspired to live up to his football potential.
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“I’ve used this hard experience I’ve been going through to really focus on myself,” Thomas said. “My sister always told me that she could tell when I tried to do too much. I’m really trying to put my effort into my career right now and really advance that and become the player I know I can be.
“I’m very confident in myself. I’m very confident I’ll become the player, the reason I was drafted No. 3 in the draft. I feel like that’s coming for me, and I’m working my butt off for it, and I’m putting all my effort into that. That’s my main focus right now. That, and helping out others.”