Meet Top Illinois Recruit Olney 6'7 Offensive Lineman Casey Thomann Class Of 2026
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Casey Thomann Olney OL/ATH Class Of 2026 6'7 270
Casey Thomann how has your offseason been so far? It has been ok... I’ve been dealing with a small shoulder injury that has set me back a small amount but recently have been able to pick everything back up with football and lifting and speed work and summer basketball. Just now getting into the role of things and getting ready for the season. This off-season I will be going to one camp it will be the Illinois camp on June 15th, because of my setback of my shoulder and wanting to focus on myself and working back and getting back to normal and above and beyond that. How was your freshmen season? It was amazing, building with a team that I have never met being a freshman and them accepting me and being more than ok with me starting alongside many seniors. Really taking my game to the next level in hs and all the coaches and senior helping me reach and exceed my goals. Making it to the playoffs and having an outstanding season for our team and community and there will be many more to come.
What does football mean to you? To me it means family, the relationships and connections that I will obtain will last a lifetime. Growing closer to my brothers that I play with and being able to rise to the challenge with them and being able to compete along side one another is something special that grows the best bonds. Also the lessons the game teaches. It’s a hard game with valuable lessons that if you pay attention are they are there and will help you rise to any occasion throughout your life. What should college coaches know about you? They should know about how well I move for how big I am, I am 6’7 about 275 moving and changing direction fast and efficiently. They should know I’m a leader, being a starting freshman people looked up to me last year, me being able to lead and show by example to the ones my age and even the older guys in the classes ahead of me. They should know I’m a hard worker, with 4 sports and putting the extra time in improving for every sport im a guy that is always going to work hard and do there best. What do you like about playing in the trenches? I like the hard work. I like the little things that you have to work on to get better at. And the best part is the pure grit you have to play with on the line, if you soft it doesn’t matter how big you are you will always be taken down. Every lineman that has the grit and mentality to want to win and do whatever it takes for their team and willingness to take a beating for their qb to make the throw or the RB to gain yards is going to be excellent in the trenches because there not scared or soft they want to be the one throwing the other guys around. Because they know that’s where games are won.
How does Olney look for the upcoming season?
We look to be young. We will be having lots of younger guys playing in the varsity spots but many of them are great athletes that will be stars whenever they are older and they are even stars now. We look to compete for our conference and i believe with the core of athletes on our team we will make a playoffs without a doubt in my mind, we will be young but a force to be reckoned with.
Who else on Olney should we be on the lookout for? With our extremely athletic class of 26 with Gavyn Cothern, he got 2nd in high jump as a freshman and will play defense and QB this year, Ian Pianfette which he is an extremely athletic receiver, our offensive line will have some big dudes and our d line having an extremely fast end that will also be running the ball. Just multiple young guys that will develop into great players.
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