The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are having a bounce-back season from their 2010 campaign, which saw them go 6-7. The marquee game for the Jackets so far this season was a 35-17 victory over the then-No. 5 Clemson Tigers on Nov. 1.

A key play in the game came after a Tevin Washington interception deep in Tech territory that was returned to the Georgia Tech nine yardline with 10 minutes to go in the game. It looked as if momentum might have swung in the favor of the Tigers, who were 14 points down and fighting for a chance to make it to the national championship.

Enter Fitzgerald’s Jemea Thomas.

On Clemson’s first play Thomas leaped in the back corner of the endzone and picked off a pass, giving Georgia Tech the ball and swinging the momentum back in Georgia Tech’s favor.

Clemson’s last drive had a similar ending, with Thomas picking off another Tahj Boyd pass.

“That has definitely been the highlight of my career at Georgia Tech. Getting two interceptions in a game that big was cool,” said Thomas.

For his efforts in that game he was named the ACC defensive back of the week. Other than the two interceptions, he also forced a fumble, broke up two passes and recorded six tackles, including one for a loss.

Thomas started playing for Georgia Tech in the 2009 football season, when the Jackets won the ACC championship and earned a bid to the Orange Bowl.

Thomas played in every game that season despite backing up Morgan Burnett. Thomas wasted no time making an impact that season though, recovering a fumble in his first career game.

The next season Thomas was redshirted, but according to the RamblingWreck.com, Thomas “maintained a good attitude through the season and worked hard on the scout team to help prepare his teammates.”

This year he is starting, and making a big impact.

The life of a college football player isn’t all fun. Thomas is a management major at Georgia Tech, which is known more for having one of the top engineering programs in the country. That often overshadows the business school, which is one of the best in the state. Balancing a full schedule of classes while staying on top of your game on the football field isn’t easy.

“It’s crazy,” said Thomas. “Trying to balance everything is hard. You have to worry about doing well in your classes while still staying prepared on the field. It can get complicated."

Of course, in addition to the harder classes, the game has also gotten harder.

“The speed of the game is the biggest difference. In high school you can do things you can’t do in college. It’s so much faster.” Thomas said.

Thomas is making it look easy, though. He has compiled 33 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble, two pass breakups and two interceptions through the first nine games. He has also begun to help on special teams returning kicks on punts and kickoffs, which is a welcome addition to his normal duties.

“I miss getting the ball in my hands on offense like I was able to do in Fitzgerald. Getting my hands on the ball on special times is nice,” said Thomas.

Growing up and then getting to high school Thomas never really planned on becoming a Yellow Jacket.

“I didn’t really grow up a fan of Georgia Tech, but as I got further and further into the recruiting process I began to become more and more a Tech fan, and I eventually bought into the idea of going there. It’s the perfect place for me,” Thomas said about his decision to go to Georgia Tech.

A factor that helped was the fact that the campus is in the heart of downtown Atlanta.

“Growing up in a small town, there was never much to do. In Atlanta there are a lot of options of things to do when you want to go out,” said Thomas.

But he doesn’t forget where he came from.

“I do miss Fitzgerald, that’s my hometown, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Nothing can really replace it,” said Thomas.