2025 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Thomas Gore, DL, Georgia Tech

• Name: Thomas Gore
• Position: DL
• College: Georgia Tech
• Height: 6’0”
• Weight: 290 lbs
• X (Twitter): @_iamgore
• Instagram: @_iamgore

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player? 

I made the decision to play football because that’s something that I’ve always seen as a kid. I started playing at five years old and I really didn’t like it as kid. After a couple of years of playing and I had told my grandfather who was a coach for the little league program I played for that I didn’t want to play anymore. He told me that he would still show up to pick me up and it was up to me to decide I was going to have my pads ready. I don’t know what exactly I thought in that moment but I knew that wanted to keep playing. The love of the sport and the relationships you make from it is why I wanted to be a football player.

What are your favorite moments from your football life? 

I would say my first favorite memories were from high school and we had won 4 straight state championships. A couple more are from when I was Georgia State when we beat Tennessee and most recently while I was Georgia Tech when we beat Miami. See the fans storm the field and goal post get taken down will always a special memory. 

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward? 

I’d want to prove myself from day one, whether that’s starting, contributing on special teams, or making plays in general wherever I’m at on the field. I want to overall improve my technique and just keep learning. I want to show that no matter what the competition I can perform. 

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?

Ray Lewis; he’s been my favorite football player since I’ve ever started l playing football. Wore 52 as a kid and wanted to play linebacker just like him. Just enjoyed the way he played the game of football.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

I’ll have to say my mother. She’s been the one with me at every high and low point in my life. I’ve seen her work so hard to give everything to her children and that’s what makes me go.

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why? 

I’ve enjoy playing in both a 3-4 and a 4-3. I enjoy being able to get more one-on-ones in a 4-3 scheme though. This applies to the run and the pass. I can be more disruptive in a 4-3 scheme.

What should we know about Thomas Gore the person? 

I’m a very laid back person. It’s just always been my nature. I’m a level headed person. I just keep my head down and keep working. I’ve always been that way since I was young, my grandfather taught me that.

What stands out about your film the most? 

I think what stands out is that no matter what level of competition I’ve played is that I have always been effective against the run and been able to get to the quarterback. 

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field? 

I handle them by trying to sit back and look at it from a bigger perspective. This allows me take some pressure off me and to look at myself calmly instead of having emotions drive my decisions.

What would a team get in a player like you?

A team is going to get a player who is going to show up and work from day one. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I will show up when I’m needed to and perform wherever I’m needed on the field. I also won’t be a guy that you have to worry about my character and that will be shown by my actions.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

I love the rush that you get from making memories with the people you’ve been working with for so long. This sport has also some brought me some of my closest friends in life. You create a brotherhood throughout this sport that most people don’t get to experience. Also at the end of the day I’m a competitor at heart and this sport gets the fire going.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

I’ll probably have to say Javon Denis. I played with him at Georgia State, but he just graduated from the University of Memphis. He’s also an undersized defensive lineman and had a couple injuries when we first got to Georgia state. He’s been playing big time ball since he’s been healthy and when he got to Memphis.