AUBURN, Ala. – It's a hot summer day and Daniel Thomas is dressed accordingly -- sleeveless white shirt with athletic shorts. You can tell just by the way that he carries himself that he's no longer an underclassman. He's a veteran now. He's a leader.
Maybe you remember Thomas from his stellar performance in the 2016 Iron Bowl when he recorded two interceptions and five tackles. He's become a staple on defense since then, recording 125 career tackles in three years. But approaching his final year, none of that matters to the former three-star defensive back. The only thing that matters to him in his senior year at Auburn is a championship.
"I remember last year, I used to write on my mirror the goals for that year. I just wanted to win the national championship," Thomas said. "I was talking to my mom on the phone recently and said, 'Mom, we're going to win the championship.' And then (Jeremiah) Dinson came up and said, 'We're going to win the national championship this year.' There aren't any exceptions, man. We're fixing to win it this year.
"I feel sorry for whoever doubted us. I hope that they don't rank us in anything. I hope they rank us dead last. Because people are always believing this preseason hype, but at the end of the day, you've still got to put the ball down to play."
Daniel Thomas will look to lead the Tigers defense again this season. pic.twitter.com/4OqrD6YW1M
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 15, 2019
This mindset is not limited to only Thomas. The whole Auburn squad has adopted this mindset.
The team motto this coming season is "Ride for the Brand." The Brand is the reputation that Auburn athletics has acquired over the years. It's defined by the hard-working, in your face, relentless pursuit of success that Auburn athletes embody.
"It's self-explanatory," Thomas said. "This is what I stand for, this is me. This is what I represent. This is my school. It's putting A before U. Yourself is out of the equation. It's all about your brother beside you. It's all about Auburn. It's not about you.
"I feel like that mindset came on this team in spring ball because we didn't have a bad day. I'm not lying. The energy was always there. We were just having fun, getting better and playing the sport of football. This summer was really good, too. I just want for it to carry over into the season."
When you talk to Thomas and the other seniors on the team, it's hard not to become infected with the same enthusiasm that they share about this group. This championship talk is not just feel-good stories to get the fans excited – they truly believe it and expect it.
"You still have to see us," Thomas exclaimed. "We all know what's up when the ball gets put down and that Auburn defense is coming at you every play."
What sets Auburn apart from other programs?
"It's not just about football to us," Thomas said. "At the end of the day, the goal is to win football games, bring home trophies and win championships. But Coach Malzahn tells my parents, 'I'm going to make sure your son gets better outside of football as well.' The coaches always call and ask how my parents are doing, how is your family doing – they ask about life outside of football. That's pretty big because football doesn't last forever.
"There's just no selfishness on this team."
This offseason, Thomas received the Hard-Fighting Soldier Award for his leadership in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and perseverance amid adversity. The interdisciplinary studies major, who is scheduled to graduate in May, knows the position he's in now, and he makes a point to pass on advice to the freshmen.
"Cherish the moment," he tells them. "Freshman year was one of the best years that I had. Enjoy it, because you aren't going to get that year back."
Thomas longs for another year with his teammates. There's a bond that has been formed that will never be broken. In fact, during the interview, he got a phone call from one of his brothers on the team and had to leave to go lend a hand.
"I'm not taking (my senior season) for granted," Thomas said. "All the mistakes and tough times I've had, I'm glad that they happened because that let me see life differently. I really hate that it's going by so fast, but I appreciate every moment."