Thomas grows up in a hurry

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Marcus "Miami" Thomas showed up on Illinois' campus in June, all he had was a colorful nickname and a kid's body.

Thomas, a true freshman from Chicago's South Side, checked in for summer ball at 154 pounds.

"Soaking wet," said fifth-year senior linebacker J Leman. "The first time we went to work out in the summer, we said, 'Is that guy in college?'

"But dude can play."

And dude proved it, along with so many other Illini, before 105,000 fans inside Ohio Stadium and millions more in front of the TV on Saturday.

Thomas, now checking in at a less-emaciated 173 pounds, became one of several unexpected stars in Illinois' 28-21 triumph -- the school's first win over a top-ranked team since 1956.

Thomas had played just a fistful of snaps all year until the first quarter Saturday.

That's when stud cornerback Vontae Davis -- one of 12 semifinalists for the Thorpe Award that goes to the nation's top defensive back -- gave himself a concussion blowing up running back Maurice Wells.

Davis sat the rest of the game, which meant Thomas had to play the rest of the way.

How'd he do? Let's see.

Midway through the third quarter, with Ohio State inside Illinois' 10 and seeking to erase a 21-14 deficit, Thomas stepped in front of receiver Ray Small in the end zone.

Thomas got his hand on Todd Boeckman's pass, which ricocheted to linebacker Antonio Steele for an interception and a touchback.

Nice time for his first career PBU, though he wasn't credited with one in the official stats.

Then, early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State sought to reel in Illinois' 28-21 lead.

Boeckman thought he could find all-Big Ten-caliber wideout Brian Robiskie open deep, but Thomas stayed with him stride for stride and then leaped to grab Boeckman's bomb at Illinois' 24.

Nice time for his first career INT -- and there was no way he couldn't earn credit for that.

"Honestly, I can say I wasn't nervous," Thomas said. "(Coach Zook) told me, 'It's not like high school, is it?' when we came to visit the stadium (Friday).

"And I said, 'Yeah, it's like high school. It's just like Gately. That's where I used to play at Morgan Park. That's the mindset I went into. This is Gately. This is my field. It made me a lot more comfortable."

Then there was sophomore slot receiver Marques Wilkins, who didn't catch his first career pass until last week.

Wilkins didn't play in the first half Saturday and didn't anticipate doing so in the second.

"I was going to put extra clothing on for the cold," said Wilkins, relaying his halftime plans.

But then top receiver Arrelious Benn checked in with a concussion of his own, so in went Wilkins.

And what happened? The Decatur product with 2 career catches made the grab that made the difference.

Juice Williams' play-action fake held the linebackers while four Illini receivers sprinted to the end zone with three Buckeyes in pursuit.

Wilkins, the uncovered guy, caught Williams' 31-yard floater at the goal line a split-second before he was hit.

"I wanted it to slow down," Wilkins said. "I wanted him to hit me, so I could get up off the ground faster and celebrate."

At game's end, Thomas could be found on the ground in the same end zone -- overcome by his experience.

"I thought about it, like, 'That interception sealed the game,' " Thomas said. "I broke down in tears. I did. Sorry, Mom, about that."

Hey, men don't need to apologize for crying. As everyone learned Saturday, Thomas' boy-like body is only a disguise.