San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Solomon Thomas took part in the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk in Dallas on Saturday to honor his sister and best friend, Ella, who took her life on January 23. Parents, friends, and members of the 49ers organization joined him.
"It was a very powerful weekend," Thomas told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area during the 49ers Insider Podcast. "You know, getting together with family and friends, going to walk in Dallas for my sister, and just everyone around us; people who suffer with depression themselves, or who are going through a hard time themselves, or people who have been affected by loved ones who have died by suicide. It was very powerful and very touching to feel all the love from everyone else there."
Thomas now wants to increase awareness of suicide prevention. The walk in Dallas further inspired him to work toward helping others who may be struggling with depression.
Maiocco pointed out that one way to help his platform is to have a good football career. It will allow his voice to be heard by more people. Thomas is well aware of that and is working hard to make sure he has a long career while playing at a high level.
"My sister always told me that she always could tell when I try to do too much, when I'm trying to put my effort in too much," Thomas said. "I'm really trying to put my effort in my career right now, and really advance that, and become the player I know I can be. I'm very confident in myself. I'm very confident I'll become the player that, you know, the reason I was drafted No. 3 in the draft. I feel like that's coming for me and I'm working my butt off for it, and I'm putting all my effort into that. That's my main focus in life right now. That and helping out others."
Thomas did not put up the statistics one would envision from the third-overall pick last season. There was a lot of pressure for him to make an immediate impact on the football field as a rookie. Did he feel that pressure?
"I did last year," Thomas said. "I tried to brush it by but sometimes my mind would just get a hold of it, and I'd be frantic out there. I wouldn't be myself and just thinking too much. I'm an overthinker, and that's what I do sometimes. I've kind of took a couple of breaths this year, calmed down, and started taking it bit by bit, step by step, and just go attack it. Just go out there and play ball."
Thomas, along with the Niner Faithful, is hoping the second-year player can have a breakout season in 2018.
"I've improved a lot by just being able to analyze the field and understand what's going on," Thomas said. "You know, down and distance, formation, where I'm at on the field, pre-snap reads, and just being able to start there like I was able to when I used to do that in college. That's been a huge help, just clearing up my mind."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Thomas below.