In this episode of Beyond the Game, Mike Lacey sits down with BYU offensive tackle Ethan Thomas. A highly touted recruit from Fort Collins, Ethan stands 6'8" and 310 lbs, but his journey hasn't been without its trials . After a devastating ACL tear during bowl game practice, Ethan shares the mental and physical hurdles of starting over from scratch.

In this episode, we discuss:

The "Gentle Giant" Origins: How a "baby giraffe" in 7th grade basketball turned a tough-love moment from his father into an elite work ethic.

The Injury That Changed Everything: Ethan walks us through the "GT Counter" play where he felt the dreaded pop and how he handled the immediate aftermath .

The Science of Recovery: A look inside the high-tech rehab world at BYU, from Kaiser hydraulic squats to working with the director of mental performance.

Process vs. Results: Why Ethan believes that focusing on the "thankless" daily work of an offensive lineman is the only way to reach the top of the depth chart.

Family Roots: The influence of his parents—both former NCAA athletes—in helping him navigate the pressures of high-level college football.

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