St. Thomas graduate wide receiver JaShawn Todd has shown his explosiveness in the team’s last two games.
Todd totaled nine catches for 122 yards and scored two touchdowns in the last two weeks. He’s also carried the ball three times for 35 yards. But he said he likes to affect the game in more ways.
“I definitely like kick return, punt return the most,” Todd said.
Todd is an extension of the offense while on special teams. Todd’s 19.8 yards per punt return rank best in the Pioneer Football League. He hasn’t scored, but had a 78-yard touchdown return called back against Valparaiso on Oct. 18. His 77-yard punt return against Davidson is the longest in the conference this season.
“For him, to have the belief in his abilities and trust in his teammates to know that if he gets a head of steam, he can go a long way,” coach Glenn Caruso said on Oct. 18. “He is so explosive on the special teams.”
Todd arrived at St. Thomas with an extra year of eligibility after the NCAA granted non-NCAA athletes an extra season. Former junior college and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics transfers who completed their eligibility in 2024 now have the chance to spend an extra season in the NCAA. Todd said everything was up in the air after his last year at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, an NAIA school.
At Benedictine College, Todd was a 2-time NAIA All-American. In his four seasons at that school, he averaged 21.5 yards per return and scored four touchdowns. Todd and the Ravens made the NAIA playoffs in 2022 and 2024, as well. He graduated from Benedictine College and transferred to St. Thomas.
He brought his returning skills with him.
“Transitioning here just felt like a new chapter,” Todd said. “I miss those guys, always … but out here I felt it was an easy transition.”
In the Tommies’ first conference win against Davidson, the special teams set up the offense. Before the start of the fourth quarter, the Tommies started every drive from at least UST’s 37-yard line and twice in Davidson territory. Todd said he ran behind some excellent blocking on returns.
“That’s credit to the guys out there. I’m only one guy in the back. It just makes it easy when everybody is doing their assignment.,” Todd said.
As a wide receiver, Todd has carved out a role. Todd’s 347 yards receiving and three touchdowns rank second on the team, and his 87 yards rushing rank fourth.
Against Stetson on Saturday, Todd caught six passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. The Hatters refused to let Todd break for an explosive return. Stetson held Todd to four fair catches or punted out of bounds.
Caruso said Todd’s strong production is due to the coaching staff balancing his snaps in offense and returning.
“Our coaching staff is doing a better job of spelling him a little bit more on offense. So he doesn’t have to play every rep on offense … so he’s not tired when he gets to special teams,” Caruso said.
Todd is one of several Tommie offensive players playing high-level football. Graduate quarterback Andy Peters earned PFL offensive player of the week on Monday after tossing a D-I era record 292 yards. Sophomore receiver Quentin Cobb-Butler has emerged as Peters’ top target, with 582 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
The running game has remained stable after sophomore running back Joseph Koch returned from a one-game absence. Koch is first on the team with 427 yards rushing. He’s also scored five touchdowns in the last three games. Graduate running back Patrick Bowen, a transfer from Long Island University, has 59 carries for 315 yards and four touchdowns.
Todd credits much of their success to offensive coordinator Jay MacIntyre.
“Going into every week, you kind of expect something different. He’s very creative, especially with personnels, and how we line up. And how we get to certain formations. It’s been fun. Creative dude,” Todd said.
The coaching staff created one of the best offenses in the PFL. The Tommies rank second in total yards and touchdowns scored, just behind Presbyterian. St. Thomas has scored at least 52 points in the last three games.
St. Thomas is fifth in the PFL and needs to win their next three games to remain alive in the conference. The Tommies play Marist next Saturday and close their PFL schedule against Drake on Nov. 8 and Presbyterian at home on Nov. 15.
“I see myself as a momentum guy. Late into the season, momentum is a big deal,” Todd said. If I can just continue to be that spark for us and then keep the ball rolling, I think that would help us a lot. Especially in tough games,” Todd said.
Juan Del Valle can be reached at delv9625@stthomas.edu.
