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Andy Palmer walked into his office around 11:30 Friday morning to find a message regarding one of his former football players. It was a message that left Palmer and several other members of the Edisto Cougar family stunned.

Larry Thomas was the victim of a fatal car accident early Friday morning. According to reports, the collision took place in Newberry County on Interstate 26.

"I was in total shock," Palmer said, "I was concerned for Sandra, his mother, and his brothers and sisters."

Thomas, 20, was a first team selection at wide receiver for the 2005 T&D All-Region team. During his senior season, he started the 2005 campaign as a fullback before Edisto implemented a West Coast offense. Once he was moved to wide receiver, he recorded 30 receptions for 650 yards and nine touchdowns.

"He was just like a kid that was ideal to coach," Edisto assistant coach Herman Johnson said. "He's someone that will do what you asked him to do, won't give you no sass. He just did what you asked him to do. He was a competitor. He was just good at doing things, helping people out. He was good in academics He was just good all-around"

Thomas was the co-captain of a Cougars team that finished 9-2 that year. However, he was more than just a great athlete according to Johnson.

"Everybody wanted him to be their brother," he said. "He was real friendly with everybody. I mean, he knew everybody and everybody knew him. Larry was just Larry. There are not enough words to describe how he was. He was just that type of person. It's just hard to give one word that describes him."

Thomas went on to play for Presbyterian College. There, he had 47 career receptions for 589 yards and seven touchdowns. For Palmer, the thought of losing Thomas will be isn't one that will be easy to deal with.

"As a coach, you want to see your players go on and finish what they're doing academically and athletically," he said. "You want them to grow into young adults and have families of their own and always be able to have them come back and be a part of what's going on there with your program."

-- T&D Sports Writer Emery Glover can be reached by e-mail at eglover@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5532. Check out his blog, Cover 2, at www.thetandd.com. --

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