Alexander Bumb is a ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chaparral High School.

When Thomas Yamashita steps onto the football field for the Chaparral Firebirds, he stands out –  and not just because of his size.

At 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, the senior lineman has dominated this season on both sides of the ball, becoming one of the team’s most valuable leaders.

Yamashita, who recently received an offer to play for Wayne State University in Detroit, has praise for his college coaching staff. “I couldn’t be more thankful for Coach Willie,” he said. “Wayne State has a great program and they are just gonna keep building." 

Yamashita hasn’t committed but he’s filling his calendar fast with college visits. “I went to  Idaho on Oct. 25 and I should be going to New Mexico State soon,” he said.

He also recently picked up an offer from Central College in Pella, Iowa.

 They came to talk to me in the spring and said they were thinking about offering, saying how they like my film," Yamashita said.

As a team captain for the Firebirds, Yamashita takes pride in leading by example by mentoring the oline. 

“I feel like it’s an honor,” he said. “It’s kind of me taking another step up as a leader to help this program grow.” Firebirds head coach Trace Carroll praised his leadership and presence on the field. 

“He’s an absolute dawg for us,” Carroll said. “He’s a game wrecker from an offensive standpoint. Whenever we need a big play, you could run it right behind him. He’s been fantastic and has helped change the culture.”  

Freshman quarterback Ryan Trocki agreed. 

“He’s tough, he’s never willing to take a bad result. He is always going to get back out there and go prove himself,” Trocki said.

Yamashita transferred from Glendale Apollo High School to Chaparral High School and started playing for the Firebirds his sophomore year. Now a two-way player, he credits the program’s success to teamwork.

“Especially now with the new coaching staff, we are all coming together as one,” he said. “The community is coming back. We’re all buying into the program,” Yamashita said.

The Brazilian-born, Yamashita moved to Arizona with his family when he was 10. He calls his parents his biggest inspirations. “They’ve done everything for me, from selling everything that we had in Brazil to just being able to buy a plane ticket to come here,” he said. “I can’t say enough to them.”

Off the field, Yamashita enjoys time away from football. “I love fishing, working out, hunting, cooking

He also loves video games —  “Either NCAA 26 or NBA2K,” he said — and enjoys eating steak the most.

“When you just start football you're going up. But then life sets you down with reality then you're back up. So it’s like a roller coaster,” Yamashita said.