Hindsight is undefeated. Christian Thomas knows this, and that’s why he weighed his options very carefully last spring.

Now a fifth-year linebacker at the University of Maine, Thomas considered playing his final season of college football someplace else. Last spring, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Thomas entered the transfer portal to explore opportunities that could potentially elevate his standing in the eyes of NFL scouts.

Thomas decided to stay at Maine, and guess what? Just two games into the season, it looks like he made the absolute right decision.

In a 28-7 loss at Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Liberty, Thomas had 15 tackles, including 10 solo and one for a loss, as well as a pass breakup. Last weekend, in a 28-27 loss at William & Mary, Thomas had 13 tackles, including five solo and two for a loss.

Going into Saturday night’s home opener against Stonehill, Thomas is second in the Coastal Athletic Association with 28 tackles, and fourth among all Football Championship Subdivision players.

“He’s healthy. He’s confident. He’s in great shape, and he really has a high motor he plays with,” said Jordan Stevens, Maine’s head coach. “I’ve been impressed with how he’s handled himself, how he’s matured in practice, how he’s matured as a student, and it’s all showing up on film. I’m really excited about the growth he’s made and want to keep him going.”

Thomas made 63 tackles last season, third-highest on the team despite missing four of Maine’s 12 games because of an injury. Still, Thomas saw teammates transfer in the hopes of catching the NFL’s eye. He felt he owed it to himself to at least open the portal door and take a peek.

Thomas also owed it to himself to commit to due diligence. He couldn’t move on to a new program, then realize this fall he’d made a mistake. Thomas talked to Mike DeVito and Stephen Cooper, two Black Bear alumni who enjoyed long, successful NFL careers. DeVito played nine NFL seasons with the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, while Cooper played nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers.

“That made me realize I can be where my feet are in Maine and still go after my goals,” Thomas said.

Players now have a lot thrown at them, said DeVito, who graduated from Maine in 2007 and works as the team’s director of player development and alumni relations. Stuff like navigating the transfer portal or finding NIL deals are things his agent in the NFL would handle, DeVito said.

DeVito said he didn’t try to sway Thomas’ decision one way or the other. He and Cooper let Thomas know he’ll always be a Black Bear no matter what, DeVito said. He also pointed out the truth that might’ve been too close for Thomas to see.

Maine sends players to the NFL. Not as many as the big programs, obviously, but you have to go back to 1989 to find a season that didn’t include a former Black Bear on an NFL roster. This season, there are two. Patrick Ricard has carved himself an All-Pro career as a fullback with the Baltimore Ravens after playing defensive line at Maine. Zavier Scott earned a spot with the Minnesota Vikings as a running back after playing wide receiver at Maine.

Already this season, six NFL teams have sent scouts to watch a Maine practice. Thomas is on the NFL’s radar. He needs to perform on the field to stay there. Put in the work, and they’ll find you.

“At Maine, you play in one of the top FCS leagues, and you play against FBS schools. Your tape is going to be plenty. You’re playing good football,” DeVito said.

Loyalty played a factor for Thomas, too. Coming out of Milford Academy, a New York prep school, Thomas was a walk-on with the Black Bears.

“This was my only opportunity,” said Thomas, a native of Norristown, Pennsylvania.

By not transferring, Thomas put himself in the best situation to succeed. He didn’t have to learn a new system taught by new coaches, alongside new teammates. All that slows a player down. He’s not playing catchup this fall; he’s just playing linebacker, and doing it well.

“The continuity that he has here was going to set him up for success long term, having a stable place, a team around you and stable leadership, a system that you know. You’ve seen it in the first two games,” Stevens said. “He already knew the defense and could come in and just play football. He’s not learning a new defense or new teammates or new expectations.”

Now, Thomas knows he made the right decision when he chose to stay at Maine.

“I’m just trying to do my job. I wouldn’t be off to a fast start without the defensive line and my teammates,” he said. “I think my maturity has grown, and I’m able to limit distractions.”