Driving Performance: Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas visits Dunwoody High School

At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Demaryius Thomas is an imposing figure. He appeared even larger to a group of high school football players at Dunwoody (Ga.) during the summer.

The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Denver Broncos surprised the team as part of the CBS Sports & Texaco Driving Performance Program, in which professional athletes crashed summer football practices to work with young athletes.

Thomas was introduced to the kids by first-year Dunwoody coach Michael Nash, who said the impact of the former three-sport star at nearby West Laurens (Dexter, Ga.) was enormous. "I don't feel the kids can really accomplish what they want to until they've seen someone else has done it," Nash said. "To have him come out and give us his perspective and the work he had to put in to get to that level is huge."

Thomas, who had 343 catches, for 5,202 yards and 41 touchdowns in five seasons before 2015, said he just wanted to show kids some pointers and help them get "over the hump."

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He ran drills with them, told stories and then ran some patterns, making a spectacular one-hand catch that others tried to copy.

"He taught us a lot," said Dunwoody junior defensive end Ryan Hicks. "It's nice to see someone from that level teach us. I learned that hard work pays off and to never give up on your dreams."

Said junior quarterback Nick Pastrone: "We're not going to hear from someone like him everyday. He encouraged our kids that we could do better at practice. It showed today at practice."

Thomas agreed.

"A lot of guys were maximizing their performance," Thomas said.

He said that's vital at every level. Especially his own.

"Once you make it to the top, there's always someone trying to take your job," he said. "If you're not performing, they'll get you out of there quick."

Nash and the Wildcats weren't just thankful for Thomas' presence, but also to Texaco/Chevron for the donation of hand pads and a ball machine which spits out passes to receivers and defensive backs.

The latter was vital because Nash implemented a spread passing offense, as opposed to the triple-option run game from the old regime.

"With the machine our guys can catch 50 to 100 passes a day instead of eight to 10," Nash said.

Thomas would have loved that during his high school days. He didn't start playing football until his sophomore season. Of all the lessons he's learned over the years in football, this was the strongest, which he conveyed to the boys.

"It's not always about yourself," he said. "It's about the team. It's about being respectful and to make sure it's always about 'we' instead of ‘I.'"