| File:Earl Thomas (defensive back).JPG Thomas in the 2011 preseason. | |
| No. 29 Seattle Seahawks | |
| Free safety | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: May 7, 1989 | |
| Place of birth: Orange, Texas | |
| High School: Orange (TX) West Orange-Stark | |
| Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | Weight: 202 lb (92 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: Texas | |
| NFL Draft: 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14 | |
| Debuted in 2010 for the Seattle Seahawks | |
| Career history | |
| * Seattle Seahawks ( 2010–present) | |
| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
* Consensus All-American (2009)
| |
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2013 | |
| Tackles | 345 |
| Pass deflections | 32 |
| Interceptions | 15 |
| Forced fumbles | 5 |
| Touchdowns | 2 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
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Earl Thomas III (born May 7, 1989) is an American football safety for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas and received All-American honors. He was drafted by the Seahawks with the 14th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Thomas and the other Seahawks' defensive backs are collectively known as the Legion of Boom.
Early years[]
Thomas was born in Austin, Texas. He attended West Orange-Stark High School in Orange, Texas, where he played for the West Orange-Stark Mustangs high school football team. While there, he was an all-state selection and three-year starter at defensive back, running back and wide receiver. He recorded 112 career tackles with 11 interceptions, two kickoff return touchdowns and two punt return touchdowns, while also having 1,850 rushing yards and 2,140 receiving yards in his career.
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Thomas was ranked No. 19 among the best football prospects from Texas.[1] He chose to attend Texas on February 26, 2006.
College career[]
Thomas attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he played for coach Mack Brown's Texas Longhorns football team from 2007 to 2009. After redshirting his first year at Texas, Thomas started all 13 games at strong safety for the Longhorns in 2008, and ranked second on the team with 63 tackles and 17 pass breakups, the most ever by a Longhorn freshman. He also had two interceptions, four forced fumbles, and a blocked kick.
Thomas subsequently earned multiple All-Freshman honors, as he was named to FWAA′s Freshman All-America team,[2] Sporting News′ Freshman All-American team,[3] College Football News′ All-Freshman first team,[4] and Rivals.com′s Freshman All-America team.[5]
As a redshirt sophomore in 2009, Thomas intercepted 8 passes, returning two of them for touchdowns. Thomas chose to forgo his final two seasons of eligibility at Texas to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft where he was the third defensive back taken.[6][7][8]
Professional career[]
Seattle Seahawks[]
Thomas was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks with the fourteenth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. At age 20, he was one of the youngest players eligible for the draft. Mike Mayock, longtime draft analyst for NFL Network, refers Earl Thomas as having the best chance of resembling Ed Reed in the 2010 NFL Draft class.[9]
On July 31, 2010, Earl Thomas agreed to a five-year, $21.1 million contract with the Seahawks, receiving $12.31 million in guarantees.[10]
On September 26, 2010 in a Week 3 game against the San Diego Chargers, Thomas intercepted two passes by Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers, one of which sealed a 27–20 victory for the Seattle Seahawks. Thomas finished the season with 76 tackles, one forced fumble and five interceptions that helped the Seahawks into the playoffs.
In the 2011 regular season, Thomas was a key player on the Seahawks defense. The Seahawks finished the year with the second-fewest 20-yard pass plays surrendered, largely thanks to Thomas playing single high safety, where he defends the deep portion of the field. His play earned him a Pro Bowl nomination and second-team All-Pro selection. He was also ranked No. 66 in the 2012 NFL Top 100.[11]
In the 2012 season, during Week 3 in the pre-season in an away game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Thomas intercepted a Matt Cassel pass and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown as the Seahawks won the game 44-14.[12]
On January 2, He was selected to the 2013 All-Pro Team.[13]
Career Stats[]
| Year | Team | Games | Combined Tackles | Tackles | Assisted Tackles | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Fumble Recoveries | Fumble Return Yards | Interceptions | Interception Return Yards | Yards per Interception Return | Longest Interception Return | Interceptions Returned for Touchdown | Passes Defended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | SEA | 16 | 76 | 64 | 12 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 68 | 14 | 34 | 0 | 7 |
| 2011 | SEA | 16 | 98 | 69 | 29 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| 2012 | SEA | 16 | 66 | 42 | 24 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 80 | 27 | 57 | 1 | 9 |
| 2013 | SEA | 16 | 105 | 78 | 27 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | Total | 64 | 345 | 253 | 92 | 0.0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 176 | 12 | 57 | 1 | 31 |
References[]
- ↑ Rivals.com Texas top 100 2007
- ↑ "AON Insurance/FWAA Freshman All-America Team". FWAA. January 8, 2009. http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2008/allamerica090108.html.
- ↑ "Sporting News' college football All-Freshman Team". Sporting News. December 16, 2008. http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=497453.
- ↑ Cirminiello, Richard (December 11, 2008). "2008 CFN All-Freshman Defensive Team". College Football News. http://cfn.scout.com/2/820615.html.
- ↑ "Rivals.com 2008 Freshman All-America teams". Rivals.com. December 17, 2008. http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=890291.
- ↑ Callahan, Sean; Washut, Robin (June 23, 2009). "Ranking the Big 12: Safeties". HuskersIllustrated.com. http://nebraska.rivals.com/content.asp?sid=928&cid=958390.
- ↑ http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/040210aac.html
- ↑ http://insidetexas.com/news/story.php?article=2270
- ↑ "Earl Thomas, FS". CBSSports.com. 2010-04-25. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1245247. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ↑ http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8196f0c3/article/one-down-one-to-go-seahawks-give-thomas-deal-okung-next?module=HP_headlines
- ↑ http://www.nfl.com/top100/2012#video=09000d5d82923d49
- ↑ http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012082456/2012/PRE3/seahawks@chiefs#menu=highlights&tab=analyze
- ↑ http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000308570/article/2013-all-pro-teams?campaign=Twitter_atl
- ↑ "Earl Thomas Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/13251/earl-thomas. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
External links[]
- The Official Web Site of Earl Thomas
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com • ESPN • Pro-Football-Reference
- Seattle Seahawks bio
- Texas Longhorns bio
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