| David Thomas |
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Tight End
6-3 · 245
Wolfforth, Texas (Frenship)
#16
Athletic, versatile and tough four-year tight end and three-year starter who developed into one of the nation's best tight ends ... has the ability to work from the fullback, H-back, or tight end position ... played in 51 career games and started 38 while becoming the UT career record holder for TEs with 98 receptions, 1,367 receiving yards and 15 TDs ... an explosive, big-play pass catcher who averaged 13.9 yards per catch ... made three of the 10 longest receptions by a TE in UT history (60t, 49t, 49t) ... averaged 21.6 yards per TD reception (15-324) and his final 12 TD grabs covered an average of 26.5 yards (318) ... a John Mackey Award candidate in 2005 ... a consensus first-team All-Big 12 selection ... set a new UT single-season record for TEs with 50 receptions in 2005 ... also had 613 receiving yards and five TD receptions, which are No. 2 and No. 3 on the UT single-season TE list, respectively ... a John Mackey Award candidate in 2004 ... named first-team All-Big 12 in 2004 ... started all 12 games in 2004 and caught 25 passes for 430 yards and five TDs (T-No. 3 on UT's single-season TE list) ... averaged 17.2 yards per catch ... had seven catches of 20 or more yards ... caught 14 passes for 219 yards and three TDs in 2003 ... started all 13 games and averaged 15.6 yards per catch ... his 60-yard TD catch at Texas A&M was the fifth-longest reception by a tight end in UT history ... named honorable mention All-Big 12 ... displayed the ability to make big plays as a true freshman in 2002 ... played in all 13 games that year ... caught nine passes for 105 yards and two TDs ... has caught 13 passes for 146 yards and a TD in three bowl games ... shared the team's Outstanding Offensive Newcomer Award in 2002 ... earned first-team Academic All- Big 12 honors in 2004 and '05 ... drafted with the 22nd pick in the third round (86th overall) by the New England Patriots in the 2006 NFL Draft.
SENIOR (2005)
A finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is presented to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement ... a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy ... a John Mackey Award candidate ... a consensus first-team All-Big 12 selection ... first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree ... set a new UT single-season record for TEs with 50 receptions ... also had 613 receiving yards and five TD receptions, which are No. 2 and No. 3 on the UT single-season TE list, respectively ... caught at least one pass in 12 of 13 games and made at least three catches in 10 games ... had a catch of at least 10 yards in 11 of 13 games ... opened with three catches for 34 yards and two TDs against La.- Lafayette ... had one reception for nine yards at No. 4 Ohio State ... had five receptions and totaled 66 yards against Rice ... caught two passes for 26 yards at Missouri ... reached five catches against Oklahoma for 50 yards and did so again versus No. 24 Colorado for 64 yards ... pulled in career highs in both receptions and receiving yards at Oklahoma State with six catches for 104 yards and a TD ... became only the fifth tight end in UT history to record 100 yards in a game and the first since Mike Jones (102 yards) against Colorado in 2000 ... his 104 yards are the most by a UT tight end since Kerry Cash recorded the same amount at Texas Tech in 1990 ... the six receptions are the third most in a game by a UT TE ... had three receptions for 28 yards at Baylor ... tallied four receptions for 76 yards, including a 32-yarder, and a TD versus Kansas ... caught three passes for 37 yards, including a long of 24 at Texas A&M ... added three more receptions for 31 yards and a TD in the Big 12 Championship ... set a UT single-game high for TEs with 10 receptions in Texas' 41- 38 victory over USC for the National Championship.
JUNIOR (2004)
A John Mackey Award candidate ... tabbed first-team All-Big 12 by the Austin American-Statesman, Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram ... named second-team All-Big 12 by the conference coaches, The Associated Press and the San Antonio Express-News ... earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors ... started all 12 games in 2004 and caught 25 passes for 430 yards and five TDs (T-No. 3 on UT's single-season TE list) ... averaged 17.2 yards per catch ... had seven catches of 20 or more yards ... made six special teams tackles ... also a key blocker in an offense that ranked second in the nation in rushing (299.2 ypg), seventh in total offense (464.4 ypg) and 12th in scoring (35.3 ppg) ... Texas' 3,590 rushing yards this season was the third-highest total in school history ... UT registered six 300-yard rushing games, the most since 1977 ... opened the season with two catches for 48 yards, including a 36-yard reception, against North Texas ... scored on a 49-yard TD on UT's first possession as part of two catches for 70 yards at Arkansas ... caught four passes for a career-high 90 yards and two TDs versus Rice ... it marked the second straight game he set a career high in yards and had a 49-yard TD reception ... also caught a 22-yard TD against the Owls ... made one reception for 15 yards versus Baylor ... registered one catch for five yards against Missouri ... hauled in three passes for 16 yards, including a nine-yard TD in the second quarter to give UT a 21- 14 lead at Texas Tech ... recorded two receptions for 26 yards at Colorado ... had two catches for 34 yards, including a 25-yarder, against No. 19 Oklahoma State ... tallied two receptions for 33 yards at Kansas ... closed the regular season with two catches for 39 yards versus No. 22 Texas A&M ... caught four passes for 54 yards and a TD versus No. 13 Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
SOPHOMORE (2003)
Started all 13 games at tight end ... also participated on special teams ... named honorable mention All-Big 12 by the conference coaches ... shared UT's Outstanding Tight End award ... caught 14 passes for 219 yards and three TDs ... averaged 15.6 yards per catch (third-best on the team) ... helped UT rank sixth nationally in scoring (41.0 ppg) and 20th in total offense (439.2 ypg) ... UT set season records for points (533) and total yards (5,709) on the season ... registered five special teams tackles while forcing two fumbles ... hauled in three passes for 27 yards and a TD against Tulane ... recorded a 20-yard reception at Rice ... caught two passes for 22 yards at Iowa State ... made two catches for 57 yards at Baylor, including a 34-yard touchdown, and earned UT's Darrell K Royal Offensive Player of the Week award ... forced a fumble on a punt return versus No.1 Oklahoma that led to Texas' first TD ... was named UT's Frank Denius Special Teams Player of the Week after forcing a fumble on a kickoff return as well as turning in a touchdown-saving tackle on a punt return late in the first quarter at No. 21 Oklahoma State ... caught a career-long 60 yard (fifth-longest by a TE in UT history) TD pass at Texas A&M ... caught a career-high five passes for 33 yards versus No. 15 Washington State in the Holiday Bowl.
FRESHMAN (2002)
Appeared in all 13 games ... shared UT's Outstanding Offensive Newcomer Award ... caught nine passes for 105 yards and a pair of TDs ... posted single-game season highs with four receptions for 59 yards in the Cotton Bowl against LSU ... had two receptions for 26 yards, including a season-long 21-yarder, against Oklahoma State ... recorded two-yard TD catches at No. 17 Kansas State and at Tulane ... added a 16- yard reception against Baylor.
HIGH SCHOOL
Coached by Bobby Davis at Frenship High ... a three-year starter ... started at tight end and linebacker his final two seasons and free safety as a sophomore ... posted 118 receptions for 2,230 yards and 35 TDs in his final two prep seasons ... earned first-team all-state (4A) honors as a senior ... also named the District Offensive MVP and the South Plains Player of the Year that year ... had 63 receptions for 1,130 yards and 21 total TDs (15 rec/6 rush) in 2001 ... all of those marks were school records ... had a career-high 10 catches for 141 yards and a TD in a regional final win against Fort Worth Boswell as a senior ... added 82 tackles, two sacks and an interception on defense in 2001 ... helped lead team to a school-record 11 wins (vs. three losses) and a spot in the Texas 4A Division I state semifinals as a junior ... a first-team allstate and all-district selection that year ... offense set school records for points (593) and passing yards (3,136) in 2000 ... caught 55 passes for 1,100 yards and 14 TDs that year ... had 141 tackles, four sacks, two INTs and a pair of fumble recoveries on defense ... an all-city choice as a sophomore after registering 110 tackles, three fumble recoveries, two sacks and an interception ... also played basketball and ran track.
PERSONAL
Born 7/5/83 in Plainview, Texas ... full name is John David Thomas ... a kinesiology major ... a three-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll ... active in UT's community service program ... regularly visits patients with his Longhorn teammates at the Austin Children's Hospital ... a life-long UT fan who always dreamed of playing for the Longhorns ... a prep honor roll student and member of National Honor Society ... active in community service projects through NHS ... enjoys working out, rock climbing and hanging out with friends in his spare time.
CAREER STATISTICS
Year G/GS Rec Yds YPR TD Long
2005 13/13 50 613 12.3 5 32/KU
2004 12/12 25 430 17.2 5 49t/2x
2003 13/13 14 219 15.6 3 60t/TA
2002 13/0 9 105 11.7 2 21/OSU
Career 51/38 98 1,367 13.9 15 60t/TA
Special Teams
Year G TT (Solo) FC FR PBLK KBLK
2005 13 2 (0) 0 0 0 0
2004 12 6 (5) 0 0 0 0
2003 13 5 (5) 2 0 0 0
2002 13 0 (0) 0 0 0 0
Career 51 13 (10) 2 0 0 0
High Games
Receptions: 10 (for 88 yards) vs. Southern California (Sr.)
Receiving yards: 104 at Oklahoma State (Sr.)
Receiving TDs: 2 vs. La.-Lafayette (Sr.); vs. Rice (Jr.)
