| Earl Thomas |
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 | Class:
Sophomore
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| Hometown:
Orange, Texas
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| High School:
West Orange Stark
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| Height / Weight:
5-10 / 197
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| Position:
S
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| Experience:
So.-1L
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· Career statistics
· 2008 season highlights video
Third-year safety who has started 21 games over the last two years ... named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back) ... owns 109 tackles, including 75 solos, five TFL, 28 PBU, five forced fumbles, eight INTs, two TDs and one blocked punt for his career ... started all 13 games at strong safety in 2008 ... named first-team Freshman All-America by College Football News and The Sporting News ... tabbed honorable mention All-Big 12 ... was seond on the team with 63 tackles ... led the team with 17 PBU (No. 1 on UT's all-time freshman list) ... also tallied two INTs, three TFL, four forced fumbles and a blocked punt ... gained valuable experience working at both safety and cornerback as a redshirt in 2007 ... was a four-sport letterman and an honor roll student as a prepster ... tabbed all-state as a senior ... was a three-year starter at DB, RB and WR ... also lettered in basketball, baseball and track and field.
SOPHOMORE (2009) Started eight games at safety ... named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back) ... has 37 tackles, including 24 solos, 11 PBU, six INTs and two TDs on the season ... tallied five INTs over a three-game stretch between Texas Tech and Oklahoma games ... named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Sep. 28 for his effort against UTEP ... logged three tackles and two PBU against ULM ... registered two tackles and two PBU at Wyoming ... notched a team-high 10 tackles, one INT and two PBU against Texas Tech ... tallied two INTs and one tackle versus UTEP ... returned an INT 92-yards for a TD (t-No. 2 on the UT list for longest INT returns) and logged four tackles against Colorado ... notched one INT, seven tackles, two TFL, one forced fumble and three PBU versus Oklahoma ... tallied a team-high eight tackles at Missouri ... returned an INT 31 yards for a TD and logged two tackles and two PBU at Oklahoma State.
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2008)
Started all 13 games at safety ... also a key contributor on special teams ... named first-team Freshman All-America by the Football Writers Association of America, College Football News and The Sporting News ... tabbed honorable mention All-Big 12 by The Associated Press and the league's coaches ... named UT's Most Productive Defensive Performer three times ... recorded 72 tackles (51 solo), two INTs, 17 PBU (No. 1 on UT's all-time freshman list), three TFL, four forced fumbles and a blocked punt ... opened his collegiate career by tallying five tackles, two PBU, a forced fumble and a blocked punt against FAU ... notched six tackles at UTEP ... tallied three tackles versus Rice ... recorded four tackles and a PBU against Arkansas ... added two tackles and two PBU at Colorado ... posted three tackles, two INTs, two PBU and a forced fumble against No. 1 Oklahoma ... logged five tackles versus No. 11 Missouri ... tallied nine tackles, two PBU, a pressure and a forced fumble against No. 7 Oklahoma State ... notched 10 tackles and two PBU at No. 6 Texas Tech ... recorded five tackles, three TFL, two PBU, a pressure and a forced fumble versus Baylor ... posted five tackles and two PBU at Kansas ... added six tackles and a pressure against Texas A&M ... logged a team-high nine tackles and two PBU versus No. 10 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl ... redshirted in 2007.
HIGH SCHOOL
Coached by Dan Hooks at West Orange Stark H.S. ... an all-state selection and three-year starter at DB, RB and WR ... was a four-sport letterman ... recorded 112 career tackles with 11 interceptions, two kickoff return TDs and two punt return TDs ... also had 1,850 rushing yards and 2,140 receiving yards in his career ... helped his team to a 24-2 record over his final two seasons ... tabbed second-team 3A all-state by The Associated Press and third-team all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association at receiver as a senior ... named the district 21-3A MVP ... had 42 tackles and five INTs on defense ... recorded more than 1,200 all-purpose yards and 25 TDs (13 rushing, 12 receiving) on offense ... helped West Orange Stark to an 11-1 record and the 3A regional finals ... tabbed second-team 3A all-state by The Associated Press as a junior ... rushed for almost 900 yards and 12 TDs with over 300 yards receiving and two TDs ... helped West Orange Stark to a 13-1 record in advancing to the 3A state semifinals ... also lettered in basketball, baseball and track and field ... reached the playoffs in all four sports as a junior ... a two-time letterman in basketball who averaged 10 ppg ... a two-time letterman in baseball playing centerfield and shortstop and hit over .300 ... a three-time letterman in track and field, participating in relays and long jump ... part of a 4x200m relay team that reached the state finals as a junior.
PERSONAL
Born in Orange, Texas ... enrolled in the college of education ... a member of the honor roll as a prepster ... an active member of his church in which his grandfather, Earl Thomas, is the pastor ... was part of a rebuilding project following Hurricane Katrina ... involved in school leadership ... plays piano in church and played tenor saxophone in the band when he was younger ... his uncle, Anthony Thomas, was a linebacker at Stephen F. Austin (1997-99).
The Thomas File
Nickname: E.T.
During pregame, I like to: Eat the same thing (pickle and a watermelon slush)
Favorite TV channels: Disney Channel, ESPN
Favorite TV show: Smart Guy
I can't believe I watch: I Love New York
Favorite movie: Little Giants
Sports hero: Nathan Vasher
Favorite superhero: Superman
Favorite music artist: Musiq Soulchild
Favorite video game: Madden '07
Favorite cartoon character: Bugs Bunny
Nobody knows I can: Play piano
I came to Texas because: They make you feel really comfortable
