| Sloan Thomas |
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Wide Receiver
6-2 · 200
Houston, Texas (Klein)
#1
Big, athletic receiver who possessed a great combination of strength, speed, size and body control ... was picked in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Houston Texas ... spent time with the Tennessee Titans (2005) and the New York Jets (2006) ... played in 48 career contests, including bowl games, and started 20 ... recorded 88 catches for 1,362 yards and 12 TDs during his career ... averaged 15.5 yards per catch during his career ... had seven career receptions of more than 40 yards ... posted at least one catch in 39-of-48 career contests ... caught 20 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns in 2003 ... had a career-long 60-yard reception versus New Mexico State in 2003 ... battled a hamstring injury for much of his junior season but still managed to catch a career-high 30 passes for career-best 383 yards and two TDs ... turned in his first career 100-yard receiving game (130 yards on seven receptions) against Oklahoma State as a junior ... played in all 13 games and started five contests in 2001 ... recorded 29 receptions for 435 yards and five TD catches ... one of three talented true freshmen receivers who made an immediate impact in 2000 ... played in nine games his first season as a Longhorn, including the Holiday Bowl ... scored three touchdowns in 2000 (was T-No. 2 on UT's freshman single-season chart) and averaged a team-high 23.1 yards per reception ... had a season-long 55-yard TD catch against No. 22 Texas A&M ... tied a UT frosh record with two TD receptions against Missouri.
SENIOR (2003)
Played in all 13 games and started 11, including the Holiday Bowl ... shared UT's Outstanding Wide Receiver honors ... registered 336 yards on 20 receptions with two touchdowns ... aided the running game with 50 knockdown blocks ... served as a kickoff returner with 108 yards on six returns ... caught two passes for 67 yards, including a career-long 60-yarder in UT's season-opening win against New Mexico State ... posted one reception for 36 yards against Tulane ... hauled in two catches for 57 yards, including a 51-yard TD reception against Kansas State ... caught three balls for 43 yards at Baylor ... notched four receptions for 40 yards against No. 12 Nebraska ... made a spectacular catch in the back of the end zone for the opening score versus Texas Tech ... returned two kickoffs for 42 yards against Arkansas and three for 57 yards against No. 1 Oklahoma ... saw action against No. 15 Washington State in the Holiday Bowl.
JUNIOR (2002)
Appeared in all 13 games and started four despite battling a hamstring injury most of the season ... ranked third on the team with a career-high 30 receptions for a career-best 383 yards and a pair of TDs ... added a 24-yard rush at Tulane ... caught a career-high seven passes for career-best 130 yards, including a career-long 55-yarder, against Oklahoma State ... registered five catches for 87 yards and a 25-yard TD against Houston ... posted five receptions for 42 yards and a score at Tulane ... added four catches for 47 yards against Texas A&M ... hauled in a pair of passes for 23 yards at Texas Tech.
SOPHOMORE (2001)
Played in all 13 games, including the Holiday Bowl, and started five as UT's No. 3 receiver ... shared UT's Most Outstanding Wide Receiver Award ... a second-team Academic All-Big 12 selection ... fourth on the team with 29 receptions, third with 435 yards and second with five TD catches ... averaged 15.0 yards per reception, which led the team for the second consecutive year ... grabbed 21 passes for 336 yards and five scores over the final seven games ... caught at least one pass in 12 of 13 contests ... set single-game career highs for receptions (six) and yards (82) and tied his career best with two TDs (27, 23) at Oklahoma State ... caught four passes for 64 yards, including a season long of 45 yards, in the Big 12 Championship game against No. 9 Colorado ... had three receptions for 66 yards and a 31-yard touchdown at Baylor ... posted three grabs for 63 yards and two TDs (24, 29) in UT's first matchup with No. 14 Colorado ... recorded three catches for 45 yards against Kansas ... added two receptions at Texas A&M, vs. No. 3 Oklahoma, vs. North Carolina and against New Mexico State.
FRESHMAN (2000)
Played in nine games in his true freshman season at UT, including the Holiday Bowl ... recorded nine receptions for 208 yards and scored three TDs (T-No. 2 on UT's freshman single-season chart) ... averaged a team-high 23.1 yards per catch ... helped lead a passing attack that set a UT single-season record and ranked 14th nationally (293.5 ypg) ... UT also ranked 14th in the nation in total offense (439.0 ypg/No. 6 on UT's all-time chart) ... caught a pair of passes for 27 yards against No. 8 Oregon in the Holiday Bowl ... hauled in two passes for a career-high 74 yards against No. 22 Texas A&M, including a 55-yard TD ... was one of three freshmen to catch a TD pass against A&M ... caught a career-high three passes for 28 yards and tied the UT frosh record with a pair of TD receptions against Missouri ... had a 45-yard reception against Baylor ... caught a pair of passes for 41 yards against Houston ... registered a 20-yard reception in the season opener against UL-Lafayette ... did not play against Oklahoma State, No. 10 Oklahoma and at Colorado.
HIGH SCHOOL
Coached by Ray Kenjura at Klein High ... an honorable mention All-USA Today receiver in 1999 ... tabbed the 1999 Houston Chronicle Offensive Player of the Year ... a three-year starter who registered 1,489 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior ... caught 49 passes for 987 yards and 11 TDs en route to all-state honors in 1999 ... also returned 11 punts (18.5 ypr) and seven kickoffs (24.7 ypr) and was an all-state performer in those areas as well ... scored five TDs (two receiving/one rushing/one passing/one punt return) in one half against Huntsville as a senior ... posted 34 catches for 694 yards (20.4 yard avg.) en route to first-team all-district honors as a junior ... also saw action at cornerback ... returned an INT and two kickoffs for TDs in 1998 ... also lettered in track, clocking bests of 10.38 in the 100 meters and 21.2 in the 200m.
PERSONAL
Born 12/22/81 in Clarksville, Tenn. ... full name is Sloan Edward Thomas ... majored in liberal arts ... a member of the Fall 2000 Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll ... a two-time member of the Athletics Director's Honor Roll ... cousin, Ron Merkerson, played at Colorado (1994-97) and in the NFL for New Orleans (2000) and New England (1998-99) ... father, Samuel, played football at Austin Peay ... a member of PALS (Peer Assistance and Leadership Service), a group which assists the elderly ... also volunteered time with Special Olympics ... likes to jet ski in his spare time.
CAREER STATISTICS
Year G/GS Rec-Yds YPC TD Long Rush-Yds YPC TD Long
2003 13/11 20-336 16.8 2 60/NMSU 0-0 -- 0 --
2002 13/4 30-383 12.8 2 55/OSU 1-24 24.0 0 24/TU
2001 12/5 29-435 15.0 5 45/CU* 0-0 -- 0 --
2000 8/0 9-208 23.1 3 55t/A&M 1-(-3) (-3.0) 0 --
Career 46/20 88-1,362 15.5 12 60/NMSU 2-21 10.5 0 24/TU
High Games
Receptions: 7 (for 130 yards) vs. Oklahoma State (Jr.)
Receiving yards: 130 yards (on seven receptions) vs. Oklahoma State (Jr.)
100-yard receiving games: 1 (7-130 vs. Oklahoma State, Jr.)
Receiving TDs: 2 vs. Colorado (So.); at Missouri (So.); vs. Missouri (Fr.)+
+ UT freshman record
* Big 12 Championship game
