Earl Thomas (defensive back)
Encyclopedia
Earl Thomas is an American football
safety for the Seattle Seahawks
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Seahawks with the 14th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Texas
.
As a redshirt
sophomore in 2009, Thomas intercepted 8 passes, returning 2 of them for touchdowns. As a result, Thomas received All-American honors. 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.
, in Orange County, Texas
. 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 touchdown
s and two punt return TDs, 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. He chose to attend Texas on February 26, 2006.
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, Sporting News′ Freshman All-American team, College Football News′ All-Freshman first team, and Rivals.com′s Freshman All-America team.
Thomas recorded eight interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns in 2009.
Thomas was initiated in Spring 2009 as a member of the Iota Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
14th overall 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.
On July 31, 2010, Earl Thomas agreed to a five-year, $21.1 million contract with the Seahawks, receiving $12.31 million in guarantees.
On September 26, 2010 in a Week 3 game against the San Diego Chargers, Earl 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,1 forced fumble and 5 interceptions which helped the Seahawks into the playoffs.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Seahawks with the 14th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
.
As a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
sophomore in 2009, Thomas intercepted 8 passes, returning 2 of them for touchdowns. As a result, Thomas received All-American honors. Thomas chose to forgo his final two seasons of eligibility at Texas to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
where he was the third defensive back taken.
High school career
Thomas attended West Orange-Stark High SchoolWest Orange-Stark High School
West Orange-Stark High School is a College Preparatory High school, and the only high school in the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District, though some students report to the West Orange-Stark Academic Alternative Center.-History:...
, in Orange County, Texas
Orange County, Texas
Orange County is one of 254 counties of the State of Texas and its county seat is the city of Orange, Texas. In the year 2000, the population of Orange County was about 85,000. Orange County is the county in the very southeastern corner of Texas, with a boundary with Louisiana and a seacoast on the...
. While there, he was an all-state selection and three-year starter at defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
. He recorded 112 career tackles with 11 interceptions, two kickoff return touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s and two punt return TDs, while also having 1,850 rushing yards and 2,140 receiving yards in his career.
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, Thomas was ranked No. 19 among the best football prospects from Texas. He chose to attend Texas on February 26, 2006.
College career
After redshirtingRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
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, Sporting News′ Freshman All-American team, College Football News′ All-Freshman first team, and Rivals.com′s Freshman All-America team.
Thomas recorded eight interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns in 2009.
Thomas was initiated in Spring 2009 as a member of the Iota Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Seattle Seahawks
Thomas was drafted by the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
14th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. 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.
On July 31, 2010, Earl Thomas agreed to a five-year, $21.1 million contract with the Seahawks, receiving $12.31 million in guarantees.
On September 26, 2010 in a Week 3 game against the San Diego Chargers, Earl 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,1 forced fumble and 5 interceptions which helped the Seahawks into the playoffs.