Robert Thomas (fullback)
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee Thomas, IV is a former professional American football
player who played fullback
for five seasons for the Dallas Cowboys
.
for the Red Devils.
He attended college at Henderson State University
in Arkadelphia, AR, where he played linebacker
for the Reddies. Thomas closed out his collegiate career as the school's all-time leading tackler with 388 tackles. Among his achievements were 18 tackles in a single game and 129 in a single season.
Thomas played in the Division II All-Star game and the Snow Bowl (now known as the Cactus Bowl
). He was a finalist for the Harlen Hill trophy, the Heisman Trophy
for Division II players.
In 2004 he was inducted into the Henderson State University
Hall of Fame
In 2006 he was inducted into the Jacksonville High School Hall of Fame.
he was signed as a rookie undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys
and was allocated to NFL Europe
's Rhein Fire
. That season he made the final roster and spent his time playing on special teams.
He switched to fullback
in 1999
, and became a starter after Daryl Johnston
suffered a career-ending injury.
Thomas served as Emmitt Smith
's lead blocker for four seasons and helped pave the way as Smith ran for 109 yards on 24 carries and became the NFL's all-time leading rusher with an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter versus the Seattle Seahawks
(10/27/2002).
He was released by the Cowboys after the 2002 season
.
’s rushing yds record with 250yds in a season, and tied their rushing touchdown
record with 12. In 2004, his first year with the league, he was nominated to the All-Rookie team. From 2007 to 2008, he played for the Colorado Rush, where he tied their rushing touchdown
record with 9. On both teams, he was the recipient of the Iron Man of the Year award.
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...
player who played fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
for five seasons for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
Early years
Thomas graduated from Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, AR after playing three seasons of footballAmerican 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...
for the Red Devils.
He attended college at Henderson State University
Henderson State University
Henderson State University, founded in 1890 as Arkadelphia Methodist College, is a four-year public liberal arts university located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, United States. It is Arkansas's only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges...
in Arkadelphia, AR, where he played linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Reddies. Thomas closed out his collegiate career as the school's all-time leading tackler with 388 tackles. Among his achievements were 18 tackles in a single game and 129 in a single season.
Thomas played in the Division II All-Star game and the Snow Bowl (now known as the Cactus Bowl
Cactus Bowl
The Cactus Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played each January in Kingsville, Texas which showcases the best NFL draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility in NCAA Division II...
). He was a finalist for the Harlen Hill trophy, the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
for Division II players.
In 2004 he was inducted into the Henderson State University
Henderson State University
Henderson State University, founded in 1890 as Arkadelphia Methodist College, is a four-year public liberal arts university located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, United States. It is Arkansas's only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges...
Hall of Fame
In 2006 he was inducted into the Jacksonville High School Hall of Fame.
Dallas Cowboys
In 19981998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
he was signed as a rookie undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and was allocated to NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
's Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
. That season he made the final roster and spent his time playing on special teams.
He switched to fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
in 1999
1999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
, and became a starter after Daryl Johnston
Daryl Johnston
Daryl Peter "Moose" Johnston is a former National Football League fullback who played his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 1999.-High school career:...
suffered a career-ending injury.
Thomas served as Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
's lead blocker for four seasons and helped pave the way as Smith ran for 109 yards on 24 carries and became the NFL's all-time leading rusher with an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter versus 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...
(10/27/2002).
He was released by the Cowboys after the 2002 season
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
.
Arena Football League
From 2004 to 2008, Robert played Arena Football where he broke the Georgia ForceGeorgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
’s rushing yds record with 250yds in a season, and tied their rushing 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:...
record with 12. In 2004, his first year with the league, he was nominated to the All-Rookie team. From 2007 to 2008, he played for the Colorado Rush, where he tied their rushing 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:...
record with 9. On both teams, he was the recipient of the Iron Man of the Year award.