Travis Thomas
Encyclopedia
Travis John Thomas is a free agent
American football
running back
who most recently played for the Cleveland Browns
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football
at Notre Dame
.
.
season, Thomas saw action chiefly on special teams (in all 12 games) and also as a reserve halfback (in 10 games). As halfback he rushed 63 times for 248 yards with a total of five touchdowns. On special teams he made a total of 132 appearances throughout the season with seven tackles.
In 2006 he was moved to the position of linebacker because of his speed and physicality with Coach Charlie Weis
's blessing and was appointed captain of special teams. He proved valuable to the Irish as a flexible player with his ability to play both offense and defense.
Thomas moved back to halfback for the 2007 season and was named a captain along with Tom Zbikowski
, Maurice Crum Jr., John Sullivan, and John Carlson. He served primarily as a goalline back and led the team in rushing touchdowns.
and was subsequently signed by the Cleveland Browns
. He was waived/injured on August 30.
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
American football
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...
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...
who most recently played for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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 signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2008. 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 Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
.
Early years
Thomas graduated from Washington High School after a stellar football career. He won SuperPrep All-American honors, with a total of 2730 rushing yards, 25 receptions for 420 yards, and 56 touchdowns in his career. He also played outside linebacker in 2002 and made 137 tackles, which helped bring his team to a 15-0 season and a Pennsylvania Class AA state title. He was awarded MVP two years, and also won the scholar-athlete award at the U.S. Army All-American BowlU.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
.
College career
During the 2005 College FootballCollege 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...
season, Thomas saw action chiefly on special teams (in all 12 games) and also as a reserve halfback (in 10 games). As halfback he rushed 63 times for 248 yards with a total of five touchdowns. On special teams he made a total of 132 appearances throughout the season with seven tackles.
In 2006 he was moved to the position of linebacker because of his speed and physicality with Coach Charlie Weis
Charlie Weis
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Weis is an American football coach. He currently serves as offensive coordinator for the Florida Gators. For five years, from December 2004 through 2009, he was the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame...
's blessing and was appointed captain of special teams. He proved valuable to the Irish as a flexible player with his ability to play both offense and defense.
Thomas moved back to halfback for the 2007 season and was named a captain along with Tom Zbikowski
Tom Zbikowski
Thomas Michael Zbikowski is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League, and an occasional professional boxer. He was drafted by the Ravens in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, Maurice Crum Jr., John Sullivan, and John Carlson. He served primarily as a goalline back and led the team in rushing touchdowns.
Cleveland Browns
Thomas went undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
and was subsequently signed by the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was waived/injured on August 30.