The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2020
- Class:
- 2005
Both a National Champion and a Super Bowl Champion, David Thomas is the most prolific pass-catching tight end in Texas history. Thomas was instrumental in Texas' victory over No. 1 USC to win the 2005 National Championship, pulling in 10 receptions that stand as a UT single-game record for a tight end. He also owns the Longhorn tight end record for single-season receptions (50/2005), along with career tight end records for receptions (98), receiving yards (1,367) and touchdown receptions (15). Thomas was a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy (college football player with the best combination of community/academic/athletic achievement) and a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy (top scholar-athlete in college football) in 2005. Twice a candidate for the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end (2004-05), he was a three-time All-Big 12 selection, including a two-time first-team honoree (2004-05). He also earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 accolades in 2004 and 2005. He played in 51 career games, starting his last 38, and averaged 13.9 yards per reception, including 21.6 yards per TD reception. Texas registered a 45-6 record (28-4 in Big 12) in his four seasons, posting at least 10 wins each year and three Top 6 final rankings (1st/2005, 4th/2004, 6th/2002). The Longhorns were 3-1 in bowl games during his time, including back-to-back Rose Bowl victories over Michigan and USC in 2004 and 2005, and a Cotton Bowl win over LSU in 2002. During his senior season, Thomas was a first-team All-Big 12 selection when, along with his 50 receptions, he tallied 613 receiving yards and five TD receptions, which are No. 2 and No. 3 on the UT single-season tight end list, respectively. He became just the fifth tight end in UT history to notch a 100-yard receiving game when he pulled in six catches for 104 yards and a TD against Oklahoma State that year. Thomas also earned first-team All-Big 12 honors and posted five TD catches as a junior, to accompany his 25 receptions and 430 receiving yards (17.2 ypr). As a sophomore in 2003, he picked up honorable mention All-Big 12 honors after catching 14 passes for 219 yards (15.6 ypr) and three TDs. His 60-yard TD catch at Texas A&M is the fifth-longest reception by a tight end in UT history. Thomas opened his UT career with nine receptions for 105 yards and two TDs as a freshman to share the team's Outstanding Offensive Newcomer Award in 2002. Following his career at Texas, Thomas was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round (86th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played three seasons with the Patriots (2006-08) and four with the New Orleans Saints (2009-12), winning Super Bowl XLIV with the Saints. For his career, he appeared in 80 games and caught 102 passes for 938 yards and eight TDs. A native of Wolfforth, Texas, Thomas earned all-state honors at Frenship High School where he started as both a tight end and a linebacker in his last two seasons after playing safety as a sophomore. Thomas, who earned a degree in kinesiology from UT, spent time after his NFL career living in Austin and working as an analyst on Longhorn Network. He and his family currently reside in his hometown of Lubbock.
