The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Thomas drafted 14th overall by Seattle Seahawks
04.22.2010 | Football
April 22, 2010
- What they're saying: Earl Thomas
Texas S Earl Thomas was selected 14th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2010 NFL Draft and is the 15th first-round pick in the Mack Brown era.
"This is my dream to play in the NFL and it came true," Thomas said. "It's still surreal right now and maybe I'll feel it in the morning. I'm in awe right now. I'm just shaking a little bit right now. I'm just ready to get out there and put the pads on and go from there."
Thomas also becomes the Longhorns' ninth Top 20 pick in just the last seven years following Brian Orakpo (13, Washington Redskins, 2009), Michael Griffin (19, Tennessee Titans, 2007), Aaron Ross (20, New York Giants, 2007), Vince Young (3, Tennessee Titans, 2006), Michael Huff (7, Oakland Raiders, 2006), Cedric Benson (4, Chicago Bears, 2005), Derrick Johnson (15, Kansas City Chiefs, 2005), and Roy Williams (7, Detroit Lions, 2004).
"Earl is so passionate about football that we had trouble getting him off the field," head coach Mack Brown said. "He wanted to be on every special team. He wanted to be in the game from the beginning until the end so when we would substitute and put the second-team secondary in, we had to be careful because we would look up and he's put himself back in. He's got great instincts, he played offense and defense in high school, so he's got really good hand-eye coordination and he'll hit you."
Nine Texas DBs have now been selected in the last nine years including Thomas, Michael Griffin, Ross, Huff, Tarell Brown (2007 - San Francisco 49ers, fifth round), Cedric Griffin (2006 - Minnesota Vikings, second round), Nathan Vasher (2004 - Chicago Bears, fourth round), Rod Babers (2003 - New York Giants, fourth round), and Quentin Jammer (2002 - San Diego Chargers, first round).
"Earl probably had as productive a year at defensive back that I've ever seen as a coach as far as getting his hands on balls and making plays," defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said. "He was truly a ball hawk. He made so many plays for us. He's got great game speed. His most talented attribute is his heart, desire and competitive edge. He competes every day, and that's why he's a difference maker."
Thomas is the first Longhorn to be chosen by the Seahawks since DT Marcus Tubbs in the first round (23rd overall) in 2004. Prior to that, the last Texas player drafted by Seattle was C Adam Schreiber in the ninth round in 1984. Only one other Longhorn has been chosen by the Seahawks in draft history and that was LB Bruce Scholtz in the second round in 1982.
"Earl's had a lot of adversity because of the hurricane and losing their house and staying at a hotel and we're really, really proud when any of these young people can help their lives because of The University of Texas and the football they've played here," Brown said.
"It was a big decision and we all decided as a whole family," Thomas said. "That was one of the main reasons I came out was because of the house situation, and most of all, there was no doubt in my mind that I was ready to play in the NFL, so I made the jump."
Brown has now had a first-round selection in 11 of the last 15 drafts and a total of 19 first-round picks (15 Texas/four UNC) in the last 13 drafts.
Thomas, the fourth defensive back in the Mack Brown era to be named a Thorpe Award finalist (nation's top defensive back), started all 27 games of his Texas career, posting 149 tackles, eight TFL, 10 interceptions, 33 PBU, five forced fumbles and a blocked punt.
Thomas was a consensus first-team All-America selection and Thorpe Award finalist in 2009 after notching 77 tackles, five TFL and 16 PBU. He also broke Texas' longest-standing school record with eight INTs, eclipsing the mark of seven that was originally set by Noble Doss in 1940. The mark was tied four times but never broken until Thomas this year. His two interception returns for TDs in 2009 also set a UT record. Thomas registered 72 tackles, two interceptions, 17 PBU (No. 1 on UT's all-time freshman list), three TFL, four forced fumbles and a blocked punt en route to Freshman All-American honors as a redshirt freshman in 2008.
