Earl Thomas Always Around the Ball

Earl Thomas Always Around the Ball

Earl Thomas is a safety out of the University Texas. Thomas is a redshirt sophmore, so even though he only played two years of college football he is eligble for the draft.

Earl Thomas is a sure-fire first pick and the second (my opinion) or third best (people who like Taylor Mays a lot) safety in the draft.

Bio from Texas’ Football Website

Third-year safety who has started 26 games over the last two years … a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s top defensive back) … a consensus first-team All-America selection … posted 143 tackles, (96 solo), eight TFL, 10 INTs, 33 PBU, five forced fumbles and a blocked punt for his career (Bartolis note:  2 Seasons) … has returned two of his INTs for TDs … started all 13 games at strong safety in 2009 … a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection … compiled 71 tackles, (45 solo), five TFL, 16 PBU and eight INTs (No. 1 on UT’s single-season list) … his 24 passes defended rank first nationally and his eight INTs are tied for second  (Bartolis note: Ball haw)… his two INT returns tied UT’s single-season record … started all 13 games at strong safety in 2008 … named first-team Freshman All-America by College Football News and Sporting News … tabbed honorable mention All-Big 12 … was second on the team with 63 tackles … led the team with 17 PBU (No. 1 on UT’s all-time freshman list) … also tallied two INTs, three TFL, four forced fumbles and a blocked punt … gained valuable experience working at both safety and cornerback as a redshirt in 2007 … was a four-sport letterman and an honor roll student as a prepster … tabbed all-state as a senior … was a three-year starter at DB, RB and WR … also lettered in basketball, baseball and track and field.

Mesaurables

Earl Thomas is nowhere near the physical specimen that fellow Safety Propsect Taylor Mays is-Thomas is 5′10” 200 pounds.

Thomas is also young and his entering the draft after his red-shirt sophmore year.

Thomas is expected to run around a 4.40-4.44 40 Yard Dash.

(Combine Numbers Will Be Posted Once They Occur)

Stats

Thomas is Super Productive, even though he only played two years of college football.

in 2008 Thomas had 71 tackles, 4 Forced Fumbles and 2 Interceptions (I believe he played more SS this season).

In 2009 Thomas was even more productive. He had 63 tackles, 1 FF, and 8 Interceptions. 2 of which he brought back to the house.

Thomas had only had 1 multiple INT game so he made an INT in 7 of his 14 games this past season.

Thomas had INT vs Texas Tech, UTEP (2), Colorado, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A & M, and Kansas.

Thomas also added 8 passes defensed throughout the season.

Earl Thomas’ Scouting Report from Draft Board Insider

Scouting Report:  Thomas has a solid build, lean with a small waist and long limbs.  He plays a FS at Texas but is asked to do a little of everything.  And trust me, he does it all.  Only a redshirt sophomore but his coverage skills are very good.  He has great anticipation and does an excellent job of reading and diagnosing the making the big play on the ball.  He’s one of the most physical safetys in the draft, and has no qualms about sacrificing his body for a play.  Some think that he’s better suited to play a very physical CB in the NFL, to maximize his coverage skills, and try and keep his body in tact.  The only real negatives to Thomas’ game are the fact that he plays more physical than his frame will hold and it could shorten his NFL career and that he does at times play a little out of control and forgets his assignments.
Draft Status: Thomas is only a redshirt sophomore, but if the Longhorns win a national title, there’s a real chance he makes the jump to the NFL.  If he did, he’d be no worse than the 2nd safety off the board and probably the 3rd defensive back which means he’s probably a top 15 pick.  For a player so young, but so talented all that can happen at this point is to have his game get picked apart and hurt his stock.  He’s not going to get any bigger or any faster or any stronger, and his skills set is what it is.

Final Analysis:  Love, love love what Thomas brings to the table.  He reminds me a ton of Joe Haden only playing safety.  He’s got good size for CB, a little undersized for a safety as physical as he is.  But he’s got great strength both in coverage and in run support, he runs very well, is a great leaper, and has soft hands.  He can blitz when asked to, and literally anchors the back 4 of the Longhorn defense.  No matter what happens for the Longhorns this year, Thomas would be foolish to return to school when his stock really can’t get much higher.

Reminds me of: Troy Polamalu, S Pittsburgh Steelers-Both a little undersized, super aggressive, and able to do anything on the football field.  Thomas can certainly grow into the kind of impact player Polamalu is, given the right scheme and coaching.  All the physical tools are there.

From Walterfootball.com

  • Highly productive and consistent
  • Centerfielder with great range
  • Eats space quickly
  • Very good recovery speed and acceleration
  • Nice all-around athlete
  • Sure tackler in run support
  • Love his instincts
  • Doesn’t let play get behind him
  • Takes solid angles
  • Ballhawk – great on pursuit INTs
  • Does a good job of reading QB’s eyes
  • Low, smooth backpedal
  • Has nice route recognition
  • Quick hips
  • Great in man coverage
  • Playmaker
  • High ceiling
  • Occasionally gets out of control; goes for big hit
  • Smaller player – will his body hold up in pros?
  • Late in run diagnosage
  • Will have limitations in run support at next level

    • Summary: Earl Thomas is the kind of football player you just love to watch on tape. You fall in love with his speed, athleticism and instincts, but some teams might be scared of his small frame, which really seems to be the only thing holding him back from being a top-10 draft pick. Thomas projects as a free safety in the NFL and seems to be too good to fall out of the top 25 picks.

    Player Comparison: Reggie Nelson. Despite his inconsistencies with the Jags, Nelson displays outstanding range and is a ballhawk free safety. Thomas is obviously has a somewhat smaller body frame.

    Big Board Rankings

    Walterfootball 14th

    Draft Board Insider 15th

    Mel Kiper 11th

    (More Rankings as they Come out)

    Where The Mocks Say He Will Land (As we Get Closer to  Draft Day)

    Bartolis Summary and Final Verdict

    There are two questions about Earl Thomas-is he better suited to play cornerback in the N.F.L.

    And two-can his body hold up as a safety.

    Those are really the only questions.

    Earl Thomas is fast, he plays with a lot of heart, he’s a natural leader. He’s young (redshirt sophmore), he’s SUPER productive this past season.

    Earl Thomas potential is unlimited and he’s one heck of a player.

    Earl Thomas went to a big time school, played in a big time conference, and played against some very good offenses, yet he was super productive.

    Final Verdict

    Give me, Give me, Give me, Give me Earl Thomas on the New York Giants please.

    Earl Thomas is a Ball-Hawking Play Making Safety who is so smooth in coverage he will get serious consideration as a  first-round Cornerback in the N.F.L. By some teams.

    He’s versatile.

    Earl Thomas is one of my top THREE targets for the New York Giants in the upcoming draft.

    Earl Thomas is fast, he’s a ball-hawk and he has EXCELLENT cover skills.

    He may never be a punishing run defender at safety, or he may be, but he’s so small teams might not want to ask him to handle the run stopping duties. Earl Thomas has a leaner built than Bob Sanders becuase they way about the same, but Thomas is taller and slender, but he plays with passion fire and speed.

    He might be a little too over aggressive at times, but he  makes plays and he has unlimited potential.

    He does not have the physical ability of Taylor Mays (who is THE biggest freak athlete in the class), but he’s a much better Football player.

    He is a top ten prospect, in my mind and will be the Best Player Available when the Giants draft slot comes up if C.J. Spiller, Anthony Davis, or Ronaldo McClain don’t fall to the Giants.

    Right now I”m crossing my fingers and hoping that the Giants end up with Earl Thomas or C.J. Spiller.

    I think both players can be dynamic and make game-changing plays. I think an Earl Thomas Kenny Phillips combo at safety could contain the high powered offenses they will have to face next year (the Eagles, Cowboys, Colts, Texans).

    Jerry Reese has a realistic shot of drafting Earl Thomas. Jerry Reese has already shown that he places an emphasis on secondary members high in the draft (Aaron Ross 1st round, Terrell Thomas 2nd round, Corey Webster-not his pick but while he was on the staff-2nd round).

    He also has shown that in the first three rounds he likes to draft players from big time programs (Aaron Ross-Texas, Steve Smith USC, Jay Alford Penn State.  Kenny Phillips Miami, Terrell Thomas USC, Mario Manningham, Michigan. Hakeem Nicks-U.N.C., Clint Sintim, UVA, Travis Beckum Wisconsion, Ramses Barden-only non B.C.S School drafted in the first three rounds under Jerry Reese)

    Earl Thomas-is the man you want the Giants selecting at 15th overall next year.

    Previous Prospect Profiles

    Rolando McClain

    C.J. Spiller

    Taylor Mays