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Texas Football: Ranking the 5 best defensive backs since 2000

By Andrew Miller

19 Sep 1998: Free safety Quentin Jammer #5 of the Texas Longhorns in action during a game against the Kansas State Wildcats at the KSU Wagner Field in Manhattan, Kansas. The Wildcats defeated the Longhorns 48-7. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport
19 Sep 1998: Free safety Quentin Jammer #5 of the Texas Longhorns in action during a game against the Kansas State Wildcats at the KSU Wagner Field in Manhattan, Kansas. The Wildcats defeated the Longhorns 48-7. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport /
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AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 5: Safety Earl Thomas #12 of the Texas Longhorns looks on during warm-up prior to their game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks on September 5, 2009 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Warhawks 59-20. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 5: Safety Earl Thomas #12 of the Texas Longhorns looks on during warm-up prior to their game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks on September 5, 2009 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Warhawks 59-20. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

The Seattle Seahawks are going through some tough times figuring out the contract of former Texas superstar safety Earl Thomas at this moment. However, Seattle did still get some great years out of Thomas. That includes a few trips to the Super Bowl, and one title that the secondary played a huge part in winning.

Thomas didn’t stay around for long enough to break any interception records over the span of an entire career. However, he does own the single season record for interceptions for the Horns with eight. Elliott had a huge 2017 campaign, but he didn’t come too close to surpassing the record set by Thomas back in 2009.

When Thomas hauled in those eight interceptions, he was able to return two of them for touchdowns. In terms of total tackles and tackles for loss, Thomas stayed relatively consistent throughout his two years in which he started in the Texas secondary. But, the 2009 campaign saw him nab six more interceptions than he did in the previous season.

Next: 10 best former Longhorns in the NFL in 2018

At this point, Thomas could be the best former Texas player that is currently playing in the NFL. His unexpected dominance for the Horns for two years translated immediately to the NFL with the Seahawks. With Texas, he was a very decorated player including being named a consensus All-American in 2009. That was the same year that Texas made a run to a BCS National Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide under star quarterback Colt McCoy. Thomas was huge that year for Texas success too.

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