Texas Football: 3 best Longhorn DB’s that ever played in NFL
player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Safety. Earl Thomas. 2010-Present. 2. 26
The accomplished career of the former Longhorn superstar safety Earl Thomas is about as celebrated as it gets for any in his position group in the NFL over the entire course of the last decade. Thomas has a little ways to go before he is ready to get Pro Football Hall-of-Fame honors, but that should be down the road for him.
Initially making his way into the NFL under the direction of former USC Trojans head coach Pete Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks, Thomas was their 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He was a consensus First-Team All-American for the Longhorns during his final year in college, for the 2009 season.
Moreover, Thomas was stud right away for the Seahawks. He received his first of seven career Pro Bowl selections during his second season in the NFL, when he registered 76 combined tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, five interceptions, seven pass deflections, for an approximate value rating of seven.
During his nine years with the Seahawks, Thomas racked up a whopping 30 interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns), 67 pass deflections, more than 650 combined tackles, 11 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and 11 tackles for loss. He would get three All-Pro honors during his run with the Seahawks. And even with the Baltimore Ravens last season, Thomas received his seventh career Pro Bowl selection.