Seattle Seahawks 2015 Profiles: Earl Thomas

By Paul Frances | Aug 10, 2015

In preparation for the 2015 NFL season, we are continuing to look the player profiles of the top five players on the Seattle Seahawks’ current roster. Today’s at #4 on the list it’s the turn of hard-hitting free safety Earl Thomas.

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No. 29

Full Name: Earl Thomas III

Birthdate: May 7 , 1989 (Age 26)

Place of Birth: Orange, Texas

Height: 5ft 10in (1.78 m)

Weight: 202 Lbs

Professional Career Highlights:

Super Bowl Champion (XLVIII)

4x Pro Bowler (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

3x First-team all-Pro (2012, 2013, 2014)

Second-team All-Pro (2011)

2x NFC Champion (2013, 2014)

Steve Largent Award Winner (2013)

Ranked in the NFL’s top 100 players (2012-2015)

NFL Career Statistics (As of week 17, 2014)

Tackles: 442

Pass deflections: 38

Interceptions: 16

Forced Fumbles: 8

Touchdowns: 2

How did Earl Thomas become a Seahawk?

Thomas attended the University of Texas, where he played for head coach Mack Brown from 2007 to 2009. After Thomas red-shirted in 2007, he started all 13 games in 2008, and ranked second on the team for tackles (70) and pass breakups (13). He also had two interceptions, four forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

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In 2008 Thomas earned multiple All-Freshman honors, he was named onto the FWAA’s, Sporting News’, College Football News’ and Rivals.com’s Freshman All- American team.

In 2009, Thomas played on a Texas team that were undefeated in the regular season where he had 65 total tackles, 16 pass breakups, one forced fumble and eight interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns. Thomas and the Texans would go on to play in the 2010 BCS National Championship game where they lost to Alabama. Thomas chose to forgo his final two seasons of eligibility at Texas to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft.

Thomas was drafted by the Seahawks in the first round with the fourteenth overall pick. At age 20, he was one of the youngest players eligible for the draft.

2014 Stats

Thomas started all 16 games in 2014. He recorded 97 total tackle, three forced fumbles, six pass breakups and one interception. Thomas helped the Seahawks ranks first in overall and pass defense and 3rd in run defense in 2014. Thomas was also voted to his fourth Pro Bowl in as many seasons.

Overall

Thomas is undoubtedly the best safety in the NFL. He has great speed and is an excellent athlete. Thomas is a unique player with excellent ball skills and big-play capabilities. He is an instinctive player with great vision, which allows him to a anticipate throws and defend passes as good as anyone in the league.

He is a very tough competitor who will fill in the running game and does not shy away from contact. He is the leader in the backfield and he is vital in the Seahawks’ defense, which is tailored around him and his abilities.

Jul 31, 2015; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) watches from the sidelines during a training camp practice at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Thomas is currently injured but is hoping to be ready for the start of the season. He separated his shoulder and tore his labrum during the Seahawks’ win in the NFC Championship Game but decided to play in Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots.

He underwent surgery at the end of February this year and recent reports suggest there may be a chance that Thomas may miss the season opener against the St Louis Rams on September 13th.

Thomas is an amazing player and is a much-needed piece on Kris Richard’s defense, his vision and uncanny ability to read the quarterback is mind-blowing. There is no other safety like Thomas in the league, he reminds me of former Baltimore Ravens ball-hawking great Ed Reed.

I expect Thomas to be back in the Seahawks’ backfield by October at the latest. If he is out he will be greatly missed but I’m sure the ‘Legion Of Boom’ and the rest of our number one defense will step up in his absence.

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