College/Pro Sports
Thomas sets eyes on NFL Draft
Earl Thomas has made his decision and there will be no going back on it.
Thomas has declared for the April NFL Rookie Draft as a redshirt sophomore out of the University of Texas.
Thomas, a graduate of West Orange-Stark High School, was a finalist for the Thorpe Award this year, selected as an All-American and set a school record with eight interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
“I talked about it with my family and we thought this was for the best,” Thomas said Saturday. “I look at my family’s situation and some of their financial issues. I want to provide anything they need and I don’t want my mother to work anymore.”
Thomas’ father, Earl, and mother, Debbie, live with his grandparents in Orange after their home was destroyed by Hurricane Rita.
“A house for them will be one of the first things I purchase,” Thomas said. “There is no doubt in my mind I am ready. I am ready to make a life for myself.”
Thomas did acknowledge he will finish his college education and earn a degree.
“I have to do that to make Mom happy,” Thomas added.
Thomas said he spoke with former Longhorns defensive backs Michael Huff and Aaron Ross before coming to this decision.
“It is all surreal right now,” Thomas said. “UT was a great experience and prepared me for the NFL. This has been a dream since I was a little kid and now I am so close. Now I have to train hard and see what happens at the NFL Combine.”
Thomas has heard many different things about his draft status. He said he has heard his name being floated around the mid-to-late first round.
“You never really know what can happen,” he added. “Injuries are always in the consideration.”
Thomas was able to watch two highly-sought college players fall to injuries this year in Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and Texas signal caller Colt McCoy.
Bradford was hurt in Oklahoma’s season opener against BYU and then hurt the same shoulder again against Texas.
McCoy injured his shoulder Thursday in the BCS Championship Game against Alabama.
It is an injury Thomas said cost the Longhorns a title.
“That game obviously didn’t go the way we wanted with Colt getting hurt,” Thomas said. “I am not ashamed to say that with Colt, we win that football game. Alabama is a great football team, don’t get me wrong, but they are not as dominant as people say. After Colt’s injury the defense was put in some bad situations with bad field position and Alabama capitalized.
“Even with a true freshman quarterback, we almost came back. Colt’s injury was just a shock to the whole team. That is the game of football though. I think our defense did great with the position we were put in.”
Now Thomas will look to help a professional team’s defense the same way he helped the Mustangs in the past and the Longhorns over the last two years.
“Being a Longhorn was great and Coach Mack Brown told me I left my footprints in the program in a short time,” Thomas said. “Now I’m ready to move on.”
- College/Pro Sports
-
-
Yo-yo Rockets back above .500, beat Wizards 96-88
For the Houston Rockets, who need as many hands on deck as possible to get out of the win-lose blahs, it was good enough simply to see Trevor Ariza and Kyle Lowry back on the court.
-
North Texas edges Troy 66-63 for Sun Belt bid
Josh White drove to his left and headed toward the basket, where the 5-foot-10 guard could have easily disappeared amid all those taller defenders.
-
UConn wins NCAA record 71st straight game
The top-ranked Connecticut Huskies made women's college basketball history Monday night — not that you would have known it by watching them.
-
LU guard wins women's honors
Lamar junior guard Jenna Plumley has been named the Southland Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
-
Kansas back on top in AP poll
Kansas is No. 1 — again.
-
New case: Steelers QB investigated for Ga. assault
For the second time in a year, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being accused of sexual misconduct, with a police investigating him Saturday for an alleged assault at a nightclub in a Georgia college town.
-
Baylor's Griner suspended 2 games for punch
Brittney Griner, the dunking freshman sensation for No. 14 Baylor, has been suspended for two games after throwing a punch that broke an opposing player's nose in a Big 12 game.
-
Longhorns' long hard fall from No. 1 to unranked
The Texas Longhorns have taken a long, hard fall from No. 1.
-
Baylor's Griner suspended 1 game for punch
Baylor dunking sensation Brittney Griner will be suspended at least one game, and possibly longer, after punching an opposing player in the face.
-
Astros smack 5 homers to top Nats split-squad 15-5
Brett Myers made his Houston debut, and the Astros smacked five home runs in a 15-5 victory over the Washington Nationals split squad on Thursday in the spring training opener for both teams.
- More College/Pro Sports Headlines
-
Yo-yo Rockets back above .500, beat Wizards 96-88
