College/Pro Sports
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Tony Gutierrez
Thomas dominating in Texas secondary
It has not taken long for Earl Thomas to transfer his dominance from West Orange-Stark High School to the University of Texas.
Southeast Texans are well aware of the things Thomas did as a Mustang under Dan Hooks.
Now fans across the entire nation are getting the chance to see one of college’s best defensive players at work each Saturday.
Thomas has at least one interception in each of the Longhorns’ last four games and this week was named Defensive Player of the Week in the Big 12, the second time he has been honored the award this year.
“It feels real good right now,” Thomas said. “Everything is falling my way and I love making plays for our defense.”
Thomas, who intercepted a Colorado pass two weeks ago and scored from 92 yards out, sealed the Longhorns victory in the Red River Rivalry with an interception off Oklahoma backup quarterback Landry Jones. The interception came late in the game and allowed Colt McCoy and the offense to run the rest of the time off the clock as Texas won 16-13.
Thomas leads the Longhorns with five interceptions and is tied for second on the team with 27 tackles behind Roddrick Muckelroy. Thomas has broke up nine pass and has also forced a fumble.
Going into the season, and still into every game it seems, experts talk more of the Longhorns’ offense with McCoy and Jordan Shipley.
“I knew coming in we had a great defense,” Thomas said. “Our defensive line is one of the best in the country. Those guys clean stuff up and get pressure on the quarterbacks. They might not always get a sack but they change how the quarterbacks want to throw the ball.”
Texas has sacked the opposing quarterback 18 times in 2009 and also has 10 interceptions on the year.
Thomas gives all the credit to defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.
“Coach puts all of us in the right place,” Thomas said.
Thomas and the Longhorns will now try to make sure there is not a repeat of the 2008 season when the Longhorns had a letdown a few weeks after defeating the Sooners.
Texas is ranked No. 3 in the BCS standings and would likely play for the national championship if it wins out. Florida and Alabama are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 yet would play each other in the SEC Championship if they stayed undefeated.
The Longhorns travel to Missouri this week before then heading to face Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. The Longhorns finished the year with a game against Central Florida, at Baylor, at home against Kansas and on the road against Texas A&M.;
“We are taking this one week at a time,” Thomas said. “We play every play like it is the last one of the year. Last year was a good learning experience. All those awards coming in are great and I appreciate them but I give all the credit to every guy on our defense. If we continue to win, all that stuff will fall into place. Missouri will be a hostile place to play and we want to finish the year strong and take the computers out of it. We will see what happens.”
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