Four-year starter at cornerback ... played in 41 career games and started 34 times ... finished career with 169 tackles with 17 pass deflections ... physical cornerback with tremendous cover skills ... one of the Tigers' most experienced defensive players ... excellent coverage cornerback who also does a great job against the run ... has excellent field vision ... has been a valuable special teams player ... made 30 consecutive starts ... had one interception ... has also been used as a kickoff return specialist ... returned 14 kickoffs in career for a 20.6 average ... had career long 41-yard kickoff return at New Hampshire in 2008 ... very good team leader ... was a freshman "red shirt" in 2006.
2010 SEASON: Starter in first seven games at cornerback ... one of the Tiger team captains as a senior ... suffered career-ending injury returning a punt at Richmond .... made 34 tackles in seven games with two pass breakups ... had a seasonal high eight tackles in season opener at Indiana.
2009 SEASON: Starter in all 11 games at cornerback ... only junior to serve as a game captain in 2009 ... served as game captain five times ... chosen as game captain for contests against Northwestern, Morgan State, William & Mary and James Madison ... ranked ninth on the team with 47 tackles ... made 4.5 tackles for lost yardage ... also broke up three passes ... had one fumble recovery and a 33-yard return to the James Madison one-yard line, setting up a Tiger touchdown in season finale against the Dukes ... made seasonal high eight tackles against JMU ... made seven tackles, including two for lost yardage, in Tigers' Homecoming Game against Delaware ... had seven tackles against third-ranked Villanova ... made six tackles against number one-ranked Richmond ... helped Tigers to win over Coastal Carolina with three tackles, including one for lost yardage ... made four tackles and broke up a pass at William & Mary ... had four tackles in season opener at Northwestern ... made two tackles in win at Rhode Island ... returned seven kickoffs for 143 yards and a 20.4 average in 2009 ... returned three kickoffs for 55 yards against Villanova ... had two kick returns for 47 yards, including a 30-yarder against Richmond.
2008 SEASON: Starter in all 12 games at right cornerback ... made 57 tackles to rank fourth on team ... tied for team lead with nine pass breakups ... also tied for team lead with one interception ... ranked tenth in the Colonial Athletic Association with 10 passes defensed ... had four kickoff returns for 95 yards and a 23.8 average ... had career long 41-yard kickoff return at New Hampshire ... helped Tigers to a 21-16 win over Morgan State with a career high 10 tackles ... made six tackles at Richmond ... made first interception of career in 31-24 victory over Columbia, picking off a pass in the end zone to stop a Columbia drive ... also made six tackles and broke up a pass against Columbia ... matched career high with 10 tackles against Northeastern broke up one pass ... broke up three passes and made four tackles in Homecoming win over Rhode Island ... made five tackles at New Hampshire ... made four tackles at Delaware ... had four tackles and broke up a pass in season finale against James Madison ... defensive standout at 2008 Spring Game with five tackles, an interception and a blocked punt.
2007 SEASON: Appeared in 11 games and started four times ... started in four of Tigers' final five games ... started against Hofstra, Colgate, Maine and Villanova ... made 31 tackles, seventh on team ... had two tackles for lost yardage ... broke up two passes ... made three tackles and had a touchdown-saving pass breakup in Tigers' win at Morgan State ... had five tackles and broke up a pass against Hofstra ... had nine tackles against Villanova.
AT POTOMAC H.S.: Two-way standout at running back and defensive back for the Wolverines ... named first team All Prince George's County ... had 36 tackles as a senior ... rushed for 166 yards (9.8 avg.) for Coach Eric Knight ... caught 13 passes for 360 yards and a 27.7 average ... returned 21 punts for a 17.4 average with four TD's ... helped Wolverines win back-to-back state titles ... named to Pigskin Club of Washington's All-Metro team as a kick returner.
PERSONAL: Lists mother as the person he admires most ... favorite athlete is Champ Bailey ... favorite meal is steak and salad at home ... cousin, Brandon Cooper, played football at Bowie State ... has a brother and a sister ... mother works for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ... son of Ollie and Teresa Thomas ... born March 5, 1988 in
Washington, D.C.
