Dave Thomas (cornerback)
David Garfield Thomas (born August 25, 1968) is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Giants. He played college football at the University of Tennessee and was drafted in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft.
 Dave Thomas with a student at Miami Beach Senior High holding his Beach High Hall of Fame plaque | |||||||||
| No. 41 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | August 25, 1968 Miami, Florida | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 218 lb (99 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Miami Beach Senior (Miami Beach, Florida) | ||||||||
| College: | Tennessee | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1993 / Round: 8 / Pick: 203 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Early years
Thomas attended Miami Beach Senior High School, where he received third-team All-American and All-Conference honors in football as a senior. He also lettered in basketball and track.
He moved on to Butler Community College, where he registered 7 interceptions as a freshman and 10 (second in the nation) as a sophomore, on his way to becoming one of the top cornerbacks in junior college.[1]
In 1990, he transferred to the University of Tennessee, where he played in 13 games as a backup cornerback, posting 17 tackles, one interception (returned for 51-yards against UTEP) and one pass defensed. The next year he was redshirted. In October 1991, an off-field incident caused him to lose his final year of sports eligibility at Tennessee. He would still stay at the school and graduate.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Even though he was out of football for two years, the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the eight round (203rd overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft. During his time with the team he was one of the tallest cornerbacks in the NFL and showed promise playing special teams and in some of the nickel packages. He was a part of the Super Bowl XXVIII winning team.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him from the Cowboys roster in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft.
He became the starting left cornerback after replacing Vinnie Clark in the fifth game of the 1996 season,[2] but in the ninth game while playing against the Cincinnati Bengals, he sustained a fractured left femur while covering an onside kick after colliding with teammate Dana Hall. Although he regained his starter job in 1997, it has been speculated that he was never the same player after his injury.[3][4] That season, he started 16 games, registered a career-high 88 tackles, along with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
The next year, he started 12 games, recorded 69 tackles, a team-leading 4 forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery. In 1999, he was relegated to backup rookie Fernando Bryant and playing in the nickel defense,[5] finishing with 15 tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 passes defensed, 18 special teams tackles, one punt block and one forced fumble on special teams.
New York Giants
On April 11, 2000, he signed as a free agent with the New York Giants to play special teams and in the nickel defense,[6] but was named the starter when Conrad Hamilton was injured and later waived.[7] He was a part of the Super Bowl XXXV team.
In 2001, he was replaced as the starter at left cornerback with Will Allen.[8] He was released on March 1, 2002.[9]
References
- "Tennessee to rely on JUCO players". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- "Jags look stronger down on the corner". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- "Jaguars progressed, so will expectations". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- "Thomas regains swagger". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- "Giant step for ex-Jags". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- "Giants Sign Thomas, Free-Agent Cornerback From Jaguars". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- "McDaniel Stands By Fellow Cornerbacks". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- "Allen Has Giants In His Corner". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- "Transactions". Retrieved April 30, 2017.