Anthony Thomas (American football)

Infobox NFLactive


name=Anthony Thomas
currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentposition=Running back
birthdate=birth date and age|1977|11|7
birthplace=Winnfield, Louisiana
heightft=6
heightin=2
weight=221
debutyear=2001
debutteam=Chicago Bears
college=Michigan
draftyear=2001
draftround=2
draftpick=38
pastteams=
* Chicago Bears (2001-2004)
* Dallas Cowboys (2005)
* New Orleans Saints (2005)
* Buffalo Bills (2006-2007)
status=
highlights=
* 2x Citrus Bowl MVP (1999, 2001)
* AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2001)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Rushing yards
statvalue1=3,891
statlabel2=Rushing average
statvalue2=3.7
statlabel3=Rushing TDs
statvalue3=23
nfl=THO027279

Anthony Jermaine Thomas (born November 7, 1977 in Winnfield, Louisiana) is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan.

As a rookie with the Bears in 2001, rushed for over 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns to earn the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. He has also played for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills in his career.

High school career

At Winnfield Senior High School, he starred on the basketball, track, and football teams. He set a state record with 106 career touchdowns while playing both running back and placekicker. He was named a first-team All-American and rated as the second-best running back in the country by the "Prep Football Report".

College career

Before entering the professional ranks, Thomas played college football at University of Michigan. As a freshman in 1997, he contributed to the Wolverines' 12-0 national championship season. In his stellar collegiate career (1997-2000), Thomas set school records for rushing yards (4,472) and touchdowns (56). His record for rushing yards was broken seven years later by Mike Hart, as shown in the following chart: [cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page|accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2003]

Thomas also ranks second in school history in rushing yards in a single season with 1,703 yards in 2000:

[cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page|accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2003]

Professional career

Thomas was selected in the second round (38th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Nicknamed "A-Train" due to his power-running style, he powered his way to 1,183 rushing yards and the NFL Rookie of the Year Award. With the emergence of Thomas Jones in Chicago, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2005 as the backup running back to Julius Jones. Thomas' ineffectiveness in limited duty, his inability to play special teams, and the emergence of Marion Barber III as the primary backup led Dallas to release him in November 2005. He was quickly signed by New Orleans after they lost Deuce McAllister with a season ending knee injury, and split rushing duties with Aaron Stecker. On April 28, 2006, Thomas signed with the Buffalo Bills.

See also

*Lists of Michigan Wolverines football rushing leaders
*Lists of Michigan Wolverines football receiving leaders

References

External links

* [http://www.wwltv.com/sports/stories/wwl111505atrain.60e962b7.html Anthony Thomas gets second chance with the Saints (wwltv.com)]