Shamarko Thomas
 Thomas in his rookie season with the Steelers. | |||||||||
| No. 29 – Pittsburgh Steelers | |||||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | February 23, 1991 Champaign, IL | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 217 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Syracuse | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2013 / round: 4 / pick: 111 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2014 | |||||||||
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Shamarko Lanell Thomas (born February 23, 1991) is an American football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Thomas played college football for Syracuse University. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose him in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Early years
Thomas was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He attended Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, and he played for the Ocean Lakes Dolphins high school football team. He was named 2008 first-team all-state, all-region and All-Tidewater, and was a two-time first-team all-district selection. He set school records in career tackles, interceptions and defensive touchdowns. In 2008, he recorded a team-high 102 tackles, six interceptions, 11 pass breakups and one blocked field goal as a team captain, leading the squad to a 12-1 record, while earning 2008 team defensive MVP honors. He led the team in tackles as a junior.
Thomas was also a track star at Ocean Lakes High School. He earned all-state honors competing in the 100 meters, and as the anchor of the 4 x 100 meter relay that placed seventh in Virginia. At the 2009 Beach District Championships, he placed first in the 100 meters (10.76s) and third in the 200 meters (21.78s).[1]
College career
Thomas attended Syracuse University, where he was a member of the Syracuse Orange football team from 2009 to 2012. During his career he started 43 of 48 games in which he played, recording 263 tackles, two interceptions and four quarterback sacks. As a senior in 2012, he was a first-team All-Big East Conference selection.[2]
Professional career
2013 NFL Combine
| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
213 lb (97 kg) |
4.37 s | 1.52 s | 2.49 s | 4.26 s | 6.84 s | 40.5 in (1.03 m) |
11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) |
28 reps | |||
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
2013 NFL Draft
Thomas was drafted in the fourth round, with the 111th pick overall, by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers
He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on May 16, 2013. In the 2013 season he played in 14 games and had 2 starts with a total of 29 tackles (22 solo). In the offseason he was invited by starter SS Troy Polamalu to California to share with him some of his physical and mental training method, probably foreseeing Polamalu's retirement. During the 2014 season Thomas played in 11 games, none as a starter, recording 5 solo tackles and his first career forced fumble at Carolina Panthers in week 3. On April 9, 2015 Troy Polamalu announced his retirement from NFL, and Thomas is expected to start at Strong Safety for the new season.[3] .