FOOTBALL

79, Marcus Thomas
Denver Broncos

Marcus Thomas Conference Call (Can't see the video? Download Free RealPlayer here)

OVERVIEW
Marcus seriously considered leaving school early to enter the NFL Draft after the 2005 season, but wanted to return and play for the Gators, who went on to win the national championship with one of their best players watching the game at home.

Thomas was a Super Prep All-American selection at Mandarin High School. He was also considered among the state's top two defensive linemen by that publication. He was rated the sixth-best defensive tackle in the country and the top defensive lineman in the state of Florida by Rivals.com.

Marcus added first-team Class 6A All-State honors as a senior. He led the team in sacks as a senior with 30, just two shy of the state record. He also played sparingly at fullback and rushed for over 100 yards in a game. Thomas also contributed 80 tackles and 15 sacks as a junior.  Thomas and high school teammate, Chris Anderson, chose to enroll at Florida over Florida State and Miami. He saw action in 358 plays and twelve games in 2003, becoming the first true freshman to start on the defensive line since 1992, when Johnnie Church and David Barnard started for the Gators. He lined up with the starting unit vs. Mississippi and Florida State, but sat out the Louisiana State clash with an ankle sprain. The nose tackle posted 47 tackles (30 solos) with 1.5 sacks and 3.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

In 2004, Thomas started all year at nose tackle, in addition to playing on the special teams coverage units. He recorded 39 tackles (28 solos) with 8.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, including 4.5 sacks while participating in 644 plays during twelve contests. After the season, the
talented sophomore underwent back surgery.

The team’s Most Outstanding Lineman earned All-Southeastern Conference honorable mention in 2005. He started the entire season at his familiar nose tackle position, as he developed into a force in the middle of the field. Thomas collected 45 tackles (22 solos) with four sacks, 10.5 stops for losses and three pressures. He caused one fumble, batted away a pass and blocked two kicks on the special teams coverage squad.

In 2006, he was in on 26 tackles (13 solos), four sacks and 5.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also deflected one pass while starting four of five contests.

In 41 games at Florida, Thomas started 31 times. He finished his career with 157 tackles (93 solos), fourteen sacks for minus 85 yards and 28 stops for losses totaling 115 yards. He registered five pressures with two pass deflections and a forced fumble. Marcus also blocked a pair of kicks.

CAREER NOTES
Of his 157 career tackles, 17.8 percent (28) came from behind the line of scrimmage, including 33.3 percent of his 2004 totals of 39 tackles (13) and 32.2% of his 45 tackles (14.5) in 2005.

2006 SEASON
A preseason All-American and All-Southeastern Conference choice, Thomas appeared on the Watch Lists for the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy…Was a member of the 2006 Leadership Committee…Appeared in five games at nose tackle, starting vs. Central Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and Georgia…Recorded 26 tackles (13 solos), as Thomas registered four sacks for minus 31 yards and 5.5 stops for losses totaling 32 yards…Also deflected one pass.

2006 GAME ANALYSIS
Central Florida…In his first appearance for the Gators in 2006, Thomas posted four tackles (3 solos) and two sacks for minus 15 yards…On the game’s first series from scrimmage, Marcus took down Kevin Smith for no gain on a run off right tackle…At the start of the second quarter, he
sacked QB Steve Moffett for a 7-yard loss on a third-&-4 play, forcing UCF to punt…With 1:29 left in the first half, Thomas again sacked Moffett for minus 8 yards…After the game, head coach Urban Meyer praised Marcus, saying, “Marcus Thomas, other than being a very good player, loves the game of football. It’s contagious, and having him around helps this team. He chose to come back and play his senior year at the University of Florida, and that was the correct decision to make.”…Head to Head Competition-OC#53-Cedric Gagne-Marcoux.
Tennessee…Thomas registered three solo tackles and sacked QB Erik Ainge for a 9-yard loss midway through the second quarter…Head to Head Competition-OC#73-Michael Frogg.
Louisiana State…Delivered eight tackles (4 solos), as he assisted on a stop behind the line of scrimmage and batted away a pass… Head to Head Competition-OC#74-Brett Helms.
Auburn…Credited with a career-high ten tackles (5 solos), assisting on two sacks while posting 2.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage…Late in the first quarter, Thomas sacked QB Brandon Cox for a 6-yard loss (teamed with defensive end Derrick Harvey) on a third-&-6 play, forcing the Tigers to punt…Joined linebacker Brian Crum in sacking Cox for an 8-yard loss at the start of the second quarter…Also tackled Kenny Irons for a 1-yard loss on a run off right guard late in the third quarter…Head to Head Competition-OC#68-Jason Bosley.

2005 SEASON
All-Southeastern Conference honorable mention…Started all twelve games at nose tackle, recording 45 tackles (22 solos), as Thomas tied for second on the team with four sacks for minus 20 yards and 10.5 stops for losses totaling 34 yards…Credited with three quarter-back pressures…Caused a fumble and deflected a pass…Also competed on the special teams coverage units, blocking two kicks.

2005 GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Wyoming…Tackled J.R. Moore for a 3-yard loss and produced three tackles (2 solos).
Tennessee…Took down tailback Arian Foster for a 2-yard loss on a run up the middle at the start of the second quarter…Four plays later, Thomas teamed with defensive end Jeremy Mincey to take Foster down for a 1-yard loss on a run off right guard.
Alabama…Made six tackles (3 solos) with three stops behind the line of scrimmage, including a 7-yard sack of QB Brodie Croyle at midfield early in the fourth quarter.
Louisiana State…Registered a season-high nine tackles (2 solos), causing a fumble when he stripped tailback Justin Vincent of the ball and Gators linebacker Brandon Siler recovered it midway through the first quarter.
Georgia…Followed with six tackles (4 solos)…Also stopped Kenneth Darby for a 2-yard loss on a run off right tackle at the start of the third quarter.
South Carolina…Came up with six tackles (4 solos), a pressure and a pair of sacks for minus 10 yards…Sacked QB Blake Mitchell for a 6-yard loss on the second play from scrimmage in the game. On the next play (third-&-16, Thomas pressured Mitchell into throwing an incomplete pass,
forcing the Gamecocks to punt…Blocked a Josh Brown extra point attempt after a Dacus Turman 3-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter…Sacked Mitchell again for a 4-yard loss late in the third quarter.
Florida State…Added four tackles (3 solos), as Thomas assisted linebacker Brian Crum in stopping tailback Leon Washington for a 1-yard loss on an early second quarter rushing attempt…Midway through the second quarter, Thomas blocked a 44-yard field goal try and cornerback Reggie Lewis recovered the ball, returning it 52 yards for a touchdown.
Iowa (Outback Bowl)…Closed out the season with four solo tackles, a pass deflection and a 3-yard sack of QB Drew Tate.

2004 SEASON
Started all twelve games at nose tackle, participating in 644 plays…Tied for the team lead among the down linemen with 39 tackles (28 solos) and tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks for minus 25 yards…Tied for fourth among the Gator defenders with 8.5 stops for minus 34 yards and registered two pressures…Also saw action on special teams as a member of the punt return and field goal and extra point block teams.

2004 GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Made seven tackles vs. Middle Tennessee, including his first sack of the season…His five total tackles vs. Louisiana State led all Gator defensive linemen…Tied his season high with seven tackles vs. Middle Tennessee…Led all defensive linemen with six tackles, including two sacks at Vanderbilt…His sole tackle at Florida State was a sack…Added two solo tackles vs. Miami in the Peach Bowl.

2003 SEASON
Worked his way into the defensive tackle rotation and saw action in twelve games (missed the Louisiana State game with an ankle sprain) with two starts (Mississippi and Florida State) at nose tackle…Became the first true freshman to start on the defensive line since 1992, when Johnnie Church and David Barnard started for the Gators…Finished second among UF defensive tackles with 47 tackles (30 solos)…Added 1.5 sacks for minus 9 yards and 3.5 stops for losses of 15 yards while participating in 358 plays, the third-highest total among the Gators’ defensive tackles…Was also the first true freshman to see action on the defensive line since 2000 when Kenny Parker, Darrell Lee and Ian Scott played…20 of his 40 tackles came during last three games of the season.

2003 GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Recorded a line-high seven tackles and had a stop behind the line of scrimmage vs. Iowa…Posted a season-high nine tackles with a sack and a stop for a loss in the Florida State clash…Made a key stop on a two-point conversion to preserve a Gator victory vs. South Carolina…Collected five tackles, with an assisted sack vs. Vanderbilt…Ranked second on the defense with a line-high five tackles (all solo hits) in just 26 plays in the San Jose State game…Tied for the line-high with five tackles vs. Florida A&M.

CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.92 in the 40-yard dash…425-pound bench press…Bench presses 225 pounds 28 times…450-pound squat…35-inch vertical jump…9’0” broad jump…4.6 20-yard shuttle…33 1/8-inch arm length…9 ½-inch hands…Right-handed.

COMBINE AGILITY TESTS
Bench pressed 225 pounds 27 times.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Mandarin (Jacksonville, Fla.) High School, playing for head coach Richard Brunoski…Super Prep All-American selection…Considered among the state's top two defensive linemen by that publication…Rated the sixth-best defensive tackle in the country and the top defensive lineman in the state of Florida by Rivals.com…Added first-team Class 6A All-State honors as a senior…Led the team in sacks as a senior with 30, just two shy of the state record…Also played sparingly at fullback and rushed for over 100 yards in a game…Contributed 80 tackles and 15 sacks as a junior.

PERSONAL
Anthropology major…Son of Sheila Mote…Born 9/23/85…Resides in Jacksonville, Florida.

(source: Broncos.com)