J. T. Thatcher facts for kids
| No. 15 | |
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| Position: | Defensive back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 12, 1978 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight: | 224 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Norman (Norman, Oklahoma) |
| College: | Oklahoma |
| Undrafted: | 2001 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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J. T. Thatcher (born July 12, 1978) is a former American college football player. He played as a defensive back for the Oklahoma Sooners. In 2000, he was recognized as an All-American. This means he was one of the best college players in the country.
J. T. Thatcher's Early Life
J. T. Thatcher was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on July 12, 1978. He grew up and went to high school in Norman, Oklahoma. He attended Norman High School.
Playing College Football
J. T. Thatcher played for the Oklahoma Sooners at the University of Oklahoma. He was part of the team from 1997 to 2000. In 1997, he played as both a wide receiver and a running back. He carried the ball 21 times for 54 yards and scored one touchdown. He also caught four passes for 45 yards.
In 1998, he was listed as a running back but did not play in any games. The next year, in 1999, Thatcher moved to play defensive back. He mostly played on special teams that season. He returned four punts for 146 yards and scored one touchdown.
His best year was 2000. He started the first seven games as a defensive back. Later, he returned as a starter. That season, he made 60 tackles. He also had eight interceptions, returning them for 162 yards and one touchdown. He broke up 16 passes. Thatcher was also a great return specialist. He returned 38 punts for 599 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned 11 kicks for 264 yards.
Thatcher led the Big 12 Conference in several categories that year. He had the most interceptions, interception return yards, and interception return touchdowns. He also led in punt returns and punt return yards. Across the country, he was third in interceptions and punt returns. He was second in punt return yards.
For his amazing performance in 2000, he was named a consensus All-American. This means he was chosen by multiple groups as one of the top players in the nation. The 2000 Sooners also won the national championship that year. Thatcher also won the Mosi Tatupu Award in 2000. This award goes to the best special teams player in college football.
Professional Football Career
After college, J. T. Thatcher hoped to play in the NFL. Experts rated him as the 15th best free safety for the 2001 NFL draft. One football publication said he could make a team because of his skills in returning kicks and punts. They also thought he could improve as a defensive back with more practice.
Even though he was not chosen in the 2001 NFL draft, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in April 2001. However, he was released by the team in June 2001. Thatcher also spent some time with the Oakland Raiders. He was released by them on April 21, 2002.
