Shamarko Thomas facts for kids
Thomas with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015
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| No. 29, 38 | |||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | February 23, 1991 Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, Virginia) | ||||||
| College: | Syracuse | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2013 / Round: 4 / Pick: 111 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| CFL status: | American | ||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Shamarko Lanell Thomas (born February 23, 1991) is a former American football player. He played as a safety. Shamarko played college football at Syracuse University. The Pittsburgh Steelers picked him in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft. He also played for several other teams, including the New York Jets and Denver Broncos.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Shamarko Thomas was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He went to Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. There, he played for the Ocean Lakes Dolphins football team.
He was a top player, earning first-team all-state honors in 2008. He set school records for tackles, interceptions, and defensive touchdowns. In 2008, he made 102 tackles and helped his team achieve a 12–1 record.
Shamarko was also a talented track athlete. He earned all-state honors in the 100 meters race. He also helped his team's 4 x 100 meter relay finish seventh in Virginia.
College Football Career
Thomas attended Syracuse University and played for the Syracuse Orange football team. He played from 2009 to 2012. During his time there, he started 43 of 48 games.
He recorded 263 tackles, two interceptions, and four quarterback sacks. In his senior year (2012), he was named a first-team All-Big East Conference player.
Professional Football Career
Getting Ready for the NFL
Many experts thought Thomas would be picked in the third or fourth round of the NFL draft. Scouts liked his tough playing style and good coverage skills. However, some worried his height might be a problem against taller players.
He was invited to the NFL Combine, where players show off their skills. He did well, even though he fell during his 40-yard dash. He later completed other drills at Syracuse's Pro Day.
| 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) |
4.42 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 | ||||||||||||
Playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Shamarko Thomas in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft. He was the 111th player picked overall. The Steelers traded a future draft pick to get him.
In May 2013, Thomas signed a four-year contract with the Steelers. He started his first season as a backup safety. He made his professional debut in the Steelers' first game.
On September 22, 2013, Thomas started his first NFL game. He made a season-high 8 tackles in a game against the New England Patriots. He finished his first season with 29 tackles in 14 games.
In 2014, Thomas trained with famous Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. He mostly played on special teams during this season. Special teams are units that play during kickoffs and punts. He recorded 5 tackles and forced his first fumble.
In 2015, after Troy Polamalu retired, many thought Thomas would become a starter. However, he ended up as a backup. He played in 15 games and made 12 tackles.
For the 2016 season, Thomas competed for a starting safety spot. He lost the job and was placed on injured reserve in December 2016.
Other Teams Shamarko Played For
After his time with the Steelers, Shamarko Thomas played for several other teams:
- In 2017, he signed with the New York Jets and later the Buffalo Bills.
- In 2018, he joined the Indianapolis Colts and then the Denver Broncos. He was released and re-signed by the Broncos multiple times.
- In 2020, he played in the XFL for the New York Guardians and the DC Defenders.
- In 2021, he signed with the Ottawa Redblacks in the CFL (Canadian Football League).
Personal Life
While attending Syracuse University in 2010, Shamarko faced a very difficult time. He lost both his mother and father within nine months. This made him think deeply about his future. As the oldest child, he wanted to earn an income to help his four younger brothers and one sister.
