Terrell Thomas life and biography

Originally a 2nd round (63rd pick overall) draft choice of the Giants in 2008.

GIANTS NOTES

Talented cornerback became a fulltime starter in 2009, when he was one of the team's most valuable defensive players.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Has played in 28 games with 17 starts…Two-year totals include 133 tackles (86 solo), 6 interceptions, 19 passes defensed, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 15 special teams tackles.
In 2009, started all 16 games at right cornerback…Seized the job in training camp, when Aaron Ross was sidelined with a hamstring injury…Led the Giants in tackles (101, including 67 solo), interceptions (5) and passes defensed (16)…Also contributed a sack and a forced fumble…Picked up his 1st career sack and 1st forced fumble on the same play in the 2nd quarter vs. Oakland (10/11), when he tackled JaMarcus Russell and knocked the ball out of his hand…Scored his 1st career touchdown at Washington (12/21), when he intercepted a Jason Campbell pass and returned it 14 yards for a score in the 3rd quarter…Had a season-high 11 tackles (9 solo) vs. Dallas (12/6) and 10 tackles vs. San Diego (11/8) and Atlanta (11/22).

As a rookie in 2008, played in 12 games with 1 start and played in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game…Finished the season with 32 tackles (19 solo), 1 interception and 3 passes defensed…Was 2nd on the team with 15 special teams tackles (13 solo)…Missed the first 4 games with a hamstring injury…Active for the 1st time at Cleveland (10/13) and recorded 1 special teams tackle….Played in dime packages and recorded 1st career tackle vs. San Francisco (10/19)…Contributed a season-high 8 tackles and his 1st career interception at Arizona (11/23)…Picked off a Kurt Warner pass in the 4th quarter and returned it 13 yards to set up a John Carney field goal…Also had 2 tackles on special teams, including 1 for a loss of 4-yards on a punt return.
Started for the 1st time when the Giants opened in their dime defense vs. Philadelphia (12/7). Registered 3 solo tackles…Had 4 solo tackles on defense and team-high 3 special teams tackles at Dallas (12/14) and 5 special teams tackles vs. Carolina (12/21)…Tallied 5 solo tackles and a QB hit in NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Philadelphia (1/11).

COLLEGE

Thomas played in 39 games with 28 starts at USC… He recorded 109 tackles (78 solo), 4 sacks for minus 47 yards and 7.5 stops for losses totaling 61 yards…Thomas caused 3 fumbles and recovered 3 others, converting 1 recovery into a touchdown…He had 22 pass deflections and 8 interceptions for 80 yards in returns.

Thomas enrolled at Southern California in 2003, when he was listed 2nd on the depth chart at free safety before suffering a right shoulder dislocation in fall camp…He underwent surgery and received a medical hardship…In 2004, Thomas played in 11 games as a reserve cornerback and had 9 tackles (7 solo), and 2 interceptions.

In 2005, Thomas played strongside (right) cornerback for the first 2 games of the 2005 season, but he suffered torn ligaments in his right knee vs. Arkansas, underwent surgery and was lost for the rest of the year. He finished with 5 solo tackles and a pass break-up.
Returned to right cornerback in 2006 and earned 2nd team All-Pac 10 honors….Finished with 50 tackles (35 solo), 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, including 1 he returned for a touchdown. He also intercepted 2 passes and deflected 12 others.

Prior to the start of 2007 spring drills, Thomas underwent surgery to repair a left shoulder dislocation. He returned to start all 13 games and was again named 2nd team All-Pac 10…Posted 45 tackles (31 solo) and a sack, forced 3 fumbles, recovered another and intercepted 4 passes. Public Policy and Development major…Born Jan. 8, 1985…Resides in Alta Loma, Calif.

OFF FIELD ACTIVITY

Joins with Kenny Phillips each year to identify and host a youth group for a night out during the holidays – providing gifts and a memorable experience for the group.
Adopted Carlstadt Public Schools in spring 2010 for the Giants' Play 60 Challenge, making multiple visits to encourage the kids to play 60 minutes every day.
Participated in the Giants Foundation 2009 Golf Outing.

Joined Coach Coughlin to host local children fighting cancer and blood disorders for the Jay Fund Ice Cream Social at the Timex Performance Center.
Joined teammate Corey Webster to visit Manhattan Academy of Technology in NYC to unveil a brand new fitness room with 6 workout stations through NFL Network's Keep Gym in School program.
Attended the Champions for Children fundraiser gala benefitting the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation.

Attended the annual Meet the Giants fundraiser benefitting the Ronald McDonald House of New York City, a home away from home for kids fighting cancer and blood disorders.
Participated in the Celebrity Bowl-a-Thon benefitting Mt. Sinai Medical Center.
Attended the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Muscle Team kickoff event.
Joined teammate Justin Tuck to host an annual book and toy drive during the holidays with all items being donated to The Boys and Girls Club.

Attended the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Muscle Team fundraiser dinner.
Attended a fundraiser dinner hosted by Coach Peter Giunta for Holy Spirit School.
Joined the NFL to host local NYC youth for a "Play 60" youth football clinic in Central Park during the week of the NFL Draft.

Attended the Giants Kickoff Luncheon benefitting St. Vincent's Medical Center.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High School, where he was a standout tailback and cornerback…Earned 2002 Super Prep All-America, Super Prep All-Far West, Prep Star All-West, Tom Lemming All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West 1st-team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, All-CIF Division II 1st team and Los Angeles Times All-Inland Empire 1st-team accolades…Thomas rushed ran for 1,250 yards on 134 carries (9.3-yard avg.) with 14 touchdowns and caught 30 passes with 5 scores as a senior…On defense, he recorded 115 tackles, had 7 interceptions and forced 4 fumbles while averaging 44.5 yards on kickoff returns in 2002…Was on the school's track team, compiling career-bests of 10.5 in the 100 meters and 21.4 in the 200 meters.

PERSONAL

Public Policy and Development major…Born Jan. 8, 1985…Resides in Alta Loma, Calif.

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