Shamarko Thomas, SS, Syracuse Orange: 2013 NFL Draft Player Profile

Dec 29, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange safety Shamarko Thomas (21) looks up at the scoreboard during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Syracuse defeated West Virginia 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 213 pounds

Drafted By: Pittsburgh Steelers (4th round, 111th overall)

40 Yard Dash: 4.37

Bench Press: 28

Vertical Jump: 40.5″

Broad Jump: 133″

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.26

Career Highlights (via Syracuse athletics site)

At SU: Four letters … Ranks sixth in Syracuse history for tackles by a defensive back with 263 … 2012 ‘Cuse Award Syracuse Eight Award of Courage winner.

Senior Year (2012): Played in all 13 games, including 13 starts..Team co-captain … All-BIG EAST First Team selection … 2012 ESPN.com All-BIG EAST selection … ECAC Division I All-Star … Ranked fifth in forced fumbles (0.23 avg/g) in the BIG EAST … Started all 13 games … Against Northwestern, tallied two tackles, including a sack for a loss of six yards, and forced a fumble … Against USC, recorded seven tackles, including six solo and one tackle for a loss of one yard, and recorded his first career interception … Against Stony Brook, notched six tackles, including two solo… At Minnesota, recorded a season-high nine tackles, including six solo tackles … Against Pittsburgh, tied his season-high nine tackles which included seven solo tackles and one for a loss of one yard … At Rutgers, tallied six tackles, including two solo … Against Connecticut, he earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for his effort, which included four solo tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception, which he returned 27 yards … At South Florida, notched a team-high nine tackles, including six solo, and recovered a fumble that set up a touchdown … At Cincinnati, earned spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for his career-high 14 tackles, including 10 solo, and forced a fumble … Against Louisville, recorded six solo tackles … At Missouri, he recorded six tackles, including four solo … At Temple, he had six tackles, including five solo … At the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against WVU, he notched four tackles, including two solo and 0.5 for a loss of one yard.

Junior Year (2011): Started all 10 games he played … Against Wake Forest, had 10 tackles, including five solo… Against Rhode Island, collected six tackles, including five solo and 1.0 for a loss of one yard … At USC, made seven tackles, including four solo … Did not play against Toledo and Rutgers due to injury … At Tulane, recorded four tackles and had one pass break up … Against West Virginia, recorded five tackles, including four … At Louisville, had eight tackles, including six solo … At Connecticut, made seven tackles, including four solo … Against South Florida, posted six tackles, including four solo … Against Cincinnati, made six tackles, including five solo and one for a two-yard loss … At Pittsburgh, had eight tackles, including seven solo.

Sophomore Year (2010): Played in all 13 games … At Akron, had five tackles and broke up one pass … At Washington, had two solo tackles, recovered a fumble and had a pass breakup … Against Maine, made five tackles … Against Colgate, tallied six tackles, including an assisted tackle for loss . … At South Florida, had six tackles, including four solo stops and a sack for a loss of 11 yards … Against Pittsburgh, had four total tackles … At West Virginia, had seven tackles, including two half-sacks for a loss of eight yards, the second one on the final play of the game … At Cincinnati, registered a tackle … Against Louisville, made four tackles … Against Connecticut, made six tackles … Against Boston College, posted a career-best 12 tackles, including seven solo stops…Against Kansas State in the Pinstripe Bowl, recorded four tackles, including one tackle for loss.

Freshman Year (2009): ESPN.com All-BIG EAST Freshman Team selection … Played in all 12 games, including seven starts, at linebacker, cornerback and safety … Against Minnesota, recorded three tackles, including two solo … At Penn State, had a solo tackle … Against Northwestern, posted seven solo tackles, had a pass breakup and recovered first career fumble … Against Maine, had two tackles … Against South Florida, posted a solo tackle … Against West Virginia, had four tackles, including 1.5 for a loss of yards, and forced a fumble … Against Akron, posted three tackles, including one for a loss … Against Cincinnati, had four tackles, including one for a loss of yards … At Pittsburgh, tallied three tackles and a quarterback hurry … At Louisville, had five tackles, including four solo … Against Rutgers, recorded three tackles, including 1.5 for a loss of yards and one sack, and had one quarterback hurry … At Connecticut, had five tackles, including one for a loss of yards.

2012 statistics

Scouting Report/Player Notes

When I see Shamarko Thomas play, I see a head hunter. I get a little Bob Sanders vibe out of the All-Big East first team performer from a year ago. Thomas is built like a bullet, short and compact but big and strong. At 5’9″ 213 pounds, he threw up 28 reps on the bench press at the scouting combine, and followed it up with a 4.37 in the 40 yard dash. He has freakish speed and athletic ability, and the college production to go along with it. I think in the NFL, he could be a stud strong safety as well as cover the slot in the passing game. His physicality and quickness will allow him to be successful at a variety of positions in the NFL. Always looking to deliver a big hit, and has phenomenal closing speed. I see this guy as a near-lock for a day two selection, and I think he could be a week one starter as a rookie.

Video Highlights (via YouTube)