Originally a 2nd round (63rd pick overall) draft choice of the Giants in 2008.
GIANTS NOTES:
Since becoming a fulltime starter in 2009, Thomas led the Giants in tackles, interceptions and passes defensed each of the previous 2 seasons.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Has played in 44 games with 34 starts…Career totals include 234 tackles (172 solo), 11 interceptions, 40 passes defensed, 2.0 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 15 special teams tackles.
In 2010, started all 16 games at right cornerback and led the team in tackles (101, including 86 solo), interceptions (5) and passes defensed (21) for the 2nd season in a row…Also contributed 1 sack, 4 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery…Intercepted a Matt Moore pass in the end zone in the 4th quarter of the season opener vs. Carolina (9/12)…Forced and recovered a fumble at Indianapolis (9/19)…Intercepted a pass and had 6 solo tackles vs. Chicago (10/3)…Also picked off passes at Seattle (11/7), vs. Jacksonville (11/28) and vs. Washington (12/5)…Had season-high totals of 11 tackles at Philadelphia (7 solo on 11/19) and at Washington (9 solo on 1/2)…Blocked David Akers’ 42-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the 1st half at Philadelphia…Sealed a victory over the Jaguars with a 4th-quarter, 12-yard sack and forced fumble by David Garrard. Ball was recovered by Antrel Rolle with 1:25 remaining.
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 2 starts and started 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.
OFF-THE-FIELD ACTIVITY
Attended a PLAY60 Assembly at West New York (N.J.) Middle School to encourage students to become more physically active.
Participated in a BP-sponsored USA Football clinic for local youth football teams, coaching athletes and giving a motivational speech.
Participated in a Celebrity Bowl with a Pro Event in New York City, benefitting 9/11 Police Aid Foundation and Mt. Sinai Hospital.
Hosted 3rd Annual Toy & Book Drive during the holidays to benefit The Boys & Girls Clubs in Bergen County and Justin Tuck’s charity, Tuck’s R.U.S.H. for Literacy.
Hosted “A Night at the Movies with Terrell Thomas” in partnership with All Stars Helping Kids.
Attended Giants Kickoff Luncheon benefitting Hackensack University Medical Center.
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.
PERSONAL
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-California Interscholastic Federation Division II 1st team and Los Angeles Times All-Inland Empire 1st-team accolades…Thomas rushed 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…Public policy and development major…Born Jan. 8, 1985…Resides in Alta Loma, Calif.
