Derron Thomas

[edit] Biography

CAREER: Talented reserve tailback and special teams performer...Elusive and quick runner who rushed for 109 yards against Florida A&M in 2006...Moved up to No. 2 tailback early in the 2005 season and spent most of 2006 as the team's No. 4 tailback...Did not see action as a freshman in 2004 and was redshirted...In two seasons has played in 23 games, rushing for 309 yards on 68 carries (4.5-yard average) and one touchdown...Hard-nosed tailback who is effective between the tackles or breaking outside...Has good speed in the open field...Key member of the special teams units...Sports administration major.

2006 (SOPHOMORE): Played in 12 games as a reserve running back and on special teams...Ranked fourth on the team with 159 yards rushing on 21 carries, a 7.6-yard average...Scored one touchdown...Had a 100-yard game vs. Florida A&M and played a key role in crucial late situations in several other games...Did not play in the season opener against FSU, his only missed game of the season...Had the biggest game of his career a week later vs. Florida A&M, leading the team in rushing with 109 yards on 11 carries (23 long). Notched his first 100-yard game and became the 48th Hurricanes player to do so...Played late in the Houston game, with three key carries for 23 yards on the final drive to run out the clock...Played as a reserve in the fourth quarter against North Carolina, rushing three times for minus-three yards...Had two carries for 27 yards against Florida International, including an 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, his first score at UM...Saw limited action at tailback at Virginia, rushing one time for one yard...Played as the No. 2 tailback vs. Boston College, rushing one time for two yards.

2005 (FRESHMAN): Played in 11 games as a backup tailback...Ranked third on the team with 150 yards rushing on 47 carries (3.2-yard average) and a long of 28 yards...Did not have any receptions...Served as the No. 2 tailback the first half of the season...Played in his first game as a Hurricane in the season opener at FSU as the backup to Tyrone Moss, rushing four times for seven yards...Carried three times for 20 yards in Game 2 at Clemson...Rushed four times for eight yards in the home opener vs. Colorado...Rushed six times for 26 yards vs. South Florida, with a long of 28 yards...Carried a then-personal-best nine times for 29 yards (10 long) vs. Duke...Played as a reserve at Temple, with three rushes for three yards...Had two carries for nine yards vs. North Carolina...Carried five times for no yards at Virginia Tech...Saw considerable playing time at Wake Forest as the No. 2 running back behind Charlie Jones, rushing a career-high 10 times for 49 yards (23 long)...Had one carry for minus-one yard vs. Georgia Tech...Played but did not touch the ball in the final two games (Virginia and the Peach Bowl vs. Louisiana State).

2004 (REDSHIRT): Sat out the season as a redshirt, practicing as a member of the scout team.

HIGH SCHOOL: Widely regarded as the top running back in the state of Louisiana and one of the nation's top running back prospects...Also ran track and had a best in the 100 meters of 10.7 seconds...A SuperPrep All-American...Rated the nation's No. 13 running back prospect by SuperPrep...Rated the No. 8 prospect in Louisiana by SuperPrep...Rated the nation's No. 4 all-purpose back by Rivals.com...Rated the No. 79 prospect on the Rivals.com Southeast Elite 88 list...Rated the No. 8 prospect on the Rivals.com Louisiana Top 25 list...As a senior in 2003, rushed for 2,010 yards on 219 carries (9.2 avg.) and scored 30 touchdowns...Also caught 49 passes for 715 yards (14.6 avg.) and three touchdowns...As a junior in 2002, rushed for 1,589 yards on 149 carries (10.6 avg.) and 20 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 220 yards (16.9 avg.) and two TDs...Played his first two years of high school football at West St. John HS before transferring to East St. John HS prior to his junior year...Two-time All-Metro New Orleans selection...Chose Miami over Louisiana State, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Florida State and Michigan...Coached by Larry Dauterive.

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