J.T. Thomas 
Full Name:  James Thomas, Jr.
     James Thomas before Fall, 1973
   School:  Lanier High School in Macon, Georgia

Legacy Bricks:  Legacy Walk Map Link
   1979 Football HOF - Loc 22
   1970 Football 1st black varsity football player - Loc 30
   1972 Football AA - Loc 62


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FSU Career
Football
Year  No  Pos     Hgt  Wgt  Cl  Ltr  Hometown
1970  26  DB      6-1  188  So   *   Macon, GA                   
1971  26  DB      6-1  196  Jr   *   Macon, GA                   
1972  26  DB      6-1  190  Sr   *   Macon, GA
Track & Field
Year  Pos     Hgt  Wgt  Cl  Ltr  Hometown
70-71 S-TJ    6-1  188  So       Macon, GA                       
71-72 S-TJ    6-1  188  Jr       Macon, GA


Conference Awards
Football
Year  Award
1970  All-South Independent - 1st Team
1971  All-South Independent - 1st Team
1972  All-South Independent - Honorable Mention


All-American Awards
Football
Year  Award
1970  Football News - 1st Team Sophomore All-American
1971  Associated Press - All-American - Honorable Mention
      United Press International - All-American - Honorable Mention
1972  College & Pro Football Weekly - 1st Team All-American
      Time Magazine - 1st Team All-American
      Universal Sports - 1st Team All-American


Member of the FSU Hall of Fame
Elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 1979
One of Florida State's most brilliant defenders, James "J.T." Thomas began his Seminole career with a sensational performance and ended as an All-American. FSU's first black football player, Thomas blocked two field goals in his first game in 1970. That same year the Macon, Georgia, native tied the FSU record for single-game interceptions with three. In 1972, Thomas, who began his career as a cornerback and ended as a safety, was a first team All-American pick by Pro Football Weekly and Time Magazine. He went on to an outstanding professional career with the Pittsburgh Steelers winning four Super Bowl rings as a member of the famed "Steel Curtain" defense.



FSU Statistics
Football
Season Statistics
Defense
         |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
Year  GP |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
---------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
1970  11 |  58  25  83  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  1-  0- 0 |   6- 84- 1   0   0  |   3  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
1971  11 |  49   8  57  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   2- 20- 0   0   0  |   1  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
1972   7 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   2-  8- 0   0   0  |   2  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
---------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot   29 | 107  33 140  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  1-  0- 0 |  10-112- 1   0   0  |   6  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6

Offense/Kick and Punt Returns
         |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
Year  GP |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
---------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
1970  11 |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   1   22 22.0  0  22  |  106
1971  11 |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   1    0  0.0  0   0  |   20
1972   7 |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   1    0  0.0  0   0  |    8
---------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot   29 |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   3   22  7.3  0  22  |  134
Football
Game Participation
                            |      Starts
1970                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep 12 Louisville           |  1       LC  
Sep 19 Georgia Tech         |  1       LC  
Sep 26 Wake Forest          |  1       LC  
Oct 10 Florida              |  1       LC  
Oct 17 Memphis State        |  1       LC  
Oct 24 South Carolina       |  1       LC  
Oct 30 Miami                |  1       LCB 
Nov  7 Clemson              |  1       LC  
Nov 14 Virginia Tech        |  1       LC  
Nov 21 Kansas State         |  1       LC  
Nov 26 Houston              |  1       LC  
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         | 11   0   11

                            |      Starts
1971                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep 11 Southern Mississippi |  1       LC  
Sep 18 Miami                |  1       LC  
Sep 25 Kansas               |  1       RC  
Oct  2 Virginia Tech        |  1       LC  
Oct  9 Mississippi State    |  1       LC  
Oct 16 Florida              |  1       LC  
Oct 23 South Carolina       |  1       LC  
Oct 30 Houston              |  1       LC  
Nov 13 Georgia Tech         |  1       LC  
Nov 20 Tulsa                |  1       LC  
Nov 27 Pittsburgh           |  1       LC  
Dec 27 Arizona State        |  1       LCB 
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         | 12   0   12

                            |      Starts
1972                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep  9 Pittsburgh           |  1       ROV 
Sep 16 Miami                |  1       ROV 
Sep 23 Virginia Tech        |  1       MON 
Sep 30 Kansas               |  1       ROV 
Oct  7 Florida              |  1       MON 
Oct 14 Mississippi State    |  1       ROV 
Nov 18 South Carolina       |  1           
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         |  7   0    6

----------------------------|--------------
Career Tot                  | 30   0   29
Football
Game Statistics
                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1970                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep 12 Louisville           |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   1  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 26 Wake Forest          |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   1-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 10 Florida              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   1-  4- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 17 Memphis State        |   6   1   7  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 30 Miami                |   2   0   2  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   1- 30- 1   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  1 |   6
Nov 21 Kansas State         |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   3- 50- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov 26 Houston              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   1  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |   8   1   9  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   6- 84- 1   0   0  |   2  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  1 |   6

                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1971                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep 18 Miami                |   1   0   1  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 25 Kansas               |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   1-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct  2 Virginia Tech        |   7   4  11  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   1  |   1  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 30 Houston              |   1   3   4  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov 27 Pittsburgh           |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   1- 20- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |   9   7  16  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   2- 20- 0   0   1  |   1  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  0 |   0

                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1972                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep  9 Pittsburgh           |   6   2   8  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   1-  8- 0   0   0  |   1  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 16 Miami                |   1   0   1  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 23 Virginia Tech        |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   1  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 30 Kansas               |   1   5   6  1.0-  2 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct  7 Florida              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   1-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |   8   7  15  1.0-  2 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   2-  8- 0   0   0  |   2  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  0 |   0


                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1970                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep 12 Louisville           |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Sep 26 Wake Forest          |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Oct 10 Florida              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Oct 17 Memphis State        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Oct 30 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   1   22 22.0  0   22 |   52
Nov 21 Kansas State         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Nov 26 Houston              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   1   22 22.0  0   22 |   52

                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1971                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep 18 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Sep 25 Kansas               |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Oct  2 Virginia Tech        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   1    0  0.0  0    0 |    0
Oct 30 Houston              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Nov 27 Pittsburgh           |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   1    0  0.0  0      |    0

                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1972                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep  9 Pittsburgh           |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   1    0  0.0  0    0 |    8
Sep 16 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Sep 23 Virginia Tech        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Sep 30 Kansas               |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Oct  7 Florida              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   1    0  0.0  0      |    8
Track & Field
   Date    Opponent/Meet                  Event                         Place      Results       Points   Comment
---------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------- ----- ------------------ ------ ---------------
            1972 Season
03/11/1972 FAMU Relays                    Triple Jump                     4    45- 0      13.72m   1                         
03/18/1972 Southern Illinois              440-Yard Relay                  1      41.8              1.25


Pro Career
Football
Height: 6-2   Weight: 196
Drafted: 1973, 1st Round  #24, Pittsburgh Steelers, DB    
Debut: September 16, 1973

Year  Abbr   Team                                No      Pos
1973  Pit    Pittsburgh Steelers                 24      DB
1974  Pit    Pittsburgh Steelers                 24      DB
1975  Pit    Pittsburgh Steelers                 24      DB
1976  Pit    Pittsburgh Steelers                 24      DB
1977  Pit    Pittsburgh Steelers                 24      DB
1978  Pit    Pittsburgh Steelers                 24      DB
1979  Pit    Pittsburgh Steelers                 24      DB
1980  Pit    Pittsburgh Steelers                 24      DB
1981  Pit    Pittsburgh Steelers                 24      DB
1982  Den    Denver Broncos                      26      DB


Comments
Football
Pro Bowl - 1976 (games were played the next year in January or February)
Super Bowl - 1974(S), 1975(S), 1978(I), 1979(S) (games were played the next year in January or February)
     S=Start, P=Played, T=On Team, did not play, I=Inactive


Pro Statistics
Football
Defensive Statistics
Year  Team  GP  GS    TK  Ast  Tot  Sack   TFL QBH  Int  Yds TD  PD  FF FR  Yds TD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1973  Pit   14   0               0                    1   10  0          0    0  0
1974  Pit   14  14               0                    5   22  0          0    0  0
1975  Pit   14  14               0                    3   44  0          0    0  0
1976  Pit   14  14               0                    2   43  0          0    0  0
1977  Pit   14  14               0                    2   10  0          0    0  0
1978  Pit    0   0               0                    0    0  0          0    0  0
1979  Pit   14  13               0                    0    0  0          0    0  0
1980  Pit   16   3               0                    2    0  0          0    0  0
1981  Pit   16  16               0                    4   18  0          1    0  0
1982  Den    9   1               0                    1    0  0          0    0  0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years   125  89     0    0    0   0.0   0.0   0   20  147  0   0   0  1    0  0