Zach Thomas Inducted Into College Football Hall Of Fame
December 08, 2015 | Football
Dec. 8, 2015
Thomas, a legendary linebacker for the Red Raiders from 1992-95, is the fifth Red Raider to be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Gabe Rivera (2012), Dave Parks (2008), Donny Anderson (1989) and E.J. Holub (1986).
"I wasn't the quickest or the strongest, but I was the most confident." - 2015 @cfbhall inductee and former @TechAthletics LB Zach Thomas
-- Football Foundation (@NFFNetwork) December 8, 2015
"Zach Thomas is one of the great Texas Tech football players of all time," Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. "His spirit, determination and work ethic were an inspiration to his teammates and coaches and 20 years later we continue to admire and celebrate all that he was able to accomplish. This is a tremendous honor for Zach, his family and for Texas Tech and we are grateful that he will forever be acknowledged as one the game's elite players."
A native of Pampa, Thomas' game-winning interception return for touchdown in the 1995 game against arch-rival Texas A&M ranks as one of the most celebrated single plays in school history. The play continues to garner thunderous reaction when played for the fans at home games in Jones AT&T Stadium and helped cement his legacy as one of the best players to ever wear a Texas Tech uniform.
"It's a huge honor for both Zach and our program for him to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame," head coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "He was such an incredible player not only in college but also in the NFL. Zach is one of the greatest linebackers in the history of the game."
2015 @cfbhall Zach Thomas @TechAthletics at #NFFAwards Press Conference live now on https://t.co/zbk8wbjtZs pic.twitter.com/xIBdhMDIQY
-- Football Foundation (@NFFNetwork) December 8, 2015
During his career, he led the Red Raiders to three bowl games (1993 John Hancock; 1994 Cotton; 1995 Copper) and a Southwest Conference Championship in 1994. He was named the consensus Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the year in both 1994 and 1995 and was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 1995.
Thomas currently ranks fifth all-time with 390 career tackles, including 131 during his senior season. He also totaled six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, seven pass breakups and two interceptions. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins and went on to become a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, which ranks as the third most appearances in franchise history.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame, the NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF High School Showcases, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF Faculty Salute Initiative presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, and scholarships of more than $1.3 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF also collaborates with the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) to release the FWAA-NFF Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll; awards The William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments and prominently displayed at its official home inside the New York Athletic Club; and bestows several other major awards at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner. NFF corporate partners include the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the Sports Business Journal and Under Armour. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.