Phillip Thomas named first team all-American
Phillip Thomas leads Fresno State in tackles, leads the nation in interceptions.
(And he's tied for the national lead in interceptions returned for touchdowns and in total take-aways.)
Without him, the Bulldogs probably wouldn't be 9-3. With him, they're conference champs.
And now they feature a first team all-American.
Thomas was honored on Wednesday by the American Football Coaches Association. He's the 15th player in Bulldog history to be a first team all-American, first since AJ Jefferson in 2007.
Thomas, who missed the entire 2011 season with a broken leg and dislocated ankle, is also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award, given to the best defensive back in college football.
"He has had such an impact on the game, I think he should be a shoo-in for defensive player of the year," said Bulldogs' coach Tim DeRuyter. "You look at where we were a year ago without him and where we were this year with him...the guy's been a fantastic player for us and I don't know that anybody in college football save for maybe (Notre Dame's Heisman Trophy candidate) Manti Te'o has had that kind of an impact on a defense."
