George Thomas | |
Position: | Halfback Defensive back |
Number: | 20 |
Birth Date: | 4 March 1928 |
Birth Place: | Fairland, Oklahoma, U.S. |
Death Place: | Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. |
Height Ft: | 6 |
Height In: | 1 |
Weight Lbs: | 183 |
High School: | Fairland (Fairland, Oklahoma) |
Draftyear: | 1950 |
Draftround: | 1 |
Draftpick: | 6 |
College: | Oklahoma |
Teams: | |
Highlights: |
|
Statlabel1: | Rushing yards |
Statvalue1: | 189 |
Statlabel2: | Receiving yards |
Statvalue2: | 208 |
Statlabel3: | Touchdowns |
Statvalue3: | 2 |
George Carroll "Spike"[1] Thomas, Jr. (March 4, 1928 - May 23, 1989) was an American football halfback and defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants.[2]
Thomas was a standout high school basketball player, which led to his being recruited to play college basketball for Tulane University. However, first year OU football coach, Jim Tatum, convinced him to stay in Oklahoma and play college football at the University of Oklahoma.
Thomas was a standout for the Sooners, lettering in '46, '47, '48 and '49. He earned All-American status in 1949. Thomas graduated from OU with a degree in Business Administration in 1950.
Thomas was drafted sixth overall in the 1950 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. He played two seasons with the Redskins in 1950 and 1951, compiling a total of 371 yards (200 receiving and 171 rushing) and two touchdowns over 24 games, three of which were starts.
In 1952, Thomas played with the New York Giants in seven games with five starts.