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20 best NFL players from Big 12 schools

By Patrick Schmidt

Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after being named the Super Bowl MVP after beating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi
Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after being named the Super Bowl MVP after beating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi /
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Dec 6, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas (29) against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Vikings 38-7. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas (29) against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Vikings 38-7. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

player. 36. . FS. Texas. Earl Thomas. 5

Earl Thomas had a bit of a down year by his standards last year but still managed to make the Pro Bowl for the fifth year in a row. The former No. 14 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Texas by the Seattle Seahawks, has started all 96 of his 96 games and is the key to the team’s Legion of Boom secondary.

Thomas should be a candidate to win Defensive Player of the Year while he’s in the prime of his career, although that’s a tough award to win as a free safety. Thomas has 21 career interceptions, including three seasons with five picks. He had five interceptions last year after only picking off one pass in the 2014 season but his tackle numbers dropped off significantly.

Thomas had 88 solo tackles in 2014 and 78 in 2013 when he made his second and third first-team All-Pro team but saw his solo numbers drop to 42 last year. His combined tackle numbers went from 122 to 61.

Those numbers can be attributed to the players in front of Thomas, like Bobby Wagner picking up the tackle production and Thomas rather than his play dropping off as significantly as the numbers may suggest.

Next: 4. Derrick Johnson

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