| Thomas Wright |
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All-Big Ten candidate anchors the Spartan defensive secondary from his strong safety position . . . tough, physical playmaker is ranked among the nation’s top strong safeties (No. 12) by The Sporting News . . . produced two big plays in the April 6 scrimmage, breaking up a pass intended for BJ Lovett on the goal line and blocking a 37-yard field-goal attempt . . . has started 22 straight games at safety . . . joins tailback Dawan Moss, center Brian Ottney and quarterback Jeff Smoker as captains for the 2002 season . . . AS A JUNIOR: Honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the coaches in 2001 . . . shared MSU’s Outstanding Underclass Back Award with tailback T.J. Duckett, wide receiver Charles Rogers and quarterback Jeff Smoker . . . started all 12 games in 2001, including three at strong safety and nine at free safety, and played 357 minutes . . . helped anchor an injury-plagued secondary that still managed to rank among the NCAA leaders in pass defense (No. 14 at 176.1 yards per game) and pass efficiency defense (No. 19 with 105.5 rating) . . . led the secondary and finished second on the team in tackles with 92 (68 solos, 24 assists) . . . recorded seven tackles for losses (22 yards) and 13 pass break-ups . . . made eight stops vs. Fresno State (5-3), Penn State (7-1), Wisconsin (6-2) and Iowa (7-1) . . . produced 10 tackles (8-2) vs. Indiana . . . had nine stops vs. Minnesota (5-4) and Notre Dame (7-2), including a 9-yard sack . . . registered a season-high 12 tackles (10-2) vs. Northwestern, including three for losses (7 yards) . . . AS A SOPHOMORE: Shared the Tommy Love Award as the team’s most improved player with tight end Ivory McCoy . . . started 10 of 11 games at strong safety in 2000 and played 312.5 minutes . . . key figure in a secondary that led the Big Ten and ranked seventh nationally in pass defense, allowing only 164.1 yards per game . . . led the Spartan defense in production points with 159 and ranked second in tackles with 106 (73 solos, 33 assists) . . . played as well as anyone down the stretch, averaging 11.3 tackles over his last six games . . . had nine stops (6-3), four pass break-ups and an interception in MSU’s 30-10 win over No. 9 Purdue . . . registered 13 tackles (10-3) vs. Ohio State, including a sack (11 yards) . . . named Spartan Defensive Player of the Week vs. Illinois after producing a career-high 18 tackles (12-6) . . . reached double figures in tackles four times, including 10 stops (6-4) vs. Missouri . . . AS A FRESHMAN: Appeared in all 12 games in 1999 and played 122.5 minutes . . . played double-figure minutes in five games, including a season high 29.5 vs. Purdue . . . recorded 22 tackles (11 solos, 11 assists), including five sacks (46 yards) . . . produced four tackles (2-2) vs. Florida in the 2000 Florida Citrus Bowl, including two sacks (19 yards) . . . had a season-high eight stops (5-3) vs. Purdue, including a sack (13 yards) . . . HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: PrepStar All-American . . . rated the No. 1 safety in Florida and among the state’s top 20 players by SunState . . . all-state safety had three interceptions as a senior . . . all-region receiver had 26 catches for 630 yards (24.2 avg.) and eight touchdowns . . . played for Coach Rod Shafer at Lake Wales (Fla.) High School . . . had a personal best of 6-4 in the high jump . . . runs 4.4 in the 40 . . . born July 3, 1981 . . . majoring in agriculture and natural resources – communications.
Wright’s Career Statistics
G/GS UT AT TM TFL-Yds. Sacks PBU INT
1999 12/0 11 11 22 5-46 5-46 1 0-0
2000 11/10 73 33 106 3-13 1-11 12 2-0
2001 12/12 68 24 92 7-22 1-9 13 2-13
Career 35/22 152 68 220 15-81 7-66 26 4-13
Wright’s Career Highs
Tackles: 18, vs. Illinois (2000)
Tackles for Losses: 3, vs. Northwestern (2001)
Sacks: 2, vs. Florida (2000)
Wright’s Game-By-Game Statistics
1999
Defense UT AT TM TFL Sacks
Oregon 0 0 0 0-0 0-0
Eastern Michigan 0 0 0 0-0 0-0
Notre Dame 0 1 1 0-0 0-0
Illinois 0 0 0 0-0 0-0
Iowa 2 0 2 1-6 1-6
Michigan 0 0 0 0-0 0-0
Purdue 5 3 8 1-13 1-13
Wisconsin 2 0 2 1-8 1-8
Ohio State 0 1 1 0-0 0-0
Northwestern 0 1 1 0-0 0-0
Penn State 0 3 3 0-0 0-0
Florida 2 2 4 2-19 2-19
Totals 11 11 22 5-46 5-46
2000
Defense UT AT TM TFL Sacks
Marshall 4 1 5 0-0 0-0
Missouri 6 4 10 0-0 0-0
Notre Dame 5 3 8 1-1 0-0
Northwestern 6 3 9 0-0 0-0
Iowa 3 3 6 0-0 0-0
Wisconsin 5 3 8 0-0 0-0
Michigan 10 2 12 1-1 0-0
Illinois 12 6 18 0-0 0-0
Ohio State 10 3 13 1-11 1-11
Purdue 6 3 9 0-0 0-0
Penn State 6 2 8 0-0 0-0
Totals 73 33 106 3-13 1-11
2001
Defense UT AT TM TFL Sacks
Central Michigan 4 2 6 0-0 0-0
Notre Dame 7 2 9 1-9 1-9
Northwestern 10 2 12 3-7 0-0
Iowa 7 1 8 0-0 0-0
Minnesota 5 4 9 0-0 0-0
Wisconsin 6 2 8 1-1 0-0
Michigan 3 1 4 0-0 0-0
Indiana 8 2 10 1-4 0-0
Purdue 3 1 4 0-0 0-0
Penn State 7 1 8 1-1 0-0
Missouri 3 3 6 0-0 0-0
Fresno State 5 3 8 0-0 0-0
Totals 68 24 92 7-22 1-9
