…but that is other side of getting great recruits…they all don t get to stay 4 years, but I dont blame him….Its time to take care of himself and his family…Hope Earl goes to a pro team I like

You have been a pleasure to watch these past two years. Good luck at the next level. I know you will continue to be a great representative for all that is good about the University of Texas. You have been an inspiration not just with your style of play, but also the class you shown off the field.

 Hook ’em

A lot will depend on how old you are, I suppose. While he’ll never come close to filling the “original” Earl’s shoes, if you were to approach someone of a certain younger age in the near future and ask them, “And how about that Earl? Wasn’t he the greatest you ever saw in a Texas uniform?” If you were to do this without specifying position, they’d probably think you meant Earl Thomas.

Anyone know what he’s projected to go overall and possibly to whom that may be?

Before and after the only play you were destined to be remembered for, you have been a lights-out defender that makes watching defense fun. I don’t know the type of player Muschamp prefers to coach, but with your work ethic and intensity, I don’t think you could be any more of a fit for his D. Now get drafted by the Titans.

Injuries are a long shot, but he’s going to make money he otherwise might not. I definitely think he would improve his draft position a lot if he were to stick around at least another year, but one in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Maybe it’s just me, but I was raised not to quit on my team. I played on more little league and school sports teams than I can count, and I served in the Marine Corps between high school and college, and in all those years, I only quit on a team one time – and I’ve regretted it ever since.

I understand that these guys have never seen first-round money in their whole lives, and they want to cash in and get a Ferrari and take care of grandma as soon as possible. But it really bothers me for all of these guys to run down and “pray” in the endzone before each game, then point to the sky when they score or make a good play, and then give credit to “God” when they’re interviewed – and then NOT trust that same force to see them through one more year (or however many they’ve got left) to finish their commitments, support their teammates, and get their degrees without “hurting their draft stock,” which is the excuse all of them give.

And, no, for what it’s worth – I don’t for a minute believe Earl will ever earn his degree. And before anyone says, “Yeah, but what about Sam Bradford?!” let me just remind you that he was rushed back by an idiotic coach and training staff from what was obviously a more-serious injury than the media was led to believe. If he’d stayed out of a few more games, then finished the season, won a bowl game, and come back for his entire senior year with another shot a title, don’t you think that would’ve served him better than limping into the NFL combine and hoping for the best?

So…even though it’s sacrilege to say it out loud, I’m pissed that Earl is quitting on this team. I’m pissed that Vince quit and probably cost us a second straight shot a national title. I’m going to be pissed if Gilbert leaves early. I’ve been sitting in those stands cheering for that team for the better part of 40 years; the least these guys can do is commit to 4 and see it through.

Let the lambasting begin…

So who is the future at safety? Gideon’s obviously keeping his job, but what about FS? Christian Scott could take it, but he strikes me as more of a strong safety as well. So does Brewster. Ben Wells could be a possibility, but he would have to step up quite a bit to make us feel comfortable about the position. I really think the best shots right now appear to be Vaccaro and Barnett. Barnett doesn’t have that great closing speed, and he seems to be at his best when facing the play, so it would seem like FS would be a more natural fit than his traditional cornerback position. Let Chykie, Curtis, and AW be the corners, with good backup prospects in the incoming 2010 class.

Thoughts?

Thomas was a consensus first-team All-America selection and Thorpe Award finalist in 2009 after notching 77 tackles, five TFL and 16 PBU. He also broke Texas’ longest-standing school record with eight INTs, eclipsing the mark of seven that was originally set by Noble Doss in 1940. The mark was tied four times but never broken until Thomas this year. His two interception returns for TDs in 2009 also set a UT record. Thomas registered 72 tackles, two interceptions, 17 PBU (No. 1 on UT’s all-time freshman list), three TFL, four forced fumbles and a blocked punt en route to Freshman All-American honors as a redshirt freshman in 2008

Truely a special player.