Earl Thomas ( defensive back ) Earl Thomas III ( born May 7 , 1989 ) is an American football safety for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Texas and received All - American honors . He was drafted by the Seahawks with the 14th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft . Thomas and the other Seahawks ' defensive backs are collectively known as the Legion of Boom . Early years . Thomas was born in Austin , Texas . He attended West Orange - Stark High School in Orange , Texas , where he played for the West Orange - Stark Mustangs high school football team . While there , he was an all - state selection and three - year starter at defensive back , running back and wide receiver . He recorded 112 career tackles with 11 interceptions , two kickoff return touchdown s and two punt return touchdowns , while also having 1 , 850 rushing yards and 2 , 140 receiving yards in his career . Considered a four - star recruit by " Rivals . com " , Thomas was ranked No . 19 among the best football prospects from Texas . He chose to attend Texas on February 26 , 2006 . College career . Thomas attended the University of Texas at Austin , where he played for coach Mack Brown ' s Texas Longhorns football team from 2007 to 2009 . After redshirting his first year at Texas , Thomas started all 13 games at strong safety for the Longhorns in 2008 , and ranked second on the team with 63 tackles and 17 pass breakups , the most ever by a Longhorn freshman . He also had two interceptions , four forced fumbles , and a blocked kick . Thomas subsequently earned multiple All - Freshman honors , as he was named to FWAA ′ s Freshman All - America team , " Sporting News ′ " Freshman All - American team , " College Football News ′ " All - Freshman first team , and " Rivals . com ′ s " Freshman All - America team . As a redshirt sophomore in 2009 , Thomas intercepted 8 passes , returning two of them for touchdowns . Thomas chose to forgo his final two seasons of eligibility at Texas to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft where he was the third defensive back taken . Professional career . Seattle Seahawks . Thomas was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks with the fourteenth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft . At age 20 , he was one of the youngest players eligible for the draft . Mike Mayock , longtime draft analyst for NFL Network , refers Earl Thomas as having the best chance of resembling Ed Reed in the 2010 NFL Draft class . On July 31 , 2010 , Earl Thomas agreed to a five - year , $ 21 . 1 million contract with the Seahawks , receiving $ 12 . 31 million in guarantees . On September 26 , 2010 in a Week 3 game against the San Diego Chargers , Thomas intercepted two passes by Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers , one of which sealed a 27 – 20 victory for the Seattle Seahawks . Thomas finished the season with 76 tackles , one forced fumble and five interceptions that helped the Seahawks into the playoffs . In the 2011 regular season , Thomas was a key player on the Seahawks defense . The Seahawks finished the year with the second - fewest 20 - yard pass plays surrendered , largely thanks to Thomas playing single high safety , where he defends the deep portion of the field . His play earned him a Pro Bowl nomination and second - team All - Pro selection . He was also ranked No . 66 in the 2012 NFL Top 100 . In the 2012 season , during Week 3 in the pre - season in an away game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City , Thomas intercepted a Matt Cassel pass and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown as the Seahawks won the game 44 - 14 . On January 2 , He was selected to the 2013 All - Pro Team .