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ORLANDO -- Senior quarterback Colt McCoy might not be the only No. 12 the Texas Longhorns lose to the National Football League after their national championship game next month against Alabama.Sophomore safety Earl Thomas, who wears the No. 12 on the defensive side of the ball, could be close behind McCoy in the NFL draft.
Although Thomas said last week that he planned to return next season, he changed his tune Wednesday night after arriving in Orlando for Thursday's College Football Awards show.
He is one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the best defensive back in college football. The other finalists are Eric Berry of Tennessee and Joe Haden of Florida.
Thomas is a third-year sophomore, who is draft eligible and finishing a better-than-expected season that has propelled him up the mock draft boards.
"Obviously, you come to college to put yourself in position to make money. If I'm projected (in the draft) where I want to be projected, I'll go forward and try to play on Sundays (in the NFL),'' he said. "I'll just have to see how my grade report comes back. Yes, I'm hearing good things.''
The status of Thomas has been rising in the last few weeks, and he has been projected as a late first-round pick on some of the draft boards.
He said Wednesday that a first-round projection likely would prompt him to leave school. He also said a second-round or later projection likely would keep him in school another year.
The loss of Thomas would be blow to the defense plans of the Longhorns and somewhat of a surprise to the coaching staff, who had expected him back.
Going into the national championship game, Thomas has recorded 71 tackles and eight interceptions, with two returned for touchdowns. Scouts have projected him at both safety and cornerback.
"Everyone wants to leave on top, and we've got the chance to do that now. We're ready for the big stage,'' he said. "I don't have any doubts that I can succeed (in the NFL). It's just about where I would fall in the equation. It's not something I really want to talk about now until after the game. But it's out there.''
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