Chargers take Thomas in fifth round

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Sunday, Apr 27, 2008
By By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

The Chargers drafted Marcus Thomas in the fifth round, but the Bolts had their sights set on UTEP running back long before the second day and 166th overall pick arrived.

“We brought him in here for a visit because we were interested in him from the start and wanted to get to know him better,” said Buddy Nix, the Chargers’ Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel. “It’s not just the top draft picks that we’ll bring in here if we want to learn more about a guy.”

Before the Chargers met with Thomas, they liked his production on the field for the Miners. He’s a big body as a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder, but he’s also a slasher with deceptive speed.

As a senior at UTEP, Thomas rushed for 1,166 yards with 16 touchdowns and caught 20 balls for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 5.1 yards a carry.

“We like his size, his speed and his production,” Nix said. “He can catch the ball, too.”

Although Thomas was the Chargers’ second running back taken in the draft, in addition to LSU’s Jacob Hester in the third round, Nix said the two backs provide the Chargers flexibility behind LaDainian Tomlinson.

“I’ll let (head coach) Norv (Turner) tell you how we’re going to use them,” Nix said, “but Hester is a guy who can do a lot of things for you. He can line up and block and he’s a 1,000-yard rusher. Thomas is a running back, but he’ll be in there on passing downs and you might even see him at fullback.”

Thomas went to UTEP as a Parade high school All-American out of Tolleson High in Phoenix, Ariz.

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