Thomas (6-4, 335) is third-year defensive tackle. San Diego selected him in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Cam Thomas’ game grew by leaps and bounds in 2011. He played in all 16 games, including his first two starts at defensive tackle, and finished the year as the defensive line’s leader with four sacks. Thomas also finished second on the line with six tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits and nine pressures, while tying for fourth with 26 tackles.
Thomas is a mountain of a man with an infectious personality and smile. As a collegian, Thomas helped engineer a turnaround at North Carolina and his senior season, the Tar Heels paced the ACC and ranked 10th in the nation in run defense. So smitten with Thomas were the Chargers that they swapped picks with Philadelphia and moved up 13 spots in the fifth round to select him.
Thomas enjoys taking long walks on the beach and in the water, and listening to his favorite R&B singer, Rihanna.
A mountain of a man with an infectious personality and smile, Thomas gained valuable experience in 2010. He played in a handful of games and learned daily in practice and meetings from the veteran players that surrounded him on the Chargers’ defensive line.
Chargers’ General Manager A.J. Smith thought so highly of the former North Carolina standout that the Chargers swapped picks with Philadelphia and moved up 13 spots in the fifth round to select him. As a senior, Thomas anchored a Tar Heels defense that ranked first in the ACC and 10th in the nation in run defense.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fifth-round pick (146), April 24, 2010...signed four-year contract, July 13.
2011: Recorded a key eight-yard sack on second down against Kansas City in Week 8...the offense answered the three-and-out with another field goal to get within one point of the Chiefs (13-12).
2010: Season-high three tackles in first-career game Oct. 10 at Oakland...first-career sack on 3rd-and-20 in late 2Q Nov. 22 vs. Denver...helped Bolts hold 21-7 lead at half....added another sack Dec. 16 vs. San Francisco
COLLEGE: Finished career with 83 TTs, 3.5 sacks, nine TFLs... scored TD on 20-yard FR at Boston College in ’09...two-year starter at DT...redshirted in 2005...played at UNC from 2005-09...degree in African-American studies.
PERSONAL: Born in Cheraw, South Carolina...FB and BKB letterwinner at North Moore HS in Eagle Springs, N.C.
