Ben Tate – Houston Texans, Running Back

Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 220 lbs.
College: Auburn
Hometown: Woodbridge, VA

• Ranks fifth all time in rushing yards at Auburn
• Ranked second in all time carries at Auburn and third in career all purpose yards
• Only the third Tiger in history to lead the team in rushing 3 straight years

Height: 6′ 4″
Weight: 254 lbs.
College: Penn State
Hometown: Hicksville, NY

• Set a Penn State record for season receptions by a tight end with 41
• Gained 536 yards receiving (13.07 ypc), the most by a Penn State tight end
• His 87 career receptions broke the record by a tight end at Penn State
• Set a Penn State bowl record with 8 receptions for 88 yards in the Capital One Bowl

Height: 6′ 5″
Weight: 307 lbs.
College: Oklahoma State
Hometown: Houston, TX

• Drafted 6th overall in the 2010 NFL draft to the Seattle Seahawks
• Two-time First-team All-American (2008, 2009)
• 2009 Jim Parker Trophy – Top collegiate offensive lineman
• 2009 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year
• Two-time First-team All-Big 12 (2008, 2009)
• 2009 Outland Trophy finalist
• Only offensive lineman finalist for the 2009 Lombardi Award

Donnie Tyndall – Morehead State University, Head Men’s Basketball Coach Experience:

Experience:

• Head Coach, Morehead State University (2006-present)
• Associate Head Coach, Middle Tennessee State University (2002-06)
• Associate Head Coach, University of Idaho (2001-02)
• Assistant Coach, Louisiana State University (1997-2001)
• Head Coach, St. Catherine College (1996-97)

Career Highlights:

• In 2009-10 season, led the Eagles to back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in school history and also set a school record for conference wins with 14 OVC wins
• Associate Head Coach, Middle Tennessee State University (2002-06)
• Named as one of the 2009-10 Athlon Sports Magazine College Basketball Preview Top 10 Under the Radar Coaches
• 2008-09 OVC Tournament title – school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 25 years
• Selected as the 2008 OVC Coach of the Year and CollegeInsider.com Coach of the Year

Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants, Wide Receiver

Height: 6’1”
Weight: 212 lbs.
College: North Carolina
Hometown: Charlotte, NC

• Selected by the Giants with the 29th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
• Most career receptions and touchdown receptions in UNC history
• First New York Giants rookie to score touchdowns in 4 straight games since 1961
• Named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in October 2009

Paul Graham – Georgia State University, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach

• Assistant coach at the University of Colorado from 2003-2007
• Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Washington State University from 1999-2002
• As an assistant coach at Oklahoma State from 1992-99, he helped the Cowboys to a 150-72 record with five NCAA Tournament appearances and a birth in the 1995 NCAA Final Four

Trevor Pryce – Baltimore Ravens, Defensive End

Height: 6’5”
Weight: 290 lbs.
College: Clemson
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

• Two time Super Bowl Champion
• Four time Pro Bowl Selection
• Named to Broncos 50th Anniversary team

Samari Rolle – Baltimore Ravens, Cornerback

Height: 6’0”
Weight: 175 lbs.
College: Florida State
Hometown: Miami, FL

• 2000 Pro Bowl selection

Ryan Mundy – Pittsburgh Steelers, Safety

Height: 6’1”
Weight: 209 lbs.
College: West Virginia
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

• Super Bowl XLIII Champion

Pierre Thomas – New Orleans Saints, Running Back

Height: 5’11”
Weight: 210 lbs.
College: Illinois
Hometown: Chicago, IL

• During rookie season, became only the 2nd rookie in NFL history to gain over 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game
• All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2004
• Super Bowl XLIV Champion
• First player in New Orleans Saints history to gain more than 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game

The Beginning

Pierre Thomas Jr. was born in Lynwood, IL to Charles and Greta Jo Thomas. He attended Thorton Fractional South High School, where he set school career rushing records with 88 touchdowns and 5,522 yards, numbers that were ranked top 10 in Illinois state history. He attended The University of Illinois where he started as a true freshman and continued to break records, breaking the school record for career kickoff return yardage with 1,495 yards. He ranked sixth in University of Illinois history in career rushing yards with 2,545 yards and earned honorable mention All Big Ten Conference while leading the conference and ranking second at Illinois in all-purpose yardage with 4,451. He also posted 9 career 100-yard rushing games at Illinois and was voted team MVP two years and Captain his senior year.

The NFL
Thomas went undrafted in the 2007 NFL draft. Shortly after the draft, Thomas signed a contract as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints. He was predicted to be a camp body for the Saints but ended up having a stellar preseason and beat out Antonio Pittman, a player the Saints had traded up to take in the fourth round of the draft, to make the Saints’ final roster.

On December 30, 2007, in the Saints’ season finale, injuries took regular starters Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush, and Aaron Stecker out of the game. Resulting from this, Thomas received his first NFL start in his hometown at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears and became the first Saints player to gain over 100 yards both rushing and receiving in the same game. He also became the only player in NFL history to gain over 100 yards both rushing and receiving against the Chicago Bears. In 2008, Thomas played in 15 contests, starting five. Thomas was also selected to USA Today’s All-Joe team which recognizes hard-working players that don’t receive as much media attention.

Despite competing with Reggie Bush and Mike Bell for touches, Thomas finished the 2009 regular season with career-highs in carries and rushing yards with 147 and 793 yards while scoring six touchdowns. He also set new career-highs in receptions and receiving yards with 39 for 302 yards to go along with two touchdowns. The playoffs were also kind to Thomas as he rushed for 52 yards on 13 carries and 4 catches for 18 yards in the divisional playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals. He then followed that up with 61 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown and 2 catches for 38 yards and another score against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship. Prior to Super Bowl XLIV, Thomas was credited as being the key to the Saints’ running game. In the title game, Thomas led the team with 30 yards on 9 carries and gained 55 yards on 6 catches and touchdown. He was praised for his tough running during the game which included the Saints first touchdown of the game. In an act of generosity, Thomas gave his touchdown football to Saints running back legend Deuce McAllister who had been signed by the team several weeks earlier.

Off the Field

Thomas is also very involved in charity work in his hometown of Lansing, IL and New Orleans. He has been active in helping New Orleans rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and plans to help any way he can with the recent oil spill in the gulf. He is also very active in the Dream For Kids organization and has attended the Dream for Kids benefit dinner which helps under privileged children realize and help achieve their dreams. For more information about Pierre Thomas, please visit www.pierrethomas.com.