Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Norris Thomas
- Induction:
- 1981
Is recognized as one of the finest cornerbacks to have ever played football at Southern Miss and his stellar play in the defensive secondary from 1972 to 1975 helped set standards that Golden Eagle defensive backs still strive to achieve today.
Thomas joined the Golden Eagles after a successful career at Pascagoula High School where he developed into one of the best defensive backs in Mississippi his senior year.
Although he was unable to play as a freshmen because of NCAA rules at the time, he exploded onto the scene as a sophomore in 1973, finishing the year with 55 tackles and tying for the team lead in interceptions with three, including one that he returned for a touchdown.
The 1973 team coached by P.W. Underwood finished the year with a 6-4 record, winning its last four games and going 6-1-1 after dropping its first three games.
With Thomas solidly in the starting lineup in 1974 he continued to be one of the team leaders in tackles and interceptions. He finished his junior year with 54 tackles and had two interceptions, although teams rarely threw in his direction because of his ability to cover their best receivers.
The 1974 team finished the year with a 6-5 mark and once again finished strong after a slow start. After dropping three of its first four contests, the Golden Eagles won five of their last seven games to end the year.
Thomas helped the Golden Eagle defense rank 14th in the nation in pass defense in 1974, allowing only 91.0 yards per game, one of the lowest marks in school history.
Thomas was a 2nd team all-South Independent selection by the Associated Press following the 1974 season.
As a senior Thomas was now rated as one of the top defensive backs in college football and a player that the pro scouts were watching very closely. Although teams were not looking in his direction even more, Thomas finished the year with 57 tackles and an interception, in leading the team to an 8-3 record under Coach Bobby Collins, who had replaced Underwood as head coach.
The 1975 defense led by Thomas and future Hall of Famers Carl Allen and Stoney Parker was 10th in the country in total defense that year allowing only 233.8 yards per game and 15th in the country in scoring defense giving up only 11.7 points per game.
Following his career at Southern Miss, Thomas played in the Senior Bowl all-star game in Mobile, Alabama and was later taken in the 9th round of the NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.
Thomas went on to enjoy a successful career with the Dolphins (1977-79) and the Tampa bay Buccaneers (1980-84).
Even today, over 20 years after his career ended at Southern Miss, Thomas is still one of the players, Golden Eagle defensive backs are judged by.
Thomas joined the Golden Eagles after a successful career at Pascagoula High School where he developed into one of the best defensive backs in Mississippi his senior year.
Although he was unable to play as a freshmen because of NCAA rules at the time, he exploded onto the scene as a sophomore in 1973, finishing the year with 55 tackles and tying for the team lead in interceptions with three, including one that he returned for a touchdown.
The 1973 team coached by P.W. Underwood finished the year with a 6-4 record, winning its last four games and going 6-1-1 after dropping its first three games.
With Thomas solidly in the starting lineup in 1974 he continued to be one of the team leaders in tackles and interceptions. He finished his junior year with 54 tackles and had two interceptions, although teams rarely threw in his direction because of his ability to cover their best receivers.
The 1974 team finished the year with a 6-5 mark and once again finished strong after a slow start. After dropping three of its first four contests, the Golden Eagles won five of their last seven games to end the year.
Thomas helped the Golden Eagle defense rank 14th in the nation in pass defense in 1974, allowing only 91.0 yards per game, one of the lowest marks in school history.
Thomas was a 2nd team all-South Independent selection by the Associated Press following the 1974 season.
As a senior Thomas was now rated as one of the top defensive backs in college football and a player that the pro scouts were watching very closely. Although teams were not looking in his direction even more, Thomas finished the year with 57 tackles and an interception, in leading the team to an 8-3 record under Coach Bobby Collins, who had replaced Underwood as head coach.
The 1975 defense led by Thomas and future Hall of Famers Carl Allen and Stoney Parker was 10th in the country in total defense that year allowing only 233.8 yards per game and 15th in the country in scoring defense giving up only 11.7 points per game.
Following his career at Southern Miss, Thomas played in the Senior Bowl all-star game in Mobile, Alabama and was later taken in the 9th round of the NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.
Thomas went on to enjoy a successful career with the Dolphins (1977-79) and the Tampa bay Buccaneers (1980-84).
Even today, over 20 years after his career ended at Southern Miss, Thomas is still one of the players, Golden Eagle defensive backs are judged by.
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