SaberCats DB Clevan Thomas Named AFL Defensive Back of the Year
Published on August 13, 2013 under Arena Football League (AFL)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Arena Football League and the SaberCats announced today that defensive standout Clevan Thomas was named the AFL Defensive Back of the Year. This honor is in addition to already having earned a First Team All-Arena selection, and he is also a finalist to be named the Riddell Defensive Player of the Year.
Thomas (5-10, 195, Florida State) returned to action for the first time since the conclusion of the 2008 season and didn't miss a beat. The Arena Football League Hall of Fame selection appeared in all 18 games and set a new career and single-season franchise record with 15 interceptions, tying for the league lead. He was named the team's Defensive Most Valuable Player and Most Inspirational Player for 2013. Of his 15 interceptions, Thomas returned an AFL-record six of them for touchdowns, surpassing the previous record of four by Kenny McEntyre of the Orlando Predators (2008) and Kelvin Morris of the Chicago Rush (2012).
The First Team All-Arena selection posted a total of 74.0 tackles (65 solo), recovered two fumbles and forced another. He now ranks second in AFL history to McEntyre with 65 career interceptions, and will go down as one of, if not the greatest to ever play this game.
He was awarded Riddell Defensive Player of the Week honors after intercepting a pair of passes and returning one for a touchdown in Week 10 on May 25 in a win over the Utah Blaze. Thomas later earned the award again in Week 16 by recording two more interceptions, both of which he returned for scores, 27 and 53 yards respectively against the San Antonio Talons.
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