Thomas Everett - College Career

College Career

Everett attended Baylor University where he played under College Football Hall of Fame coach Grant Teaff. As a freshman, he was a starter at cornerback halfway through the season. He opened the next year at corner but was moved to safety in his second game, there he blossomed making 99 tackles. In his junior year he became one of the best defensive backs in the nation earning a two-time All-American selection, being named twice Southwest Conference Most Valuable Player and first team All-Conference.

He was voted the conference’s Athlete of the Year for the 1986-1987 school year. He ranks among Baylor’s top ten in career interceptions (12), tackles (325), punt returns (80) and punt return yards (766). Not only was he adept at coverage and as a tackler, but also was a fine punt returner, leading his team in punt return yards three times.

He was a leader during one of the program's most successful eras as the Bears won 30 games and appeared in three bowl games. He was named to Baylor's All-Decade of the 1980s Team an to the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame.

Everett was the first-ever winner of the Jim Thorpe Award in 1986 as the nation’s top defensive back.

In 2006, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.