Carr, Thomas Pushing for Postseason Honors

Fresno State junior quarterback Derek Carr and senior safety Phillip Thomas are pushing for postseason honors this season with their outstanding superlatives...

Senior SS Phillip Thomas (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield HS)

Leads the nation with seven interceptions through eight games in 2012 (two more than any other FBS player has).

His seven picks have already tied the Mountain West single season record.

Most interceptions by a Fresno State player in 27 years.

seven picks are already two more than Fresno State as a team had in 13 games last year.

Has returned three interceptions for touchdowns this year, including two during a 69-14 win over Colorado on Sept. 15 (had three INTs in that CU game & was named the Jim Thorpe DB of the Week afterwards).

His three pick sixes are more than 114 other Division I teams have through eight weeks.

He has set a new school record and tied the MW record for interceptions returned for TDs in a single-season. Needs one more to tie the NCAA record held by Deltha O’Neal (California – 1999).

In his career he has returned four INTs for touchdowns. That has set a new school record and he needs one more to tie the NCAA record.

His eight total take-aways (seven interceptions, one fumble recovery) are the most of any FBS player. Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o is second with six.

In addition to his interceptions, he has forced three fumbles this year which is tied for the second-most in the nation. The first came on a sack of Oregon QB Marcus Mariota on Sept. 8 and the second was at Colorado State, Oct. 6. Forced his third fumble in a 42-14 win over Wyoming on a tackle for a loss.
Phillip Thomas

---

Junior QB Derek Carr (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield Christian HS)

His 22 touchdown passes are tied for the third-most in the nation. His 22 TDs are more than 114 Division I teams have this year.

Threw 15 touchdowns in four games from Sept. 15-Oct. 6.

Has four games with three or more TDs and two with five this season.

Has thrown for 2,350 yards, which ranks No. 5 nationally. That passing total is greater than the total of 113 Division I teams have.

Is completing 68.1 percent of his passes and has thrown just four interceptions in 323 pass attempts (just 1.2 percent of the time).

Ranks No. 7 nationally, completing 27.5 passes per game.

On Sept. 15 in a 69-14 win over Colorado, Carr was 17-of-22 passing for 300 yards and he threw five touchdowns, all in the first half.

Set new school and Mountain West records on Sept. 29 against San Diego State when he completed 42 passes and had 570 yards of total offense. His 536 yards passing in that 52-40 win tied the school record and is the fifth-highest passing game in the nation this year.

His 97-yard touchdown pass against Colorado on Sept. 15 is the longest pass in the nation this year. He has also completed five passes of over 40 yards and is averaging 10.7 yards per completion.
Derek Carr

---