Atlanta Falcons FS Thomas DeCoud defends 49er TE Vernon Davis
By Felicia and Eddrick
It’s always nice to come away with a win but the taste is a little sweeter when it’s in your hometown. Atlanta Falcons free safety Thomas DeCoud and his cousins grew up with the knowledge that their grandfather, offensive tackle John Thomas instilled in them.
Although he never got the chance to watch their grandfather in person, (he was drafted by the Niners in the 23rd round of the 1957 draft), he definitely planted the football gene in him.
“He instilled in us to play hard,” said DeCoud after his team’s 44-7 trouncing of San Francisco at Candlestick Park. Born in Oakland and raised in Vallejo the motto of hard work from his grandfather and parents landed the Pinole Valley grad a scholarship to Cal Berkeley and now a career with the Falcons.
As the third round pick of the Falcons in last year’s draft, the second-year 205-pound DeCoud held 250-pound tight end Vernon Davis to 5-of-12 for 51 yards.
“I think I did pretty well against him,” he said afterwards with a smile. As a prep at Pinole Valley High DeCoud earned first team All-Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League honors, where he tallied 80 tackles and two interceptions his senior year.
At Cal he started 45 games and was named All Pac-10 Honorable Mention finishing his career with 198 tackles, 1 sack, 5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two forced recoveries.
Hard to believe a young man with a soft-spoken demeanor could do this much damage on the field.
This is the first in a continuing series that Sports In the Bay will bring you spotlighting players from the Bay Area on opposing teams.
Sports In the Bay wishes Thomas all the best in his NFL career.
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