Jan. 17, 2014
Georgia Tech senior defensive back Jemea Thomas is set to play for the East team in Saturday’s annual East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The East-West Shrine Game, the nation’s longest running all-star game, begins at 4 p.m. and will be televised by the NFL Network. Play-by-play announcer Paul Burmeister is joined in the booth by analysts Mike Mayock and Charles Davis, while Daniel Jeremiah provides reports from the sidelines.
Thomas is coming off an exceptional senior season with the Yellow Jackets, where he started at both cornerback and safety. Twice named ACC Defensive Back of the Week, Thomas led the Yellow Jackets in solo tackles (73), total tackles (88) and pass break-ups (8).
Thomas, a Queensland (Ga.) native, recorded nine career interceptions. He also tied the Georgia Tech record for career games played (54).
Thomas is the seventh different Yellow Jacket in head coach Paul Johnson’s six seasons to play in the Shrine Game. Izaan Cross and Rod Sweeting played in the game last year, Mario Butler in 2010, Cord Howard in 2009 and Darryl Richard and Jahi Word-Daniels in 2008.
The East team is coached by Jerry Glanville, the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and a former Georgia Tech assistant coach.
Joining Thomas on the East team from the ACC are Miami WR Allen Hurns, Duke specialist Russ Cockrell, Syracuse DL Jason Bromley, Florida State DL Demonte McAllister, North Carolina safety Tre Boston and Wake Forest safety A.J. Marshall.
