When you talk about the greatest athletes to come out of Western Pennsylvania, there are certain individuals whose accomplishments deserve to be remembered for generations.
Some dominated on the football field. Others made their names on the basketball court. Then there were those rare athletes who could do both at an elite level.
Todd Thomas was one of them.
The former Beaver Falls High School standout was a remarkable athlete who established himself as one of the most accomplished two-sport performers in the WPIAL during the 2000s.
Thomas wasn’t simply a football player who happened to play basketball or a basketball player who decided to put on shoulder pads in the fall.
He was a legitimate star in both sports.
By the time he graduated from Beaver Falls in 2009, Thomas had accumulated more than 2,000 career basketball points, earned multiple all-state honors, established himself as one of Pennsylvania’s top football prospects, and secured a scholarship to play football at the University of Pittsburgh.
His athletic ability was undeniable, but his accomplishments tell an even greater story.
A Basketball Star at Beaver Falls
Before Todd Thomas became a linebacker at the University of Pittsburgh, he was one of the most talented basketball players in Western Pennsylvania.
Playing under legendary Beaver Falls basketball coach Doug Biega, Thomas established himself as a dominant presence on the hardwood. His combination of size, athleticism, strength, and explosiveness made him a difficult matchup for opposing teams. He could attack the basket, finish above the rim, rebound, and use his athleticism to impact the game on both ends of the floor.
Thomas was already making an impression as a freshman.
During the 2005-06 season, he earned a spot in the starting lineup for a Beaver Falls program that had captured WPIAL and PIAA championships the previous season.
Think about that for a moment.
Beaver Falls was already an established basketball powerhouse, and Thomas was talented enough to earn a starting position as a ninth-grader.
Over the next four years, he developed into one of the area’s most accomplished players. By the time his high school basketball career ended, Thomas had scored an impressive 2,063 career points. During his senior season, he averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
He was a three-time Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AA all-state selection and earned a spot on the prestigious Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous Five basketball team. Thomas was also selected to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 10 and participated in the Roundball Classic basketball all-star game. His accomplishments were later recognized by the Pittsburgh Basketball Club, which selected him to its 15-Year Anniversary Team.
For a player who ultimately chose to pursue football at the collegiate level, those basketball accomplishments speak volumes about his overall athletic ability.
He wasn’t just a good basketball player. He was one of the premier players in Western Pennsylvania during his era.
A Football Player Who Could Do It All
While Thomas was building an impressive basketball résumé, he was simultaneously establishing himself as one of the most versatile football players in Pennsylvania.
At Beaver Falls, Thomas could line up at running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker. His combination of speed, strength, and athleticism allowed him to impact the game in several different ways.
During his high school football career, Thomas rushed for 2,786 yards on 366 carries, averaging an impressive 7.6 yards per attempt. He also accounted for 53 total touchdowns.
As a senior, Thomas rushed for 865 yards and added 557 receiving yards on just 21 receptions. That works out to an incredible 26.5 yards per catch.
He helped lead Beaver Falls to a 12-1 record and an appearance in the WPIAL Class AA championship game during his final season.
But what made Thomas particularly special was his ability to excel on both sides of the football. He earned Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AA all-state honors three consecutive years at three different positions.
As a sophomore, he was a first-team all-state defensive back. As a junior, he earned second-team all-state recognition as a running back. As a senior, he was selected first-team all-state as a wide receiver.
That type of versatility is something you don’t see every day.
Thomas also earned recognition on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 football team and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25.
National recruiting services took notice of his ability as well.
He was ranked among the nation’s top 100 football prospects by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming and was considered one of Pennsylvania’s top recruits. By the time his high school career ended, Thomas had firmly established himself as one of the most accomplished football players in Beaver Falls history.
An Athlete Who Excelled Beyond Football and Basketball
What makes Thomas’ athletic résumé even more impressive is that his talent extended beyond the football field and basketball court. He was also an accomplished track and field athlete.
At the 2009 WPIAL Class AA Track and Field Championships, Thomas was a member of Beaver Falls’ championship 400-meter relay team. He also finished second in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 10¼ inches.
Football, basketball, and track and field. Three different sports requiring different skills, and Thomas demonstrated the ability to compete at a championship level.
In 2009, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named him its Male Athlete of the Year.
It was a fitting recognition for an athlete who had accomplished so much during his high school career.
Taking His Talents to the University of Pittsburgh
After graduating from Beaver Falls, Thomas attended Milford Academy in New York, where he continued developing as a football player. He earned recognition as one of the nation’s top prep school prospects and was named Milford’s Most Valuable Defensive Player.
During his season at Milford, he recorded 66 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and four interceptions. His performance helped prepare him for the next chapter of his athletic career.
Thomas eventually joined the University of Pittsburgh football program, where he transitioned into a collegiate linebacker.
Playing major Division I football requires an entirely different level of preparation, discipline, and physical development.
Thomas went from being one of the most versatile athletes in Western Pennsylvania to competing against some of the best college football players in the country.
During his time with the Panthers, he developed into a productive defensive player. Despite missing the first four games of the 2012 season because of injury, Thomas finished fourth on the team with 59 tackles.
His college career presented new challenges, but it also gave him an opportunity to represent Western Pennsylvania at one of the region’s most recognizable college football programs.
For a young man who had grown up in Beaver Falls, playing college football at Pitt was another significant accomplishment in an already impressive athletic journey.
The Beaver Falls Athletic Tradition
To understand Todd Thomas’ story, you also have to understand the community he represented.
Beaver Falls has a rich athletic tradition, particularly in football and basketball. The community has produced numerous outstanding athletes, including NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath and former NBA player Archie Miller.
Basketball has also been a major part of the school’s identity.
Under Doug Biega, Beaver Falls developed into one of Western Pennsylvania’s most successful basketball programs, capturing multiple WPIAL and PIAA championships.
Thomas was part of that tradition.
He represented a community where athletics have long been a source of pride and where talented young players have an opportunity to build upon the accomplishments of those who came before them.
His achievements in football and basketball added another chapter to Beaver Falls’ remarkable sports history.
Giving Todd Thomas His Flowers
One of the reasons I started DrewSchifino.com was to make sure the accomplishments of Western Pennsylvania athletes are never forgotten.
We spend so much time talking about the athletes who make it to the NFL or NBA that we sometimes overlook the incredible careers of players who dominated at the high school and collegiate levels.
Todd Thomas deserves to be remembered for everything he accomplished.
Scoring 2,063 career basketball points is an outstanding achievement by itself. Earning three consecutive all-state football selections at three different positions is remarkable. Being named to both the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous Five basketball team and Fabulous 22 football team demonstrates just how special an athlete he was. And earning an opportunity to play Division I football at the University of Pittsburgh was another major accomplishment.
Thomas’ story is a reminder that athletic greatness isn’t measured solely by how much money someone earns professionally or whether they become a household name.
Sometimes greatness is found in the impact an athlete has on a community, the records they establish, the memories they create, and the standard they set for the next generation.
Todd Thomas gave Beaver Falls sports fans plenty of reasons to be proud.
And his accomplishments deserve to remain part of the conversation whenever we discuss the outstanding two-sport athletes who have come out of Western Pennsylvania.
Much respect to a Beaver Falls legend who made his mark on Western Pennsylvania sports.
Q: Growing up in Beaver Falls, when did you first realize you had a special talent for both football and basketball?
Todd Thomas: I would say football around 5 years old. But basketball, I would say around 7th grade I knew I was different.
Q: What was it like playing basketball for Coach Doug Biega, and how did he help you develop as a player?
Todd Thomas: Playing for Coach B was an experience of a lifetime. He helped me develop by pushing me every step of the way. If you know him, he demanded excellence.
Q: You were an outstanding athlete in two different sports. Which one did you enjoy playing more, and why?
Todd Thomas: I definitely enjoyed them equally. Can’t really put one in front of the other.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories from your high school career at Beaver Falls?
Todd Thomas: One was playing in the PIAA basketball state championship as a starting freshman. Even though we lost, it was a surreal experience.
Q: Who were the toughest basketball and football players you competed against during your high school days?
Todd Thomas: Big shoutout to these guys: Terrelle Pryor (both) and Jonathan Baldwin (both).
Q: How did you balance the demands of playing two sports at such a high level?
Todd Thomas: By staying locked in and focusing on the goal. When striving for greatness, you have no choice but to balance.
Q: What did earning recognition in both football and basketball mean to you and your family?
Todd Thomas: It meant a lot to know we were getting close to the goal we had set when I was younger.
Q: What factors influenced your decision about which sport to pursue after high school?
Todd Thomas: Honestly, in my opinion, I figured it was easier to get to the NFL than the NBA.
Q: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your college athletic career?
Todd Thomas: I would say tearing my ACL twice at Pitt, coming back from that and still having to compete.
Q: Looking back, is there anything about your athletic journey that you wish had played out differently?
Todd Thomas: In 2015, when I was with the Jacksonville Jaguars, they had me on the practice squad. During Week 3 practice, I tore my Achilles. So they put me on IR for the remainder of the season. I think if I never tore my Achilles, I would’ve had a long career in the NFL.
Q: Who were the coaches, teammates, or family members who had the greatest influence on your life?
Todd Thomas: I would say the whole basketball family at Beaver Falls. We had a lot of unbelievable coaches.
Q: What advice would you give young athletes from Beaver Falls and throughout Western Pennsylvania who dream of playing at the next level?
Todd Thomas: My advice would be to make sure your education is first. Keep a lot of great influences around you. And make sure you keep that one friend around you who’s going to hold you accountable when you’re wrong. Now go chase your dream.
Q: When people look back on Todd Thomas as an athlete and as a person, what do you want them to remember?
Todd Thomas: As an athlete, I was a fierce competitor regardless of what sport I was playing. I was going to give 150%. As a person, I’m very honest and real. I never sugarcoat anything, and I’m loyal.
Q: You made the Post-Gazette Fab 5 and Fab 22. That is rare, and only a few athletes have accomplished that. What does that mean to you?
Todd Thomas: It means a lot for the family legacy. My cousin Gabe Jackson is on the list, and my uncle Chris Pipkin is one of the greatest basketball players to ever come out of Beaver County.
Q: When you look back at your athletic career, do you feel you reached your full potential, or is there a part of your journey that still makes you wonder, “What if?”
Todd Thomas: I always think about: What if I would’ve beaten Prep Charter in the state championship for basketball? What if I would’ve beaten Jeannette in the WPIAL championship for basketball and football? And what if I would’ve beaten the Quips in the WPIAL championship for football?