Thomas Duarte
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Thomas Duarte
| image = Thomas Duarte vs Cal.JPG
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Duarte (No. 18) with the UCLA Bruins in 2014
| number = 83
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|3|30}}
| birth_place = Fullerton, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 241
| high_school = Mater Dei
(Santa Ana, California)
| college = UCLA
| draftyear = 2016
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 231
| pastteams =
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- Arizona Hotshots ({{AAF Year|2019}})
- Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2019}})*
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2019}})*
| highlights =
- Second-team All-Pac-12 (2015)
| pfr = DuarTh00
}}
Thomas James Duarte (born March 30, 1995){{Cite web |year=2015 |title=2015 UCLA Bruins Football Media Guide |url=http://www.uclabruins.com/fls/30500/pdf/FB_15MG_FULL.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=30500 |publisher=UCLA Bruins |page=17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905195738/http://www.uclabruins.com/fls/30500/pdf/FB_15MG_FULL.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=30500 |archive-date=September 5, 2015}} is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and earned second-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors as a junior in 2015. After forgoing his final year of college eligibility to enter the 2016 NFL draft, he was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round. He spent most of his two seasons with the Dolphins on their practice squad. He played for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019.
Early life
Duarte was born in Fullerton, California to Timothy and Deborah Duarte.{{Cite web |title=Thomas Duarte Bio |url=http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208817184 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116084218/http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208817184 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |website=UCLABruins.com}} Growing up, Duarte was always big. At age 10, he was {{convert|5|ft|5|in|m}} and {{convert|120|lb|kg}}. He played tackle football for a year against players who were three to four years older. However, he went back to playing flag football after the players his size entered high school, and he became too big to play Pop Warner football due to their weight restrictions.
Duarte returned to tackle football as a high school freshman at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana.{{Cite news |last=Muranaka |first=Gwen |date=June 27, 2013 |title=A New Son of Westwood |work=Rafu Shimpo |url=http://www.rafu.com/2013/06/a-new-son-of-westwood/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204163011/http://www.rafu.com/2013/06/a-new-son-of-westwood/ |archive-date=February 4, 2016}} As a senior, he had 58 receptions with 1,025 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns and averaged 18 yards a catch. He also played on defense at linebacker, and had 42 tackles, 10 quarterback sacks, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.{{Cite news |last=Fryer |first=Steve |date=December 18, 2012 |title=Mater Dei's Duarte is offensive player of the year |work=OCVarsity.com |url=http://www.ocvarsity.com/articles/duarte-35148-dei-mater.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202055553/http://www.ocvarsity.com/articles/duarte-35148-dei-mater.html |archive-date=February 2, 2016}} He was named Player of the Year by the Los Angeles Times and Offensive Player of the Year by The Orange County Register.{{Cite news |last=Sonheimer |first=Eric |date=December 19, 2012 |title=Mater Dei's two-sided hit |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/19/sports/la-sp-1220-football-player-of-year-20121219 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130231948/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/19/sports/la-sp-1220-football-player-of-year-20121219 |archive-date=January 30, 2016}}
The son of a Mexican-American father and Japanese-American mother,{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Jack |date=November 25, 2013 |title=UCLA receiver Thomas Duarte proud of biracial heritage |work=Los Angeles Daily News |url=http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20131125/ucla-receiver-thomas-duarte-proud-of-biracial-heritage |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110160157/http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20131125/ucla-receiver-thomas-duarte-proud-of-biracial-heritage |archive-date=January 10, 2016}} Duarte was one of the rare high-profile college recruits to be of Asian descent.{{Cite news |last=Maya |first=Adam |date=February 4, 2013 |title=Mater Dei's Duarte breaking the mold |work=OCVarsity.com |url=http://www.ocvarsity.com/articles/duarte-35748-kids-tim.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203194028/http://www.ocvarsity.com/articles/duarte-35748-kids-tim.html |archive-date=February 3, 2016}} He was rated a four-star prospect and capable of playing tight end, H-back, or wide receiver in college.{{Cite news |last=Oliver |first=Brandon P. |date=October 8, 2012 |title=Calif. TE Thomas Duarte in no rush |work=ESPN.com |url=https://insider.espn.com/blog/colleges/oregon/insider/post?id=1911 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202010853/http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/oregon/insider/post?id=1911 |archive-date=February 2, 2016}} He decided to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), his mother's alma mater.{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Jeff |date=August 28, 2013 |title=Practice makes perfect for Bruins' Duarte |work=The Orange County Register|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/duarte-523312-football-ucla.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918181919/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/duarte-523312-football-ucla.html |archive-date=September 18, 2015}}
College career
Duarte struggled with hamstring injuries during his first two seasons with the Bruins.{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Chris |date=November 12, 2015 |title=There's always a catch with UCLA's Thomas Duarte |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-duarte-20151112-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131184005/http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-duarte-20151112-story.html |archive-date=January 31, 2016}} In his junior year in 2015, he was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection at tight end.{{Cite news |last=Gold |first=Jason |date=January 12, 2016 |title=Report: UCLA receiver Thomas Duarte declares for 2016 NFL Draft |work=FoxSports.com |url=http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/ucla-bruins-wr-thomas-duarte-declares-for-2016-nfl-draft-011216 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223072946/http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/ucla-bruins-wr-thomas-duarte-declares-for-2016-nfl-draft-011216 |archive-date=February 23, 2016}} He finished the season with 53 receptions for 872 yards, and led the team with 10 touchdown catches. His 16.6 yards per reception was the highest among UCLA receivers with 10 or more catches. After the season, he opted to forgo his final year of college eligibility and enter the 2016 NFL draft.{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Johnson |date=January 13, 2016 |title=UCLA WR Thomas Duarte latest to leave early for NFL |work=NBCSports.com |url=http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/13/ucla-wr-thomas-duarte-latest-to-leave-early-for-nfl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117022020/http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/13/ucla-wr-thomas-duarte-latest-to-leave-early-for-nfl/ |archive-date=January 17, 2016}}
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
Duarte was the top performer in his position on the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle at 2016 NFL Combine.
{{nfl predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2+1/8
| weight = 231
| dash = 4.72
| shuttle = 4.24
| cone drill = 6.97
| vertical = 33.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench = 12
| arm span = 33
| hand span = 10
| note = All values from NFL Combine,{{Cite web |title=NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Thomas Duarte |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/thomas-duarte?id=2555483 |publisher=National Football League}}
}}
=Miami Dolphins=
Duarte was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round, 231st overall, in the 2016 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2016 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2016/draft.htm |access-date=February 25, 2019 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Dolphins as part of final roster cuts.{{Cite web |last=Poupart |first=Alain |date=September 3, 2016 |title=Dolphins Make Moves To Get Roster To 53 |url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Dolphins-Make-Moves-To-Get-Roster-To-53/c388dffe-aa0e-4be2-8de1-a42bb47d4355 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616231315/http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Dolphins-Make-Moves-To-Get-Roster-To-53/c388dffe-aa0e-4be2-8de1-a42bb47d4355 |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |website=MiamiDolphins.com}} He was later signed to their practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 5.{{Cite web |date=November 5, 2016 |title=PRESS RELEASE: Dolphins Make Roster Moves |url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/PRESS-RELEASE-Dolphins-Make-Roster-Moves/0150d030-7062-4ee5-8af8-8cfe1bf3cfa0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904111245/http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/PRESS-RELEASE-Dolphins-Make-Roster-Moves/0150d030-7062-4ee5-8af8-8cfe1bf3cfa0 |archive-date=September 4, 2017 |website=MiamiDolphins.com}} The next day, he was in for two snaps in a 27–23 win over the New York Jets in his only action for the season.{{Cite news |last=Habib |first=Hal |date=December 20, 2017 |title=Two snaps in two years, but Miami Dolphins TE Thomas Duarte gets shot at last |work=Palm Beach Post |url=http://dailydolphin.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2017/12/20/two-snaps-in-two-years-but-miami-dolphins-te-thomas-duarte-gets-shot-at-last/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222083404/http://dailydolphin.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2017/12/20/two-snaps-in-two-years-but-miami-dolphins-te-thomas-duarte-gets-shot-at-last/ |archive-date=December 22, 2017}}
On September 2, 2017, Duarte was waived by the Dolphins and was signed to the practice squad the next day.{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2017 |title=Dolphins Make Roster Moves |url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/Dolphins-Make-Roster-Moves/6e2a4fb4-c259-4543-947d-0c866ce56319 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620024159/http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/Dolphins-Make-Roster-Moves/6e2a4fb4-c259-4543-947d-0c866ce56319 |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |website=MiamiDolphins.com}}{{Cite web |date=September 3, 2017 |title=Dolphins Sign 8 To Practice Squad |url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Dolphins-Sign-8-To-Practice-Squad/490085a1-8bcc-47ce-a337-0d112c977bd5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210094758/http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Dolphins-Sign-8-To-Practice-Squad/490085a1-8bcc-47ce-a337-0d112c977bd5 |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |website=MiamiDolphins.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on December 20 to replace tight end Julius Thomas, who was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |date=December 20, 2017 |title=Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves |url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/Miami-Dolphins-Make-Roster-Moves/79440bbe-b543-4bcb-8c2e-08cdf7c43fcd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223024449/http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/Miami-Dolphins-Make-Roster-Moves/79440bbe-b543-4bcb-8c2e-08cdf7c43fcd |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |website=MiamiDolphins.com}}
During the 2018 offseason, Duarte missed part of the team's training program with a shoulder injury.{{Cite news |date=August 3, 2018 |title=Dolphins' Thomas Duarte: Participating in training camp |work=CBSSports.com |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/dolphins-thomas-duarte-participating-in-training-camp/}} He returned for training camp but was among the Dolphins final cuts before the 2018 season after he failed to supplant veterans MarQueis Gray and A. J. Derby.{{Cite news |last=Beasley |first=Adam H. |last2=Jackson |first2=Barry |date=September 1, 2018 |title=Brock on! Osweiler earns spot on Dolphins' 53-man roster |work=Miami Herald |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article217711850.html}}{{Cite news |last=Beasley |first=Adam H. |last2=Jackson |first2=Barry |last3=Salguero |first3=Armando |date=September 1, 2018 |title=Live updates: All the players the Miami Dolphins have cut from their roster |work=Miami Herald |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article217704020.html}}{{Cite web |date=September 1, 2018 |title=Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves |url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-make-roster-moves-1 |website=MiamiDolphins.com}}
=Los Angeles Chargers=
On September 3, 2018, Duarte was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad.{{Cite web |date=September 3, 2018 |title=Chargers Announce Trio of Roster Moves |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-announce-trio-of-roster-moves |website=Chargers.com}} He was released on September 25, 2018.{{Cite web |last=Henne |first=Ricky |date=September 25, 2018 |title=Chargers Sign Pair to Practice Squad |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-sign-pair-to-practice-squad |website=Chargers.com}}
=Arizona Hotshots=
In 2019, Duarte joined the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football.{{Cite web |last=Platte |first=Kent Lee |date=January 9, 2019 |title=Detroit Lions to scout new Alliance of American Football league |url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2019/1/9/18174906/detroit-lions-scouting-alliance-american-football-bob-quinn |access-date=February 5, 2019 |website=Pride of Detroit |publisher=SB Nation}} He caught eight passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns before the league suspended operations mid-season.
=Carolina Panthers=
Duarte signed with the Carolina Panthers on April 8, 2019.{{Cite news |last=Strickland |first=Bryan |date=April 8, 2019 |title=Panthers sign five players to their 90-man roster |work=Panthers.com |url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-sign-five-players-to-their-90-man-roster |access-date=April 8, 2019}} He was waived on May 13, 2019.{{Cite web |last=Ulrich |first=Logan |date=May 13, 2019 |title=Panthers Waive TE Thomas Duarte |url=https://nfltraderumors.co/panthers-waive-te-thomas-duarte/}}
=Atlanta Falcons=
On August 24, 2019, Duarte was signed by the Atlanta Falcons.{{Cite web |last=McFadden |first=Will |date=August 24, 2019 |title=Falcons agree to terms with three players, including kicker Blair Walsh |url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-agree-to-terms-with-three-players-including-kicker-blair-walsh |website=AtlantaFalcons.com}} He was waived on August 31, 2019.{{Cite web |last=McFadden |first=Will |date=August 31, 2019 |title=Falcons 2019 roster announced |url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-2019-roster-announced |website=AtlantaFalcons.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
- {{Football stats |nfl=2555483 |pfr=D/DuarTh00}}
- [http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208817184 UCLA bio]
{{Dolphins2016DraftPicks}}
{{Glenn Davis Award}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duarte, Thomas}}
Category:American football tight ends
Category:American sportspeople of Mexican descent
Category:American sportspeople of Japanese descent
Category:Arizona Hotshots players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:Carolina Panthers players
Category:Los Angeles Chargers players
Category:Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California) alumni
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:Players of American football from Fullerton, California
Category:UCLA Bruins football players
Category:Asian American players of American football
Category:Hispanic and Latino American players of American football