| 2006: Selected to the second-team All-America squad by the Walter Camp Football Foundation ... Started 12 of 13 games, missing the Stanford game due to injury ... chosen one of three captains (along with Brady Quinn and Travis Thomas) in a vote by his teammates ... also a member of the team's leadership committee ... selected a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's best defensive back ... despite missing a game, ranked third on the team with 79 tackles and added one tackle for loss, two pass break-ups, two quarterback hurries, forced one fumble and returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown ... also averaged 9.0 yards on 16 punt returns highlighted by a 52-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. North Carolina.
2005: Was one of college football's finest as a safety or punt return man ... one of four recipients of the Nick Pietrosante Award, presented annually to the Notre Dame player who best exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and pride shown by the late Irish All-America fullback ... accounted for four TDs on returns (two interception returns and two punt returns) ... tough competitor who provided leadership to the secondary and on special teams ... started all 12 games at safety (24 career starts - all consecutive) ... fourth on the team with 71 tackles (42 solos) and a team-best five interceptions, four pass breakups and a forced fumble ... returned 27 punts for 379 yards (14.0-yard average) and two TDs (78 and 60 yards).
2004: Started all 12 games at strong safety ... finished fourth on the team with 70 tackles (37 solos) ... made his collegiate debut against BYU and had five tackles, including 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
2003: Did not see playing time as a rookie reserve safety.
High School: Graduated from Buffalo Grove (Ill.) High School. As a senior in 2002, he threw for 1,382 yards and 11 TDs and rushed for 1,287 yards and 23 TDs (Buffalo Grove single-season record), adding 41 tackles and three interceptions at safety ... set Buffalo Grove career records for points scored (274), TDs (45), rushing attempts (406), rushing yards (2,013) and passing attempts (484) ... a three-year starter at quarterback and safety who also returned punts and kickoffs ... played defensive back in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, making five tackles and breaking up two passes.
Personal: Full name is Thomas Michael Zbikowski ... born May 22, 1985, in Park Ridge, Ill. ... graduated in May 2007 from the College of Arts and Letters, with degrees in sociology and computer applications ... earned 3.0 grade-point average in `06 spring semester ... enrolled in graduate studies. A nationally-ranked boxer who has competed in the Golden Gloves program since age nine, achieving a 60-13 amateur record ... a Silver Gloves national finalist in 1998, 1999 and 2000 ... named regional boxer of the year ... made his professional boxing debut on June 10, 2006, in Madison Square Garden in New York City, knocking out Robert Bell in 49 seconds. |
