The holder of virtually every game, season and career passing records at the school, Thigpen also set nine Big South Conference records. In addition to his ability throwing the ball, he also proved to be a dangerous open-field runner, ranking third in school history with 1,626 yards rushing.

Thigpen lettered three years in football, earning all-state honors as a senior at Fairfield Central High School. A multi-purpose player for the Griffins, he gained 116 yards passing, 198 yards rushing and 359 yards receiving his senior season. He also averaged 43.2 yards a punt and was 17 of 23 on PATs and 4 for 4 on field-goal attempts.

Thigpen was named to the all-region team twice. He was also a four-year letter-winner in baseball, earning all-region honors as a junior and senior. In addition to athletics, he was a member of the Honor Roll and the Beta Club at his school.

Despite offers from Louisville, where his brother Chris played two years with the Cardinals, Thigpen enrolled at Coastal Carolina, redshirting in 2002. He shared playing time with Ren McKinnon in 2003. He connected on 58 of 136 throws (42.6 percent) for 705 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. He also finished third on the squad with 282 yards and three scores on 81 carries (3.5 avg.).

Thigpen started seven of eight games he played in during the 2004 campaign, missing three games with a fractured left collarbone. He gained 1,008 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions on 78 of 158 passing (49.4 percent) and rushed 55 times for 251 yards (4.6 avg.) and a score.

As a junior, he led the team to the Big South Conference title, putting up 1,589 yards on 133 of 246 passing (54.1 percent) with 11 touchdowns. He also ranked second on the squad with 437 yards and four scores on 97 rushing attempts (4.5 avg.).

In 2006, Thigpen earned All-America honors and finished seventh in the voting for the Payton Award, given to the top player in the Division I-AA ranks. He shattered school and conference single-season records, as he connected on 217 of 339 passes (64.0 percent) for 3,296 yards, 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also led the team with 113 carries for 656 yards (5.8 avg.) and five scores.

In 41 games at Coastal Carolina, Thigpen started 39 times. He set all the school career records, as he completed 486 of 879 passes (55.3 percent) for 6,598 yards, 53 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. His completions, attempts and yardage rank third on the Big South's all-time record list. Thigpen ranks third in school annals with 1,626 yards rushing on 346 carries (4.7 avg.), scoring 13 times. He touched the ball 1,225 times, setting school and league records with 8,224 yards in total offense.

Positives: Has a well-built frame with broad shoulders, good arm length, thick thighs and calves … Very good at improvising on the football field … Shows adequate quickness setting up, displaying good balance and foot agility in his drive back from center to his throwing point … Has developed quick load and reload ability, displaying the arm strength to throw long … Gets good velocity behind his pass attempts, especially when tossing slants and showed marked improvement in 2006 in threading the needle on his intermediate and short throws … Excels at eluding pressure in the pocket, showing the keen field vision and awareness to avoid the rush and is a dangerous open-field runner when flushed … Shows better timing on his intermediate tosses, as he sets his feet well and targets his throws to the receivers away from the defenders … His scrambling ability forces opponents to defend the entire field as he is a threat to turn the corner for a long gain … Has decent acceleration heading up field, but is best when changing direction sharply while maintaining balance throughout his run … Rhythm passer who might be able to throw the deep crossers, but is better served staying away from throwing the long ball … Can throw on the run, but is better from the right hash than the left.

Negatives: Has to work on his release and delivery, as he stands on his toes in the pocket … Tends to force his passes into traffic and needs to show better judgment, as he seems to lack the ability to locate his secondary receivers, zeroing in on his primary targets too long … His timing gets a little off when having to throw on the move from the left hash (loses velocity due to his wind up) … Shorter than ideal … Not the most accurate thrower you will find, tending to throw off his back foot at times and fails to put enough air under his deep throws … Will force the ball into traffic rather than throwing it away, and most of his sacks come when he fails to locate his receiver and finds himself standing right in the path of the edge rusher (has good timed speed, but lacks vision to avoid).

Compares To: D.J. Shockley, Atlanta -- Like Shockley, Thigpen has good scrambling ability and can gain valid yardage with his feet … He started to develop better timing and showed more of a feel for route progression as a senior … He will lock-on to his primary target too long and needs to scan the field better … He is not going to light up the scoreboard with deep throws, but he can dink-and-dunk them to move the chains.

1999: Suffered a broken right thumb in October, undergoing surgery to repair.

2004: Missed the Jacksonville, Charleston Southern and Savannah State games due to a left collarbone fracture.

Campus: 4.73 in the 40-yard dash (wind-aided) … 4.86 40-yard dash (against the wind) … Bench pressed 225 pounds 14 times … 420-pound squat … 4.44 20-yard shuttle … 7.11 three-cone drill … 29-inch vertical jump … 8-foot-8 broad jump … 31 7/8-inch arm length … 9 7/8-inch hand … Right-handed.

Attended Fairfield Central (Winnsboro, S.C.) High School, playing football for head coach Charlie Macaluso … Lettered three years in football, earning all-state honors as a senior … A multi-purpose player for the Griffins, he gained 116 yards passing, 198 yards rushing and 359 yards receiving his senior season … Also averaged 43.2 yards a punt and was 17 of 23 on extra points and 4 for 4 on field-goal attempts … Named to the all-region team twice … Also a four-year letter-winner in baseball, earning all-region honors as a junior and senior … In addition to athletics, he was a member of the Honor Roll and the Beta Club at his school.

Recreation and Sports Management major … Son of Harriett and Clint Thigpen … Brother, Chris, played football at Louisville … Born Tyler Beckham Thigpen on Apr. 14, 1984 … Resides in Winnsboro, S.C.