Peyton Manning, Georgia Tech create scholarship in memory of Demaryius Thomas
Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning is teaming up with Georgia Tech to create a scholarship as part of his Peyback Foundation to honor former Denver Broncos teammate Demaryius Thomas, multiple outlets reported on Wednesday.
Thomas, a former Georgia Tech wide receiver, passed away at age 33 last year after suffering a seizure.
"Demaryius Thomas was an incredibly talented and unselfish teammate, but more importantly, he was a special person and friend," Manning said Wednesday in a statement. "My family and I miss him dearly, and we wanted to honor D.T.'s memory by partnering the PeyBack Foundation with Georgia Tech to establish the Demaryius A. Thomas Scholarship Endowment.
"An important part of Demaryius' legacy was the way he inspired the next generation to pursue their dreams with the same perseverance and determination that defined him," Manning continued. "Through this scholarship to Georgia Tech, Demaryius will have a lasting impact on deserving youth from his hometown area who can follow in his footsteps and accomplish great things in life."
Thomas played nine seasons for the Broncos after being drafted by them in 2010, teaming up with Manning for all four seasons the quarterback was there. He finished his career as the Broncos' second-leading receiver (9,055 yards) and with the third-most catches in franchise history (655).
At Georgia Tech, Thomas recorded 113 receptions for 2,135 yards and 13 touchdowns over three seasons. The school announced that August 8 will be Demaryius Thomas Day -- honoring Thomas' jersey number -- and that the recipient of the scholarship will be recognized on that day. Members of the football team will also have No. 8 decals on their helmets during the upcoming season.
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