One of the deepest positions on Tennessee football’s offense is at running back.
Between returners DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis, transfer Star Thomas and freshmen Daune Morris and Justin Baker, the Vols have a multitude of options at tailback. While the coaching staff has sung the praises of each of them, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel spoke glowingly of Thomas after the first fall scrimmage on Saturday.
“A dramatically different player,” Heupel said about Thomas. “Just his body, his movement, explosiveness, his physicality with the ball and without the ball. Some of the details and fundamentals that it takes — pass protection, special teams, as well. He’s done an elite job from end of spring ball to where we are practice eight.”
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Thomas was just listed alongside Bishop on the preseason watchlist for the Doak Walker Award. Tennessee is one of five SEC teams to have a pair of players on the list. Georgia, Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Missouri are the other quartet of schools.
Thomas is in his first year with the program after spending a season at Duke. Prior to that, he played at New Mexico State and at the junior college level. In 40 career FBS games between Duke and New Mexico State, he has racked up 2,044 yards on 433 carries and 16 touchdowns. He has also caught 54 passes for 504 yards and six touchdowns.
Prior to his time at the FBS level, Thomas played two seasons at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. He was named a 2021 KJCCC All-Conference First Team member in his last year.
247 ranked Thomas as a three-star transfer in this past cycle. He was the No. 692 overall player and No. 44 running back. He is from Homer, Louisiana, and was not ranked out of high school or junior college.
