Former Tennessee running back Justin Williams-Thomas is signing with UMass out of the transfer portal, the team announced on Friday afternoon. The six-foot running back spent the 2025 season with Marshall before entering the portal earlier this month.
— JUSTIN WILLIAMS-THOMAS AKA “J-WILL” (@akajwill) January 23, 2026
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The Dallas, GA, native first committed to Tennessee as a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. He played in three games with the Volunteers during the 2022 season, which earned him a redshirt, totaling 37 yards in 11 attempts. His best game of the season came against Akron, where he rushed for 22 yards on five carries.
Williams-Thomas entered the transfer portal after just one season in Knoxville. He emerged from the portal with Cal. During the 2023 season with the Golden Bears, Williams-Thomas racked up 91 yards on 21 attempts. He played in the final six games of the season for Cal after not playing in any of the first seven contests. His best game of the 2023 season came against UCLA in the regular season finale, tallying 47 rushing yards on 10 attempts.
Williams-Thomas only saw action in three games with Cal in 2024 and did not have any rushing attempts. He then entered the portal again, winding up with Marshall for the 2025 season. Williams-Thomas saw a career-best year during his lone season with the Thundering Herd, going for 197 total yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries. He also added three receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Williams-Thomas posted the fourth-most rushing yards among Marshall’s running backs in 2025.
GAME FILM. 6′ 210 RB (Grad Transfer)
238 All-Purpose Yards
3TDs
5.6 Yards Per Carry
2 Rushing Tds
1 Receiving TD
197 Rushing Yards
41 Receiving Yards pic.twitter.com/kqnLbjgMNP— JUSTIN WILLIAMS-THOMAS AKA “J-WILL” (@akajwill) January 9, 2026
Tennessee Football has added 18 plays through the transfer portal so far in this cycle. While the emphasis has been on rebuilding the defense, the Vols did pick up a running back addition with Javin Gordon of Tulane. Gordon played in all 14 games for the Green Wave during his true freshman season, racking up 516 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 128 attempts. He also added 93 yards and one touchdown through the air. Gordon played in Tulane’s CFP game against Ole Miss, tallying 11 yards on six attempts.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee-related transfer portal news.
